Walden Community School

4595 Howell Branch Road

Winter Park, FL 32792

29 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by teacher on May 23, 2024

After careful consideration, I felt it was important to share my experiences with The Walden Community School, especially after noticing that nearly all negative reviews were no longer visible on Google. As a former teacher and member of the school community, I believe it is my responsibility to inform prospective students and families about several serious issues that need to be addressed.Firstly, the school has demonstrated a troubling pattern of expelling students and families, often without just cause. This practice creates a highly unstable and stressful environment, undermining the sense of security that is crucial for effective learning and community building. Furthermore, the leadership at Walden frequently changes the curriculum and the institution’s core educational philosophy without adequate consultation or consideration of the impact on students and faculty. This erratic decision-making leads to confusion and inconsistency, severely affecting the quality of education provided. The leadership often dismisses feedback and dissenting opinions, which stifles the collaborative spirit necessary for a thriving educational environment.In conclusion, while Walden may have some positive attributes (such as their thriving Kindergarten program), the issues of unfair expulsions, inconsistent curriculum changes, and lack of open communication make it a challenging and often distressing place for students, families, and teachers. I urge anyone considering this school to thoroughly investigate and consider these factors before making a decision.Please be aware that the school may respond to this review in a way that attempts to control the narrative. I encourage readers to consider multiple perspectives and conduct their own thorough research.
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2024

A small safe school, excellent teachers, nice students
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2024

A friendly community of parents. Professional teachers with a caring attitude. Small class sizes with happy children. A hidden gem in Winter Park!
Submitted by teacher on February 15, 2024

Walden Community School gives students the tools necessary to succeed in and out of the classroom by integrating disciplines and life skills. The staff provides a safe supportive environment by working closely with Walden families and collaborating collectively.
Submitted by parent on February 14, 2024

My daughter started at Walden Community School in sixth grade, and she is now in 10th grade. Sending her to Walden is one of the best decisions my husband and I ever made for her! The smaller setting, personalized curricula, and focus on social, environmental, and community responsibilities create an atmosphere for learning that focuses on *how* to learn, not just *what* to learn. Students are challenged academically in ways that foster intrinsic motivation and a true desire to gain new knowledge! Additionally, students work collaboratively with their peers and teachers to solve problems, and understand and respect varying opinions and points of view. Our family is honored to be a part of this amazing school!
Submitted by other on January 19, 2023

Great place for great kids great size
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2022

Teacher turnover is high and I don't think any of the teachers are certified teachers. The middle and high school students are all mixed together which is not good for either group but especially not for the younger ones. They seem to have a lot of kids that have problems.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2022

Little to no consideration for students’ well being, especially those who are disabled. Kicks out multiple students yearly. Teachers quitting and getting changed left and right.
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2018

Walden Community School provides a unique learning experience for students. Both of our children attend Walden.This is my son’s fifth year here and we couldn’t be happier. The personal attention and student to teacher ratio is hard to beat! The teachers are very passionate about their jobs and are great at motivating the kids to learn. Students can learn at their own pace. The curriculum is really interesting and keeps the kids engaged. Our kids love going to school and couldn't wait to get back as summer was coming to an end. We love Walden!
Submitted by teacher on August 01, 2018

As a teacher at Walden Community School, I love being able to facilitate learning in our unique multi-age child-centered environment. My students love learning through visuals and hands-on activities. It is a joy to see their enthusiasm grow each day as they investigate and explore new concepts. Walden has made such a difference in my life!
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2018

As a teacher and parent at Walden Community School, I can say first-hand that Walden is a great place to both work and learn! My children are excited to go to school each day, love learning, and understand what it means to be members of a community. I love that they excitedly report what they've learned, ask questions and want to learn more outside of school, and practice critical-thinking and peaceful conflict resolution. As a teacher, my small, multi-aged classes allow me to know my students and families in ways I never experienced in public school as well as tailor instruction and activities to my current community of learners in order to maximize learning. In addition to core academics, we actively teach and practice peace-building, critical -thinking, research and organization skills, as well as true learning through an integrated curriculum, connections and application to real-life, and student-driven inquiry.If you want your child to think, grow, and make a difference in their community and the world, Walden is a great place to check out!
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2018

As a staff member and parent, I cannot say enough wonderful things about Walden: compassionate teachers, small class environment, concept-based learning, and teaching to the whole child. Both of my children have thrived here, gained self-confidence, and were challenged academically.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2018

I was so impressed from the moment I walked in the school. The environment is perfect for learning, the teachers are great and the children are happy!
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2017

My daughter flourished at this school socially and was always so excited to go to school until after the Christmas break when she started asking to stay home. After finding out other families had withdrawn their children for allegations of questionable emotional and physical disciplinary actions I found out that my 5 year old daughter with autism was left sitting outside under a tree for unknown amount of time, completely unsupervised and with the front school gate open. The school was completely negligent in caring for my daughter after knowing that she (like most children with autism) struggled with elopement. Also, children were only allowed 15 minutes for both lunch and recess together a day. My daughter was coming home without ever touching her lunch. This too is neglect. This school is not a safe place for our daughter. Also, we were told before enrolling her that the educational approach is individualized and work would be given according to her level but the "education" at Walden was completely nonexistent. My daughter read at a 2nd grade level and they did nothing to meet that. In fact, we got an email very late into the year explain how they would just then start trying to teach reading skills. So what has my daughter been doing this whole time? According to her last progress report she was hardly on level in any area of her education. We paid $12k for LOADS of mundane worksheets. Walden is not what they promised, pitched or what they appear to be. Please do your research on both the school and director (google her) before leaving your child here. Do your child a favor and spend your hard earned dollars elsewhere.
Submitted by parent on April 12, 2017

This is our first year at Walden Community School and our family is so happy to be part of such a great school! The teachers and staff at Walden support the children to become more self-empowered, not only academically but socially. There is a thread of kindness and thoughtfulness that is woven into every part of the school, whether it is how the curriculum is designed or how each child is met where they are at on a daily basis. Our sixth grade son has actually enjoyed reading novels that were not of his choosing this year at school. He is looking forward to seeing a play tomorrow (on the class fieldtrip) of the latest novel so that he & his classmates can compare it to the novel in a group discussion. Learning CAN actually be a dynamic and self empowering process! We are so glad that we found Walden!
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2017

My children have thoroughly enjoyed their time at Walden. They are happy and well adjusted. The teachers are supportive. The school has a limited amount of homework, but I consider it to be more a way to foster a home-to-school connection. I feel like it is important to have such an important connection for my children. I want them to know that I support them and that I support the teachers/school. The school has an open door policy and I have dropped in unannounced on several occasions and have found my kids happily engaged in lessons. The Advisory Board is made up of retired Rollins Professors, a physics, English, and Philosophy. Also, a parent has been asked to sit with them at their last meeting in February.
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2016

With each year that passed with my daughter attending public school, we noticed a decline in her love of learning. Sitting at a desk all day doing worksheet after worksheet and test after test is not how children learn. Walden Community School was exactly the change she needed. This non-traditional environment actually TEACHES children. The teachers are warm and welcoming and the curriculum is rigorous BUT FUN! My daughter loves going to school every day.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2014

"Schools have one fundamental purpose: to educate our children. Many achieve that purpose through traditional classroom learning and simply stop there. Then there are schools like Walden Community School that break the mold and take the notion of education to a new level. Walden delivers traditional classroom instruction in a smaller, nurturing environment that encourages questions and ensures students can truly understand. But, that is just part of the recipe. Walden also challenges students by exposing them to a variety of topics, providing new ways to learn that stretches their critical thinking, and helps them view the world more broadly. A love for learning, bravery, objectivity, and a respect for alternative points-of-view are just some of the take-aways our daughter has gained from being in this environment the past two years. Walden has transformed her. She is thriving like never before, confident, and prepared to make a difference to the planet. That is how Walden Community School delivers on the purpose of educating our children."
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2014

"My daughter has truly blossomed as both a person and a student as a result of the academically rigorous and warm social environment that Walden provides. They make sure that every incoming student is a good fit for the school and vice versa. I looked far and wide to find a school that did not provide a cookie cutter education. Dr. Milkulka's visionary approach of addressing the whole child and truly caring for the academic and social development of every child is priceless. I could not be happier with the education my daughter is receiving, from the incredible teachers who mentor her and the great friends she has made at Walden!"
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2013

Fantastic non traditional learning environment - perfect for the middle school years and beyond. This small school has such a close knit community feel and removes all the typical negative things associated with large public schools. Because it is small, students have lots of one-on-one time with teachers and are they are able to have courses like art, music, drama, dance and even a hands on organic garden.