Charlottesville Waldorf School in Charlottesville

Posted: March 25, 2026

The Waldorf School has been an incredible experience for our family. What stands out most is the genuine care for each childnot just in terms of schedule and directed learning, but as a whole person. There is a strong emphasis on human connection, creativity, and meaningful interaction, which feels increasingly rare in todays fast-paced, technology-driven world.

I deeply appreciate how the school encourages children to step away from machine life and instead develop a true sense of self. Rather than focusing solely on productivity or outcomes, the approach nurtures curiosity, imagination, and emotional growth. While inspired by Waldorf principles, the school does not promote any specific ideology of Steiner, but instead captures the essence of holistic childhood development in a thoughtful and inclusive way.

Equally wonderful is the sense of community and support among teachers, students, and families. Its a warm, thoughtful environment where children are truly seen and valued. We couldnt be happier.

Posted: March 23, 2026

Loved this school for our youngest son, who was there from nursery school through 8th grade. The Waldorf approach is very unique but very effective in instilling a love of learning, curiosity and care. In the past, it had a hard time accommodating students with learning differences but they are making an effort to provide more resources for such students. If your child gets a teacher that you don't jibe with, that can be tricky because they might have them for more than 1 year- but it's really nice for the kids to have a teacher for more than one year when it's a good fit, and the teachers really do get to know their students and families. When our son went on to public school, he was fully prepared and is doing really well socially and academically- as are all of his classmates.

Posted: March 23, 2026

Posted: March 5, 2026

Our older child started at CWS after a depressing first grade year in public school, where her natural curiosity was dampened by many limitations. She joined CWS in 2nd grade and started loving school again. Though the pandemic was a chaotic time, she was fortunate to attend a school that had already integrated outdoor learning in its curriculum, and which had teachers that ensured that learning continued - pivoting online initially, and then back in person in the fall of 2020. She currently attends public high school. The hardest part of the transition were the limitations of a building with few windows, and a schedule without breaks - academically she was well prepared throughout, is taking several AP classes, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and continued to be engaged and self-motivated in her learning. Our younger child started at CWS in first grade and is entering Middle School. He loves the rich curriculum, the mixture of academics, classics, hands-on earning, art and music, and the ample outdoor time, just as much as his older sibling. CWS is a small community, it would be great if it would grow some more. Its size sadly impacts the ability to serve special needs children without additional funding from caregivers, however school leadership works with parents to accommodate absences for therapies or supplemental tutoring. Among the many private schools in Charlottesville it is still relatively affordable, and generous needs-based financial aid is offered. Families who are new to the area are welcomed to a community with many seasonal festivals and space to volunteer and engage, and make lifelong friends.

Posted: March 5, 2026

Posted: September 27, 2025

We are one of the many families that chose to leave this past year. While we had a few good years and formed friendships with other families that will last a lifetime. There is a reason attrition was so high the last two years and that is the poor leadership which resulted in poor hiring and no accountability for their staff. Last school year 3rd graders were lost in the woods multiple times near public trails. Bullying was so bad that multiple parents requested safety plans for their children because of unsafe conditions. Bullying has long been an issue at CWS which largely goes back to Steiners philosophy of each childs destiny and karma from past lives (look it up its wild). This is not a new problem, its a known problem. But instead of addressing it appropriately the CWS board put some weird curriculum in place that just pushes their political views instead of setting up guidelines, accountability and support for victims. If a child goes to a teacher complaining that they are getting rocks thrown at them they will be told they need to work it out with the rock thrower without the intervention of the teacher(regardless of how many times it has happened). This and similar happened multiple times to multiple students

Education wise this used to be a good school. It bled some really good teachers that were keeping academia on track. There are only a handful of good ones left. The school lost its accreditation as a Waldorf school and is years from getting it reinstated(per their all hands meeting). So it is not an accredited school by any accrediting organization. Only a very few of their teachers are certified Waldorf and they cant afford to get them trained(if you google their tax records you will understand). Now days there is lots of extra recess and classes are taught to the level of the student struggling the most. All of the parents that Ive talked to who moved their kids this last year have been doing tutoring trying to get their children caught up. They would always tell us they have a different learning trajectory and that students will be at or ahead of peers by 3rd grade. However, those of us who have moved our children are finding that to be highly inaccurate and that there are gaps because certain things that should be in core curriculum simply were never taught.

Posted: September 27, 2025

Posted: May 19, 2025

This school appears to be on a decidedly downward spiral under its current director. Many very good teachers have left in recent years. Many teachers are not Waldorf certified, which is why the school's website no longer contains any faculty bios. There have been a number of failed hires that have contributed to a general sense of chaos in classes in both the grade school and early childhood programs. The director's response time to parent calls/emails is measured in days/weeks, if parents get a response at all. Student attrition is increasing. Even with good teacher student ratios, supervision of students is sparse and bullying and physical altercations go undocumented and uninvestigated by faculty/staff. Students who report getting punched/kicked/etc. to teachers are shrugged off because the teacher didn't see them. This once crown jewel of a school seems to have lost its way, which is regrettable because there are a handful of very committed and wonderful teachers at the school.

Posted: May 19, 2025

Posted: July 17, 2023

My children have been in the early childhood program and are now in the grade school. The teachers at Charlottesville Waldorf School are creative, inspiring, and take the time to really see and work with each student. My children are happy to be at school, they are excited about their classes and interested in the subjects. They have completed amazing projects - knit socks, a small quilt, tamales - and stretched their abilities in drama, singing, orchestra, math, reading, physics, sports. They are learning to be interested in the world and learning to be active participants in the world.

Posted: July 17, 2023

Posted: June 2, 2021

After leaving CWS and attending a different school, we discovered that our children were FAR behind academically. I do not recommend this school.

Posted: June 2, 2021

Posted: September 2, 2020

CWS does a great job at connecting parents children.

Posted: September 2, 2020

Posted: October 12, 2019

Our daughter is in her fourth year at the school and thriving. She loves school, loves to learn and loves her teachers.

Posted: October 12, 2019

The homework given to children is intentional and meaningful, often project based. Little homework in the lower grades, increasing in the upper grades.

Posted: October 12, 2019

Waldorf teachers are trained to adjust their way of teaching to the group of students in front of them. The form of instruction usually integrates the heart, hands and mind - for example rhythm and math, singing and language, not just looking at a map of a region in geography, but drawing it themselves, etc. Charlottesville Waldorf School has an amazing, trained and dedicated faculty.

Posted: October 12, 2019

The holistic curriculum, integrating history, mythology, storytelling, active and physical work, drama, orchestra and group singing, promotes empathy and attention to relationships. The strong bond with the class teacher allows for a trustful learning environment.

Posted: October 8, 2019

When our children left and went to another school, they were extremely deficient in math and reading, to the point of considering repeating their grades. Despite years of concern and questioning, we were told by the teachers that our children were tracking normal. They were not.

Posted: June 22, 2018

Bullying doesn't exist in this school due to the Waldorf educational system.

Posted: June 22, 2018

Teachers are all trained in the Waldorf education system for many years.

Posted: June 22, 2018

It is based on the beautiful and humane values of Anthroposophy. The strongest point in the CWS

Posted: June 22, 2018

Very strong board with representation from parents, employees, teachers, community members and donors.

Posted: June 22, 2018

Fantastic! Our 7 year old daughter is flourishing as a true, sensible, creative and beautiful human being thanks to the Waldorf educational system. The focus is not on loading content to kids that are not ready for that yet, but on allowing them to develop at their own pace their own curiosity, passion, true interest and capacity to learn.

Posted: May 14, 2018

My childs kindergarten teacher was the first to identify some sensory issues getting in his way. She brought us insight, research, and a referral for a fantastic occupational therapist... but most importantly she took the time to truly see our child, respect his strengths and weaknesses, and lovingly help us guide him in the right direction.

Posted: May 14, 2018

A truly beautiful, cheerful place where children connect to the natural world each day, explore art and music and exercise (even in elementary and middle school), and are encouraged to question and engage with their world. Our kids are so happy here!

Posted: May 6, 2018

Im so glad that we chose Waldorf for our daughter 4 years ago and still going on. This school is a magical world, lets your children learn the big things of life in a simple artistic ways. Math was never fun for me , but the way Waldorf Education covers Arithmetic, it just makes numbers fun !

Posted: May 6, 2018

Learned teachers with a vast experience, who view their students as individuals with great potential.

Posted: May 6, 2018

Posted: August 27, 2014

money, no problem....They are real Human being..they care kids and families .Thanks Good, finally We find Light....

Posted: January 24, 2014

This is the most incredible school, I wish I could have gone here when I was a kid. My child was having behavior problems in every school we put her in. Wherever we went if she got in trouble she would shut down, Mrs. Russ has brought out the best in our child who is now talking and approaching her peers. It is incredible to watch. Before we pulled her out of public school she would cry every morning about not wanting to go to school, now we have no fight. I can't say enough how much this school has given my family. My child is playing better, making friends and LOVES school. There is nothing else that we can ask for.

Posted: September 26, 2013

I absolutely love this school. My daughter just started kindergarten, and is having a wonderful experience. The teachers, students and the entire school community have been extremely warm and welcoming. My daughter struggled socially while at a different preschool, but the warmth and care at CWS school have made all the difference, she seems comfortable and confident with her peers and looks forward to school everyday!

Posted: September 15, 2013

CWS is a jewel of a school in Charlottesville! We have been sending our boys here for over 9 years, and it just gets better and better every year! Really, they LOVE their school, and that in itself is huge. But wow, it truly only scratches the surface. The amazing way the learning is folded into the curriculum as each year passes humbles me as a parent. The main thing we need more of is more students. So come visit us!!!!

Posted: September 10, 2013

Most important I know my young children's love of and trust in the world is cherished at the Cville Waldorf School. He is encouraged to be himself while he plays. The children are outside come rain or shine which really instills the importance of the natural world. The community surrounding the school has made me feel a part of my children's lives outside of my home. I couldn't be happier with this school as their first step into the larger world.

Posted: September 7, 2013

We are going into our 8th year at the Charlottesville Waldorf School and it has been an amazing experience from the beginning. We began our journey at the school after we had our daughter at another school and she wasn't happy. From the teachers to the manner in which the curriculum is taught, the quality of education has surpassed anything we could ever hoped for our children. But not only is the level of education excellent, the love and care that each teacher offers each student is amazing and unique. We are extremely grateful that our children (now 4) have had the opportunity to attend The Charlottesville Waldorf School, my hope is that more parents will find it for their children.

Posted: September 6, 2013

C,ville Waldorf is such a unique place. We moved to the area especially so my children can be ushered into the beauty of life long learning using an intentional, and tried and true method. I am hooked and impressed by the community created by the organzied administration. Parents of students in my child's school include public school teachers, nurses, doctors, carpenters, engineers, small business owners and artists- a very diverse crowd. The Waldorf method seems to pinpoint developmental stages pretty perfectly. The curriculum is rigorous, but becasue of the timing and beauty with which mateial is introduced, children feel hungry to learn. We did a Montessori School last year, and though my child loved his teachers, there is a light in his eyes that didn't exist last year, where he seemed to find himself in the "waterworks" station of the classroom most of the time. I look forward to my own growth through my child's time at the school. I feel like I have hired a personal consulting firm as my child's teacher is available to help us with home rhythm and other issues where I need assistence and we have already set up a home visit with her. I would wish this on every child!!

Posted: August 24, 2013

I have four children who attend CWS and have nothing but wonderful things to share about the program here. The teachers are so talented, so brilliant...it is really a joy to give this education to my children. There is something, more like *many* things, to look forward to each day for every child: plenty of time to read in grade school, plenty of time to play outside with friends when they are little. Art and music every day for every child--my son loves learning his string instrument--it is such a pleasure to parent a boy who loves books, lacrosse and orchestra! The depth of my kids' education is stellar--it touches all disciplines regularly. All CWS children love having two recesses a day until 8th grade to chill out between academics. During recess is very common to see middle schoolers playing chase with 1st graders and 3rd graders playing soccer with 8th graders. The mentoring relationships 8th graders form with the 2nd graders on Library Day is especially precious. The little kids adore attending the big kids' science fair--my first grader couldn't get enough of the 8th graders' electronic circuit projects. You just have to come see for yourself this amazing school!

Posted: August 18, 2013

Charlottesville Waldorf School is an excellent, caring and fantastic place for my children. The teachers and staff are incredibly attentive, intelligent and creative people who have our children's best interests at the forefront of their awareness at all times. My child is entering the second grade this year and is excited to return to school and learn from her teacher again. The combination of creativity and academics creates an environment that nurtures true and lasting intelligence that will support my child's learning process for the rest of her life.

Posted: August 11, 2013

From a parent's perspective, the Charlottesville Waldorf School (CWS) is everything I could ever ask for from a school for our son, who is now entering 6th grade. The teachers (and faculty) are truly dedicated to nurturing the students. Great value is placed on the uniqueness of each child. Kindness and respect for one another is felt throughout the entire campus. Much time is spent in outdoor play, with emphasis on our connectedness to nature. Intellectual curiosity is encouraged. Children are taught in a holistic manner, nurturing their minds, bodies, and souls, while educating them in so many important areas of life. Art and music are cultivated as part of the main curriculum, beginning in the Early Childhood classrooms. Music and plays are performed often and are cherished by all. Students have learned to share their talents with great joy. There is a strong sense of community within the school itself, with many festivities celebrated year after year, building fond memories for both the students participating and the families coming to attend. Through our son's 7 years in attendance, CWS has deeply enriched , not only our son's life, but our entire family! We love CWS!!

Posted: August 11, 2013

This will be my daughter's second year at CWS, and we couldn't be happier here. I love that she's in a place that protects her childhood while stimulating her mind and her creativity. She'll never be taught to a test or given mindless busy work here - at CWS they teach our children to think critically, to ask questions, to approach subjects from every angle, and grow into complete individuals. They have art and music every day; they spend time outside in every class (Pre-K through 8) every day; they study language and history and science and math in tremendous detail, but they also tackle woodworking and handwork and gardening. Our faculty follow their students through the grades learning all there is to know about their students and the best ways to reach each and every one of them. They are the best trained and mentored faculty I've ever seen. We feel very lucky that we are able to have our daughter at this amazing institution. I wish more people knew about our little school in the woods across from Penn Park.

Posted: August 11, 2013

The Charlottesville Waldorf School has provided my 3 sons with an amazing education. Having enrolled my children at the school since pre-school, and now having my oldest in middle school, has exposed me to many different teachers, subjects, and other parents. I love the way that the curriculum is designed to meet the needs of the child as he develops each year, I am truly impressed by the way that each of my children are engaged in his studies and work, and I love this community here, which has really become like an extended family. CWS has nourished by sons to become voracious readers and thinkers who engage eagerly - and with intellectual curiosity - in the world around them. It has also taught them important social skills, developed their imaginations and creative forces, honed their musical abilities, and really taught them the foundations of history, writing skills, mathematics, and science (even physics and electronics!)

Posted: September 11, 2012

Charlottesville Waldorf School is the best school in Charlottesville. I have several kids that span several grades, and the teachers are fabulous and dedicated and really know and love my children, the campus is beautiful and serene, and each child gets the individual attention that they need to learn successfully. The curriculum is so rich with hands on learning, engagement with the imagination and critical thinking, I love it!

Posted: September 11, 2012

My son just started 1st grade at CWS, and every day I'm amazed at the wholeness of his experience, and the way he is learning to see the world. The dedication and expertise of the teachers also sets this school apart. This method, in my opinion, is the future of education, and it gives children the skills the future job market needs - critical thinking skills, flexibility, collaboration skills, performance arts, and an appreciation of beauty.

Posted: September 10, 2012

I just came home from a class meeting at CWS and am totally in awe of how much our teachers care and know the children and...how much they have completed in the first couple of weeks at school! How inspiring. How I wish school looked like this when I was a kid. We are so lucky to have such an amazing school nearby. My children are so engaged with their classes and love their teachers. Thank you, CWS!!!

Charlottesville Waldorf School

Charlottesville, VA 22901

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Charlottesville Waldorf School

Charlottesville, VA 22901

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