Waldorf Academy Reviews

Gain exclusive insight into life at Waldorf Academy from our carefully curated video and written reviews, including roundtable Q&As, that deliver in-depth insider info from parents, alumni and students.

Our Perspective on Waldorf Academy

We often consider the ideal student for a certain educational setting, though with Waldorf schools, it's important to also consider the ideal parent. Instruction student directed; benchmarks are less important than engagement. Multiple intelligences, multiple-sensory learning, cross-curricular instruction, visual learning—it's perhaps the epitome of what we think of as alternative education: constructivist rather than didactic. Waldorf Academy is one of the first of its kind in Canada, and was created when a group of parents decided to come together to create the kind of school that they wanted for their children. It's grown since then, and the organization and infrastructure has been formalized as well, including the creation of a purpose-built learning environment. Nevertheless, the core concept remains. The successful student is one who thrives in an interactive, transactional, arts-enriched setting. The ideal parent is one who sees the value in a constructivist approach, narrative-based assessment (letter grades are given in Grade 6 and up) and who prizes a considered and careful approach to the use of technology.

Video reviews

Get crucial behind-the-scenes information about Waldorf Academy from video interviews with probing questions that we recorded live with parents, current students, and recent alumni.

All (2) Parent (1) Roundtable Q&A (1)


Parent, Abi Etches-Raheel (2021) Watch our parent interview with Abi Etches-Raheel to get the inside scoop on what it’s like to have a child attend Waldorf Academy.	all_videos parent_videos	,
Roundtable Q&A (2020) Watch our Waldorf Academy Q&A discussion with Danielle (Parent), Ali (Alumnus), Dasana Rose (Alumnus) to gain fresh insight into the school’s culture, values, and strengths.	all_videos roundtable_videos	,

Written reviews

Dive deeply into the real culture of Waldorf Academy with reviews we’ve structured to highlight only the most valuable insights and opinions submitted by parents, students, and alumni.

All (5) Parent (5)


(4.7) Parent, Cindy Waldman (2020) Our son has really enjoyed his time at Waldorf Academy. Waldorf Academy has a very warm, invit... The school administration is very responsive and easy to access. They are often found outside at drop off and pick up greeting parents and children. They are open to questions, comments, and concerns. They are on the front l... The teachers at Waldorf Academy go above and beyond. The main lesson teachers are 100 percent engaged in your child's academic life at Waldorf Academy. The Waldorf philosophy follows kids through the grades and that results ... Following the Waldorf philosophy, the curriculum is geared toward whole child development and follows the child's physical, emotional, and mental development. Though this can sound odd to those coming from a more traditional f... As a smaller school, extracurriculars may not compare to large schools. However, there are ample opportunities in both sports and the arts to satisfy most. The school participates in competitive sports against other private sc... The Waldorf Academy is not a big school and because of that there is a warm family feel. All of the students, regardless of grade get to know and interact with each other. We feel this helps develop good social skills and emp... Our son loved going to school each and every day. The warm and welcoming community accepts and encourages each child to become the best 'self' they can achieve. The children's unique qualities are celebrated. Each morning ou... As a parent of a Waldorf Academy student you are welcome and encouraged to participate in the many of the schools activities. If you have a particular talent, you are often invited to share it either in the classroom, on the ... The school is centrally located on a quiet street just south of Casa Loma. It is near the Dupont Subway. Despite being in an urban neighborhood, it is walking distance to a variety of parks and ravines. Nature is a big part ... We applied from out of town and from the start to the end the process was very smooth and very personal. I appreciated that there was no admission test. Because of where we were located, we did not get to tour the school. Th...	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,
(4.3) Parent, Danielle Marcos (2020) My children love their teachers at Waldorf Academy: they are truly seen, understood, and valued... My first contact when I have any questions or problems is always my kids' class teachers. Over the years, I have found them to respond to my questions and problems promptly, and in a satisfying way. The teachers and I have a c... I am very happy with the quality of instruction at Waldorf Academy. The teachers I have worked with have all been extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what they teach. They consistently go above and beyond to deliver t... The academic program at Waldorf Academy is rooted in a deep understanding of child development and is enriched in music, theatre, and the arts. The latter subjects are not just taught separately by specialist teachers, they ar... Waldorf Academy definitely produces well-rounded students. As mentioned above, outdoor education, handwork, art, and music are emphasized as much as core academics. My son in grade school is encouraged to go deep in the areas ... The student body is small and generally tightly knit. Many of the students have been together for as long as they can remember, so they relate to one another and their teacher almost like a family would. There is also a lot of... I think the overall quality of student life at Waldorf Academy is great. My kids really enjoy going there because they are engaged by the curriculum, love their teachers, and enjoy participating in the social life of the schoo... The life of the school community at Waldorf Academy relies heavily on parent involvement. Parents are the driving force behind the festivals including the Winter Fair, May Fair, Lantern Walk, and Michaelmas play. We make costu... Waldorf Academy is located very close to the Dupont subway and is easily accessible by car, bike, and transit. The immediate surrounding area is quiet and residential, with a number of parks, and a ravine system nearby. Studen...	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,
(4.9) Parent, Michael Bernstein (2020) My son feels seen and cared for the way a family member would care for him. His individual nee... The administration knows every child in the school - not just by name, but they can tell you details about them. What they are strong in, what they need to learn, what their parent's names are. It's a true community at this s... The teachers are so committed and generous with their time. They treat the kids so lovingly, giving each- special, individualized care and coaching. Sometimes I am in disbelief of their dedication to our child and how much th... The academic program is holistic. It aims to develop the whole child and, in doing so, goes well beyond traditional academics to include the creative, social, physical, and spiritual aspects of the children as well. To be cl... Yes, there are many different opportunities. There are a variety of sports - basketball, soccer, volleyball, etc. There are artistic opportunities - music, drama, etc. And there are many opportunities to explore nature. Ther... The student body is a true community of caring kids and involved parents. The school is about 100 students from grades 1 to 8 so only about 12-15 students per grade. Everyone knows each other and there are no cliques or bulli... My child absolutely LOVES the school, loves his teachers, loves the environment and his friends. This is a true community that looks after and cares for each other. My son spends so much time learning about nature as he is ou... This is a true community where parents, faculty, and staff are all working in partnership to set the direction of the school and to solve problems as they arise. The parents are not just welcome to be involved, they are at t... For a school in downtown Toronto, the setting does a fairly good job of seeming serene and in nature. It is quiet in the back playgrounds. And the school takes frequent trips to a nearby ravine, and makes use of the grounds ...	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,
(4.3) Parent, Tyler Hague (2018) Waldorf Academy has the best elements of a small town school in the big city. Small class sizes... Waldorf Academy has a very dedicated leadership and administrative team. The school applies a unique shared model of leadership and decision-making that puts the students’ needs and wellbeing at the centre of everything. Our daughter has a wonderful bond with her teacher. Because the Waldorf methodology allows teachers to follow and teach their class over multiple years, teachers know their students deeply and teachers have the space to meet t... The Waldorf/Steiner educational philosophy focuses on building inner capacities and nurturing curiosity and creativity, which is so important in the modern world. The academics approach is centred on the value of enquiry. Subj... Waldorf Academy has a rich array of extracurricular activities for students at all age levels. There are numerous opportunities for students of different grades to work and play together. Our daughter has a grade 8 buddy, her class often joins the grade 2 class for class excursions and all the children come together for... Waldorf Academy has a rich school life – throughout the year, there are a range of festivals and events that highlight traditions and holidays from around the world and the diversity of Toronto. Waldorf Academy has a wonderfully rich and active community of student, educators and parents – this community is a foundation of the Waldorf model of education. There are many opportunities throughout the year to come toget... Waldorf Academy is located just south of Casa Loma, a location which is very accessible for families across the City of Toronto. We are able to bike the kids to school on the way to work.	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,
(4.8) Parent, Caroline Blouin (2018) Our daughter has found a home away from home, a place where she is loved, nurtured and apprecia... The uniqueness of Waldorf is that the teachers are truly empowered to lead their class. We have a fabulous teacher who fosters a wonderful community amongst the parents. We are all there as a community to support our children.... The teachers at Waldorf are absolutely amazing. They are passionate, committed, dedicated. They love the children and believe in possibilities. They fully understand that every child is unique and develop in their own unique a... I am absolutely confident that our daughter will be well prepared for her school years beyond Waldorf when the time comes. Waldorf tries to meet the child where they're at and build from there. It's a very nurturing approach... I am thrilled with Waldorf and I do believe that they are developing well-rounded, kind, articulate, respectful and creative children. However, if there was one area of opportunities would be more after-school activities and... Waldorf is a beautiful small school. The class sizes are small and the children get a lot of individual attention - they are seen and heard and feel appreciated. When conflicts occur, they are discussed in a promptly manner in... My daughter loves going to school. If I offer her a choice of staying home with me or going to school, she'll pick going to school. She wants to be there and part of me feels that she knows she's part of a bigger whole and for... The parents make the community! There are a ton of opportunities for parents to be involved. I would describe the parents as generally very caring and inclusive, open to enabling all children to grow and develop and fostering ... The school is a beautiful small school and it feels like a welcoming home. The children are well surrounded and looked after. There are a number of parks around the school that the children go to during the day.	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,

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Waldorf Academy Reviews

Our Perspective on Waldorf Academy

Video reviews

Parent, Abi Etches-Raheel (2021)

Roundtable Q&A (2020)

Written reviews

(4.7)

Parent, Cindy Waldman (2020)

(4.3)

Parent, Danielle Marcos (2020)

(4.9)

Parent, Michael Bernstein (2020)

(4.3)

Parent, Tyler Hague (2018)

(4.8)

Parent, Caroline Blouin (2018)

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