San Francisco Waldorf School views each child as a growing human being of body, soul and spirit, all of which must be nurtured by education. Following the indications of Austrian scientist and philosopher, Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), the children are taught in the context of their own stage of development. Subjects are brought to them in different ways at different ages so that they are encouraged, not rushed. Healthy play in the early years is followed by artistic learning in the lower and middle grades. This prepares the high school student for serious academic thought and work. The arts and practical work form the foundation out of which Waldorf education nourishes imagination, creativity, thinking, and self discipline.

The Waldorf curriculum addresses three discrete stages of child development. Between birth and age seven, the child learns primarily through imitation. The atmosphere surrounding the child is filled with beauty, goodness, and role models worthy of imitation. At this age the children need warmth and protection to develop their capacities in a natural, non-competitive atmosphere for creative play and work.

Children between the ages of seven and fourteen learn best from loving and consistent authorities who embrace the world with interest. At this age subjects are presented in a lively, artistic and engaging way in order to ignite children’s enthusiasm for learning the academic, practical, and physical skills they will need for life.

High school students learn best from experts in their fields with whom they can exercise their independent thinking and pursuit of truth. At this age students deepen their understanding of the world and of themselves. Through challenging intellectual study, they begin to master a wide range of subjects from mathematics to music, from science to humanities, from art to physical education.

At San Francisco Waldorf School our dedicated faculty and staff work together with parents to foster each student’s sense of self-reliance, social responsibility and moral purpose. The diverse cultures represented in our school community are a source of invaluable human experience from which the students and the entire community learn and grow.

San Francisco Waldorf School aims to encourage young people to bring the highest human capacities into their adult lives as they become world citizens of the future.