About Our School:

The Waldorf School of Philadelphia is a vibrant learning community where education based on a deep understanding of the developing child integrates the intellectual with the artistic, the practical with the beautiful, and fosters the ability to engage fully in the world.

Established in 1996, The Waldorf School of Philadelphia is an independent K-8 school located on a beautiful 38 acre campus in Mt Airy, Philadelphia.

What is Waldorf?

Waldorf education is math, sciences, humanities, the arts and more. Applauded worldwide for more than 80 years, Waldorf aims to educate the whole child, igniting a lifelong love of learning. The rich Waldorf curriculum provides the complete range of subjects taught in most American schools, with the addition of foreign languages, music, movement, handwork, and performing arts. At each grade, learning is carefully tailored to the natural stages of child development.

We achieve our mission by:

- Applying the innovative educational philosophy and curriculum of Rudolf Steiner in a contemporary context,
- Upholding a standard of excellence and integrity in academics, arts and human relationships,
- Honoring and valuing each child and his or her unique gifts,
- Cultivating dynamic working relationships with and among the faculty, the board, the administration and the community of families,
- Striving for cultural diversity within an urban setting, with a commitment to the importance of nature and its stewardship.

Learning at The Waldorf School of Philadelphia

Waldorf education nurtures healthy emotional and intellectual development by recognizing that children of different ages have different modes of learning. We offer a classical education that balances artistic, academic and practical work.

From our early childhood programs to our 8th grade classroom, the innovative methodology and developmentally oriented curriculum of The Waldorf School of Philadelphia progresses as the child's consciousness unfolds.

Music, art, movement and drama are an integral part of the curriculum. They enhance and support the academic subjects, but even more importantly, they help the children to develop into well-balanced human beings. Their main lesson books, artwork and handwork projects all reflect a budding appreciation for the world's beauty and a developing pride in their ability to express themselves with assurance.

Our students develop strong intellectual capacities, a healthy feeling life and the ability to apply themselves in practical, constructive ways.

Renaissance children in the 21st century

They bake bread, they knit, they sculpt, they muse... the hammerings of the heart, the mysteries of the mind, the songs of the soul. They build their own playgrounds, they make their own text books, they discover foreign languages. They use their minds, their hands, their hearts in every endeavor. They value kindness, creativity and the spirit of the community. Indeed, they learn that there is nothing they can’t do, achieve or become.

Spirituality at The Waldorf School of Philadelphia

The Waldorf School of Philadelphia is non-sectarian and non-denominational and welcomes children, faculty and staff from all religious and cultural backgrounds. We respect and support the spiritual beliefs and practices of all of our families. Our approach is based on the recognition that there is a spiritual dimension to the human being and to all of life. We strive to develop the mind, body and spirit of the child, encouraging in the process the child's spiritual freedom and growth. As in every Waldorf school, our teaching works toward this aim by drawing on the insights into human development pioneered by Rudolf Steiner.

Waldorf and electronic media

By delaying the regular use of television, video games and computers, children develop a strong foundation in using their own capacities and experiences for imagination, research and analytical and critical thinking.