San Francisco Waldorf High School

San Francisco Waldorf High School is a local gem where college prep is balanced with a Waldorf backbone with plentiful arts and music electives, a hands-on approach, outdoor education, and a supportive community, while providing the skills needed to thrive beyond college. Students attracted to a quarter system will love this school. Whether attracted to the senior projects, the weaving looms, or the rotating science curriculum, students coalesce in a tree-lined street proximal to the West Portal Muni station and neighborhood.

Academics 

SF Waldorf is a small school that offers a college prep curriculum without the pressure or competition often associated with this concept. As a Waldorf School, they start each day with a Main Lesson, which is a 105-minute block with a deep study of a specific subject. The nine annual blocks of 18 to 20 days each consist of one math rotation (with every child exposed to calculus), four science rotations (biology, physics, chemistry, and earth science), and four humanities blocks (aesthetics, history, literature, and cultural studies). Students cover each of the four sciences in rotations every year, meaning they complete a full year of each science over the four years of high school. Science labs and student laptops offer integrated, hands-on exploration into technology. 

Following the main lesson, the schedule includes semester-long math, humanities/English, and world language courses, along with art, music and health classes.

Grading is in three nine-week blocks, similar to the quarter system. Fully certified by the University of California, students cover the required science, humanities, and other subjects during these blocks, and all classes meet University of California a to g requirements. 

New students are assessed for placement into math and foreign languages (Spanish and Mandarin), with no preset limits for advanced students. 

All seniors have the option to go on the Senior Quest, which is a multi day solo backpacking adventure. In addition, as a graduation requirement, they choose between a senior project or the senior class play. The senior projects are presented at the end of the year; recent examples include designing and building a self-driving car, providing paralegal services to immigrants, and composing, performing, and recording modern instrumental music.

Types of Students Served

SF Waldorf High School offers a well rounded education for students who seek a progressive curriculum with hands-on learning opportunities in a college prep environment. Students represent a range of achievement and may be a great fit middle schoolers from progressive, project-based schools, as well as those wanting college prep without excessive pressure. Self initiative is welcome in the Waldorf system, and grades include participation and subject mastery. 

The school’s Learning Support Team supports the 30% of students who are neurodiverse. The team includes a counselor, executive function coach, and learning specialist. 

The school capacity for each grade level is approximately 40 students. The school accepts transfer students; a transition plan for any curriculum differences is best discussed with admissions.

Waldorf School – What does this mean?

A hallmark of the Waldorf education is the Main Lesson, which is a 105-minute block each morning that rotates through different topics for math, science, and humanities. Similar to the quarter system, the classes rotate thru topics. For instance, each year, students take one quarter of each science: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science, one quarter of each math, and one quarter of each humanities: history, literature, cultural studies, and aesthetics. Waldorf schools also offer plentiful arts and PE electives (see next section).

SF Waldorf High School does not have a media pledge, but students hand in cell phones each morning. Laptops are available for school work as needed.

Sports, Arts, Clubs, Food, Travel

Twice a week, arts classes include electives for weaving (with a room of looms), glass making, book binding, basket making, drama, and stage design. In addition, every student takes music twice a week, with a choice of jazz band, orchestra, choir, guitar, drumming, and other options. Students rotate through arts electives each nine-week quarter.

Weaving Loom at SF Waldorf High School

Every Monday, seniors make lunch in the communal kitchen, and on Fridays, the seniors host a pizza lunch. A ping pong table, games, and music are available to students.

Seniors take a yearly trip to a west coast location, typically outdoors focused. In addition, each class takes a 3-night camping trip each year. 

Physical education includes traditional sports like floor hockey, volleyball, workouts and an optional eurythmy class in a wood-floored studio. Eurythmy is an art form unique to Waldorf schools, similar to dance set to poetry or music. Sports teams are open to all students with no cuts. About 60% of high school students participate in a team sport. Every year, graduates are recruited into NCAA teams, mostly Division 3 and some in Division 1 and 2.

Student created and led clubs meet during school. Current clubs and affinity groups include Black Student Union, Gender Sexuality Alliance, Beekeeping, Women in STEM, Newspaper, and Build a Go Kart.

College and Gap Year Counseling

SF Waldorf has a full time college counselor who meets with families beginning in 10th grade to explain the college admission process. In 11th grade, each family meets individually with the counselor to create parameters and college lists, and in 12th grade, students meet regularly and as needed to complete applications and make decisions. 

About 70 college admission representatives visit the school each year to meet with interested juniors and seniors. The overwhelming majority of graduates continue on to four-year colleges, and gap year counseling is also provided. SF Waldorf offers the PSAT and is planning to host the SAT and AP tests onsite for their students this year. Their curriculum is UCOP certified for University of California and California State University applicants.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Waldorf tuition is currently $56,000, and the school offers need-based financial aid and operates need-blind admissions. 

Role of a K-12 Consultant 

A consultant can help you craft your school list to be sure of a balanced list offering a match of services with the student and parent’s interests. A consultant can also review all admissions materials, in particular student and parent essays, to help focus them to each school’s admissions goals. A consultant can directly work with your child to brainstorm, draft, and edit their own essays. The consultant can provide feedback on whether the essays read as genuine and how to shine during the application process. 

Want more input on K-12 schools?

Vicky consults with families to help select, apply to, and communicate with public and private schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Vicky maintains a principle of non-judgment. Hourly, VIP, and Season packages include a discussion to review school options, applications, essays, and key decisions. Vicky offers a limited number of packages each year to assure her availability. 

Vicky’s own children have attended both public and private schools, and have received both accommodations and curriculum changes; her elder is in high school, and her younger in middle school. New clients can email to learn more about her services, or see her website to learn about her packages.