Pasadena Waldorf School Reviews by Parents

Pasadena is another problematic private Waldorf school which is the recipient of
problematic teachers from Highland Hall.

http://www.greatschools.org/school/parentReviews.page?id=9839&state=CA#from..Hea\
derLink

Posted April 2, 2014

I was highly disappointed with this school. I was seduced by the beautiful grounds healthy vegan snacks and gorgeous gift shop. But beyond the exterior I experienced an extraordinary rigidity. My daughter was told not to do yoga (unhealthy - do Steiner exercises instead) not to do family bed (encourages too much dependence - she was a toddler ) and to play with silk scarves instead of write letters or read (frowned upon before the age of 7). I also felt the practice of having only one class teacher for all the grades was fundamentally limiting. Most importantly I felt our teacher didn't have the skills to cope with either conflict resolution or bullying (which happened). I ended up taking my daughter out of the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Posted May 30, 2013

While Waldorf education is something I believe in the Pasadena school is a place I cannot recommend in good conscience. My child went to the school from pre through 2nd grade. Everything was great until we got a specific teacher in 1st who was terrible. When our child was singled out for mistreatment by the teacher we asked the administration for help. Big mistake! They were both clueless and had "it's the parent's fault" attitude. Our opinion didn't matter, the teacher is always right and if we didn't blindly trust the school then there must be something wrong with us. Thus began the shunning and systematic undermining of our child's trust and confidence in class. Yes, it's that bad. There are only two types in the eyes of the school. You are either one of the chosen few in the inner circle or you have not embraced the dogma as presented by the dysfunctional administration, teachers and college of teachers. Unless something drastically changes at this campus my advice is to look elsewhere for your child.
—Submitted by a parent

Posted March 30, 2013

We were unaware that the Steiner model placed the needs of one needy child above the safety and education of the rest of the students. My child learned to fear school based on the behavior of a child who hit, pushed, and interfered with my child's work and play at school daily in the PRE-preK class. PWS claims a "safe schools policy" but uses no specific strategy or culture to encourage or implement it. The teacher appeared ill-equipped to manage the misbehaving child, and neither of the 2 strategies she tried with him worked. It did not seem that she was even seeking other solutions to resolve the situation via mentors, books, other resources. We left PWS mid-year. The Sweet Pea program is developmentally inadequate for 3yo's, despite enthusiastic Waldorf rhetoric claiming to "meet the needs of the whole child." The materials are not engaging to 3yo's interests [even for non-TV/media kids like ours], and student behavior reflects it. 3yo's should be offered a preschool environment, with Sweet Pea concluding at age 2.5 in its current structure. This school seems more interested in "appearing Waldorf" than in meeting student needs. Ask for specifics on their bullying policies.
—Submitted by a parent

Posted January 11, 2013 - It was our experience that the Steiner model, while it might be adequate for Gr.K-1, showed its lack of relevance by Gr.2, and was clearly deleterious to our child's educational and emotional growth by Gr.4. PWS compounded those failings with stultifying teachers and a cliquey administration which refused to address classroom issues (inc. bullying, and the increasing presence of technology in the classroom), apparently because the offending students were the children of the wealthier parents; in a word: useless, the lot of them. The quality of education PWS was very shiny and showy, but surprisingly poor, with an appalling lack of focus on basics. We have a child who tests near the top of every graph, but whose years at PWS left gaping holes in his apprehension of the basics. The year we withdrew our child from PWS, a quarter of his class left at the same time...and the conversations had with those parents in the ensuing months were amazingly similar in tone with many of the same complaints. I think it's time for the Steiner adherents to get their heads out of the sand and reevaluate both the model and PWS execution of it; meanwhile, our child is flourishing in another school.

—Submitted by a parent

Posted January 6, 2013

I was happy here K - 3; but in 4th grade, cliques began forming, and teachers showed a certain favoritism, spending extra time on the students whose parents were financially useful. Some students were neglected by the teachers, some were also teased and bullied. The teachers, staff, volunteers and chaperones did nothing to address the bullying. In grades 5 and 6, the cliques got stronger and the bullying worsened. My parents grew weary of answering their concerns with "We're aware of the problem" but taking no action. PWS hypocricy was particularly demoralizing for those families who honored their commitment to Waldorf's educational guidelines. After seeing my classmates with iPhones and FB accounts, my parents got me a laptop and a mobile phone. As the bullying continued, my teacher s solution was to bring in another teacher and play "pass the pinecone", oblivious to the fact that anyone who spoke up was in for further torment. Finally, my parents removed me from PWS. My grades are excellent (Mom says so!) and I'm a happier person not having to drag into that environment every day. (PS: Approx. 1/4 of my class didn t return the next year.)

Posted November 29, 2012

My child spent 5 years at the school with 2 wonderful teachers. Unfortunately 1 very bad teacher changed everything for us. The problems we faced, we faced alone. There was no support for parents, no leadership at the school that was willing to do anything about this horrific teacher. The administration was of no help at all. Sadly this teacher is still employed even though the class has lost a half dozen students.
—Submitted by a parent

Posted September 20, 2012 - Wow, I am amazed at how one teacher can dominate the school and cause massive trouble for our family! The school is run by the College of Teachers, with no administrative check or balance. Literally, one teacher has caused us so much trouble, and no other teacher or administrator has had the courage to say its not right. We are *very* disappointed, and feel this school does not "walk the talk" of Rudolf Steiner's values or vision. —Submitted by a parent

Posted September 11, 2012 - Ultimately, as a parent, it is our responsibility to protect our children from all forms of misconduct, whether by their peers or by those in authority (i.e. teachers). It is unfortunate that it only takes 1 or 2 people to spoil the whole idea of a safe and nurturing environment for our children. After 5 years we are happily away from Pasadena Waldorf, and the insidious and ridiculous system called the College of Teachers. —Submitted by a parent

Posted July 27, 2012

Its true that your Waldorf experience depends deeply on the teacher your child has for 8 years. We liked our teacher, but ultimately, the College of Teachers Leadership Group is the body that runs the school, and we found them horribly self-serving, political, secretive, and unprofessional. They care more about their authoritarian grip on power than about the students. Problem teachers are protected, and its the kids who are forced out. Sad and frustrating.  —Submitted by a parent

Posted April 30, 2009
Pasadena Waldorf School has a fairy tale approach to life and does not prepare
children for the real world. The school's administration has no oversight and
teachers are free to instruct and discipline children any way they see fit. My
children had to be tutored after leaving Waldorf just to catch up with
mainstream society. The campus is beautiful and the ideals are romantic. The
story telling and performances are fun but do not begin to educate children in
today's complex world. There are some valuable lessons being taught, but negated
by the fact that a child cannot write correctly or spell. There is no test
taking and no monitoring of the educational process. Waldorf creates it's own
rules and changes them on a whim. I would not recommend this school to anyone
who takes their child's education seriously.
—Submitted by a parent

Posted November 16, 2007
The intentions are good, but it falls far short of it's goals.
—Submitted by a parent

Posted April 25, 2007
I am not sure the Waldorf model works in today's multicultural environment.
Having the same teacher from K-8 sounds romantic but it is rare to find an
individual with a skill set that can meet a child's needs over 9 years of
education. Parental involvement is very high and the atmosphere is nurturing. I
would not recommend a Waldorf Education unless you are prepared to supplement
your child's education w/ tutors and other outlets for both academic and
sporting activities. —Submitted by a parent

Posted February 1, 2007
After having my daughter at this school for 5 years, I pulled her out. They have
lost most of their good teachers and there is no oversight on poor performing
teachers. We most definitely would not recommend it for a quality educaton.
—Submitted by a parent

Teacher Spotlight - Justin Baltz
07/07/12 Please contact me directly if you have information related to Justin Baltz. This is very important and we need your help. 310-855-xxxx
04/02/12 He is way to touchy with the kids. My child [t]old [sic] me justin wants to give him hugs during games. I am filling a complaint.
11/22/11 I still have my child in the same school and heard from another parent that Justin is working again as a teacher? What is wrong with people? This guy should not be working with kids. He is irresponsi
06/11/11 He wasn't just out off it for most of the time, he was a terrible teacher and inappropriate with the kids. Glad he is gone.

Teacher Spotlight - Dorothea Hamilton
03/02/10 I think she's mean and and awful teacher.She's a nice person and all but there's one problem,THE TEACHING PART!
05/12/08 Bully and likes to gossip!
09/30/06 Never a smile - always a frown for both kids and parents.
07/02/06 The town gossip
06/21/06 mean and angry - always takes it out on the kids - plus she likes to gossip
06/09/06 She should smile at the parents when they drive in the morning. She stands in the parking lot and tries to stare them down.
06/03/07 shows no mercy.BEWARE.
02/08/07 always trying to push her rules and agenda onto the kids. very nosey

Teacher Spotlight - Ellen Levy
02/04/12  When Mrs. Levy does not yell, she is somber, humorless and strangely inarticulate when communicating with parents. Quick to interpret most innocent behavior as a sign of psychological and physical damage. Lies about child's behavior and conducts witch-hunt like investigations by secretly interrogating child's classmates. Tries to force the parents to commit a child to psychological treatment before giving him a chance to explain his behavior. Clearly needs much healing herself.
10/17/10 Awful temper
05/23/10  Stay on top of your child if she is going to be their teacher. Shame on PWS for putting children in front of her.

Waldorf Schools - How well do you know your child's teacher?

"One aspect of the insidious indoctrination in Waldorf schools is based on the establishment of a very close relationship between the teacher and his or her ​​students. Firstly, this proximity is enhanced by the fact that the same class teacher can follow the same group of students for six to eight years. This contributes to the creation of relationships that are more familial than professional. In addition, measures are deliberately taken to create the conditions for increased closeness."  Gregoire Perra former Waldorf student and Waldorf teacher. The Indoctrination of Students to Anthroposophy in the Steiner-Waldorf Schools

Yes, your child's teacher will be very close to your child... per Steiner's instructions.  They may be with your child for eight years - even more.  Waldorf teachers are intentionally supposed to get as close to the child as they can - and are to be seen as "authority" figures by the child.  

That's not always a good thing.

Perra continues later: "Here I must be very clear and also mention legally reprehensible behavior. Indeed, some ethical rules seem not to apply in the Steiner-Waldorf schools, and there are reports of sexual and romantic relationships sometimes occurring between students and teachers. For example, when I was teaching, I witnessed in one of these schools an illicit relationship that had developed between a teacher and a student of the upper classes. They started dating when the student was in 10th grade (Third) and the situation continued until the 12th grade (First or Terminal). All class teachers of the school knew about it, including some who were members of the board of the school. How could they ignore it, since this teacher and this student had come to live together in the same apartment? When this teacher left school after completing certification to teach further, all teachers of the upper classes — except one who probably wanted to be cautious, but who like the others who knew what had happened — came to a party in the apartment. Among themselves, teachers and students pretended to ignore or hide what was an open secret."

 - as we have seen with the recent disclosures of child abuse at Green Meadow Waldorf School.

One of the central conclusions from the independent investigation is that Green Meadow failed to adequately protect its students, faculty, staff, and community members from Mr. Alexandra. Allowing Mr. Alexandra to freely roam Threefold property resulted in giving him essentially unrestricted access to students and faculty members, and thereby enabled him to continue to victimize others. A number of the adults at Green Meadow and Threefold were in a position to have stopped Mr. Alexandra’s inappropriate and sometimes criminal behavior. However they did not do so, either because they were unaware of the breadth of his misconduct, or because they failed to understand the seriousness of what they had been told or had seen. 

Mr. Alexandra was a prominent member of the community and in a position of authority. Therefore his child victims were even less likely to come forward. In addition, T&M found that there was a feeling among some victims that adults at Green Meadow were complicit in what Mr. Alexandra was doing, since they observed his inappropriate behavior yet encouraged students to maintain a relationship with him. 

Doesn't this sound a lot like Gregoire Perra's description of teacher-student relationships going too far?  

Your child will have their teacher for many years.  

But there's another problem that makes this even more serious than the occasional bad teacher, child abuser or pedophile ending up at a Waldorf school.  Steiner instructed teachers to keep quiet about what happens in the school - even from parents.  Faculty Meetings is required reading for Waldorf teacher trainees.  It only takes Steiner to page 10 to get to how teachers should "not speak to people outside the school".

“However, there is something else that I would ask you to be aware of. That is, that we, as the faculty—what others do with the children is a separate thing—do not attempt to bring out into the public things that really concern only our school. I have been back only a few hours, and I have heard so much gossip about who got a slap and so forth. All of that gossip is going beyond all bounds, and I really found it very disturbing. We do not really need to concern ourselves when things seep out the cracks. We certainly have thick enough skins for that. But on the other hand, we clearly do not need to help it along. We should be quiet about how we handle things in the school, that is, we should maintain a kind of school confidentiality. We should not speak to people outside the school, except for the parents who come to us with questions, and in that case, only about their children, so that gossip has no opportunity to arise.”

From the Green Meadow Report:

"The findings, revealed in a damning report by a private investigative firm hired by Green Meadow, also accuse two other teachers of sex crimes — one of possessing child porn and another of assaulting a girl on a school-sponsored trip.  It says the school FAILED TO ACT when complaints of teachers' alleged criminal behavior surfaced.In the case of John Alexandra, the alleged serial offender, the school's lack of response enabled his predatory behavior, the report finds.

'Allowing Mr. Alexandra to freely roam Threefold property resulted in giving him essentially unrestricted access to students and faculty members, and thereby enabled him to continue to victimize others,' investigators said."

Waldorf schools are run by a very secretive society.  If you're involved in one... ask LOTS of questions - and insist on getting good, meaningful answers.  Waldorf schools are predisposed to hide information from parents... to keep things "confidential" - even to the point of preventing parents from talking with each other.  If your child's teacher is doing something inappropriate, there is no guarantee anyone will speak up, and a very good possibility nobody will speak up.  In Waldorf environments, they are trained to sweep this sort of thing under the rug.

So... how well do you know your child's teacher?  

Pine Forrest Charter School - Reviews by Parents

http://www.greatschools.org/school/parentReviews.page?id=218&state=AZ&sortBy=dd&\
page=2#revPagination

Posted January 30, 2013

We were very happy at this school for our child for the first few years. The social environment, caring, loving attitude is wonderful. The activities are fun and creative. Most of the teachers and aides are excellent and we truly felt our child was safe and in a socially thriving school. Unfortunately, it is true with the consistent complaint that if your child doesn't 'click' with their teacher from 1-8th grade, you are out of luck because the school will support the teacher. They did not listen to us as a family nor try to work with us at all when problems arose with our child. The lack of support was very disappointing as we thought this school would help our child and encourage us. Also, taking our child out of this program and trying to acclimate to the public school system has been challenging as the progression of acedemics is very different at this school. If we had known the friction was going to occur at PFS, we wouldn't have started our child there. Fortunately, kids are resiliant and our child is doing well in a new school!
—Submitted by a parent

BREAKING THE LAW!

Posted September 8, 2010
We pulled our daughter out of PFCS 12/09. The teacher was rigid and
unresponsive, the principal and others were at best unethical. We had a very
moderate special need, our daughters challenges were dismissed and worse than
not being addressed the existence of the challenges was DENIED. Our situation
resulted in an investigation by the AZ Dept. of Ed. and an conclusion of
multiple violations of special ed law and federal regulations. As long as things
went their (the school's) way things were wonderful, once we had a need that did
not fit their mold, the first and repeated "suggestion" from the principal was
that perhaps this just wasn't the school for our child. It is also absolutely
true that it totally depends on the teacher you get, we clearly pulled the short
straw, a different teacher and we would probably still be there.
—Submitted by a parent

Posted September 7, 2007
I have concerns about the philosophy of students staying with the same teacher
thru 8th grade. Is this system realistic? If it 'clicks' between teacher and
student, it is great. If it doesn't, it can be negative experience. The school
is inflexible about this subject and brushes off parents' concerns. I had a
child attend Pine Forest K-8, and it was a wonderful experience because the
teacher was open, honest, flexible, compassionate, knew and embraced every
student. I have another child who attended K-4, and I felt that this teacher
judged my child in first grade when the child was young, unfocused and 'chatty'
and never saw them differently after that. Test scores indicate student is doing
great, even excelling, yet teacher gives student 'needs improvement' on their
report card. Did my child become disengaged and stop performing to their full
potential? Would a change in teachers have made a difference?
—Submitted by a parent

Posted April 8, 2005
I choose this school after my child attended Kindergarten at a pubic school. I
was not happy that after only one year my child hated to read. Pine Forest take
a mush slower approach at academics and I am happy with that. I am not happy
with having the same teacher year after year. It has some good points, but also
bad points. I am also not happy with having no voice in the school. The
administration is not in controll. The decidions are made by the Pine Forest
School Board and the College of Teachers. The board is made up of hand picked
people, some not even parents of students at the school, and invited teachers.
The college of teachers are the teachers at the school. They do indeed know best
in many areas of education and teaching, but do not have the ability to speak
for every parent.
—Submitted by a parent

Stone Bridge Charter School Reviews by Parents

http://www.greatschools.org/school/parentReviews.page?id=14895&state=CA#from..He\
aderLink

Posted June 5, 2012

I would advise any new parent to PLEASE do their homework on Waldorf education. I thought that I did, I read the books, talked to other parents etc., however you do not truly understand it until you are there. It is 100% about the teacher that you get in 1st grade. The kindergarten completely sells the school - teachers are wonderful, teacher/child ratio is low and curriculum is positive. However, as a new parent, please look past the kindergarten and interview some of the teachers in the upper grades! Every year, the teacher in first grade is unknown until the last minute. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find good Waldorf educated teachers - there are just not that many out there. They have hired EXTREMELY poor quality teachers! Most parents I have talked to have to spend so much $$$ on extra tutoring for their children when they get close to junior high and high school. No one at the school will tell you this. The reason their test scores show grade level is because the school is made up entirely of white, middle class, educated families, it is not due to the teaching staff. Also, many of the teachers are unable to accomodate children with different learning needs.
—Submitted by a parent

Some of these are intended to be positive reviews... but the negative comes
through... Great next post here... it sums it up:

Posted April 22, 2011
SBS is a great school for some families but adheres to a strict Waldorf
pedagogy. Much is made of the media restrictions and delayed literacy, but
Waldorf is much more than locking up the T.V. and waiting to do ABCs. Any famliy
considering SBS should read up thoroughly on this form of education. Specific to
this school, the class sizes are large, even in grades 1-3 and in keeping with
Waldorf, the teaching is group based, rather than individualized. The
kindergarten is one of the best I have ever seen, and some of the grades
teachers are absolutely brilliant educators. However, the problem of
inconsistency among the classes is huge. The 1st gr. teacher is to remain with
your child through 8th gr. If your child gets one of the prized teachers, it's a
thoroughly enriching education. If you end up with a less than fabulous teacher,
you are in for much disruption and uncertainty. This also means that only a
small group of students benefits from the strongest teachers. Art is well
integrated, but it is of a specific style and not taught as a form of personal
expression. There is also a spiritual undercurrent to much of the teaching that,
though not overt, cannot be denied.
—Submitted by a parent

Posted April 10, 2011
This entire school year my child's teacher has said "good morning" to me maybe
twice. She has her own set of "pet parents" who she spends most of her time
with. She has shown aggressive behavior to my child and even though I have
mentioned this to the principal, the behavior continues. A very unhealthy
environment! Oh, and you're STUCK with such a teacher 'till 8th grade!
—Submitted by a parent

Posted March 5, 2011
Prospective parents should understand that a Waldorf education is a commitment -
subjects are taught at a different rate from regular public schools, so
especially in the early grades, the children can be significantly behind and a
switch may be a stumbling block. It is the goal at Waldorf schools that teachers
stay with their class throughout the grades. This can be wonderful, since the
teacher has an intimate understanding of his/her class which can truly benefit
the child. However, this can also present problems when things don't work out
with a teacher. Our children have been SBS students for years, but we are now
faced with the problem of a teacher who has extreme and militant rules. Meetings
take place, suggestions and promises are made, but the problems persist. Since
there is no obvious indication that anything is being done, it is clear that we
cannot continue with this teacher until 8th grade. We are now confronting a
switch to another school. This will be a traumatic event for our family and I
wouldn't wish this situation on anyone.  —Submitted by a parent

A Parent's Story

Here's a wonderful response in the comments of this thread:

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/04/my-waldorf-student-son-believes-in-gnomes-and-thats-fine-with-me/274521/

feathered_head 

Dear Mr. Berlatsky,

We started our daughter in a parent toddler program at our local Waldorf school at the age of one. She remained in Waldorf until age 9. She is going on 15 now and we are still trying to help her overcome the damage that was inflicted. Her best friend at the school is now 16 and still CANNOT READ.

Our daughter is a natural artist -- which doesn't quite fit into the Waldorf scheme. You think your child is learning to draw? Well, only if they COPY exactly what the teacher draws. Your child brings home a beautiful painting and I know how you feel -- so proud and gratified that you've made such a good decision for her, that is, until you visit the classroom and see 30 identical paintings. They actively suppress individuality until the age they determine it appropriate -- MIDDLE SCHOOL.

We abided by the no TV, no computer ban for years. I don't disagree with it -- but it doesn't end there. These people are religious fundamentalists who will attempt to dominate just about every aspect of your parenting decisions. When my daughter was 9, she asked to read Harry Potter, so we got if for her. It was her first long book and she dug into it with joy. She brought it to school with her and the teacher confiscated it. When I picked up my tearful child, the teacher screamed at me for giving the book to her -- hysterical like I'd sent the kid to school with a loaded gun. This occurred in front of my daughter and other students and their parents. My daughter was traumatized by seeing her mother yelled at and the other children taunted her that her parents were "bad."

I relate this story (there are so many more) to illustrate that in reality, only a narrow range of passive children (and their parents) will truly thrive in the Waldorf system. The teachers use the parents, but they are actually taught that the parents are an obstacle to their task, not partners.

Are you aware that Waldorf teachers still utilize PRENOLOGY to assess the intelligence of a child based on the size and shape of their SKULL and that they also categorize your child based on the medievil notion of the "four temperaments" -- Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Melancholic? They use this categorization to direct them away from their natural tendencies and towards becoming what they value -- a well-rounded person. Maybe this sounds reasonable -- but in practice, it means active suppression. So if your child is an intellectual -- early reader for instance, they instruct you NOT TO LET THEM READ. In first grade, my daughter drew faces on the people in her drawings and her teacher scolded her for it and insisted she draw with a chunky rectangular block crayon to ensure that no further detail would be attempted! NO FACES until they say its OK. If your child is LEFT-HANDED, they will force them to use their RIGHT HAND. Bullying is rampant and ignored by the adults in Waldorf schools because they believe that conflicts are due to "past lives" and the children need to work it out themselves.

Look -- I get why parents are drawn to Waldorf. We desire a beautiful, loving environment for our children -- but that is an illusion. Like you, I am jewish also, and I did my best to ignore all the heavy duty Christian stuff -- thinking it quaint, and let myself be seduced by the aesthetics. Problem is -- they are serious about it ALL -- the dark side of Christianity as well as the Gnomes. The fairy stories and aesthetics are not separate from the underlying insane philosophy, and the longer you and your child are exposed to it, the more you will see the damage it does. To those of you who are ethnic minorities and considering sending your child to a Waldorf school, just Google Steiner, anti-semitism and racism -- and think twice.

The people teaching in Waldorf school are not always qualified teachers -- they are more likely, just true believers of Steiner -- their religion is anthroposophy -- and they only need to be trained in the Waldorf system to teach your child. And in their system, the same teacher will be teaching your child for up to 8 years without so much as a college degree. They aren't trained in modern methods of assessing learning disabilities. And they delay teaching reading until age 7 -- so what happens if your kid has dyslexia or other learning disability? They will send you to an anthroposophic "Doctor" who will prescribe homeopathics and silk caps. Like my daughter's friend, they will be illiterate -- maybe for life -- because their problem was treated as some sort of spiritual failing instead of an organic disorder.

And think about what happens when your kid's teacher doesn't like your kid and they are stuck with that negative feedback for YEARS. Think this can't happen? Your kid may be able to endure the treatment for a year, but several years? By third grade, it got to be so bad that my daughter threw tantrums every morning pleading with me not to go there. We found out later that her teacher was regularly punishing her -- putting her outside alone in the winter rain and forced to jump rope. We found out that what appeared to the teacher as lack of attention was really that the poor child was going deaf and she couldn't follow the lesson! The teacher had no training to discern what was happening -- and we only figured it out when we saw red flags noted not by her main teacher, but by her eurythmy (dance) teacher in her end of the year report. She noted that my daughter couldn't follow in dance, looked confused etc. Even when we showed the teacher the shocking audiogram and doctors report, her cold and ignorant response was "She can hear me just fine!" Several years later this teacher was fired for cursing and violently toppling of desks in the classroom -- but only after a full blown parent revolt! My daughter was the first to leave that class -- the most vulnerable -- the canary in the coal mine. I should have believed her when she told me the teacher was terrible and I will live with the guilt of subjecting her to this treatment for so many years -- but like you, I was in love with the IDEA of Waldorf and bought into it completely.

IT IS A CULT, whether you choose to recognize it or not. We built our lives around the place. I loved the parents and children -- and the administration adored me for my volunteerism and donations to the place. But in the end, they did not show any love for my child. I will agree with you that Waldorf for pre-school and kindergarten is magical -- and that is when they hook you. But please take my warnings seriously. Waldorf should be avoided. Its fortunate you are transitioning your child out at 4th grade. You may find out that you waited too long. I predict the transition for your kid will be very difficult -- both culturally and academically. Thanks for your patience with this long screed, but every time I stumble upon another journalist naively enlisting new recruits to this nightmare, I just have to speak up!

And in response to another poster...

You are most fortunate that your daughter had a good experience, but from your description, I think she is academically gifted and would have thrived anywhere she went. As for taking the crazy stuff in stride -- I naively assumed that these were modern people, politically liberal, artistic and therefore open-minded. I really thought that they were talking metaphorically and that they were just trying to create a magical place for the children. Unfortunately, after we left, I recalled many of the nutty things that happened, things that were said, and edicts handed down that in hindsight clearly were directives of Steiner's "truths." The teachers actually did their best to never let parents know what the underpinnings of their actions were -- but sometimes things slipped out. Once, I asked a teacher about how seriously they took the PASSION story because my daughter came home from school and told me the jews killed God. She was upset and so was I. I never did get a satisfactory explanation -- just a weird story about how there were really two Christs. HUH?

...

When we were deeply immersed in Waldorf, I would read stories on-line from people who'd had bad experiences and I thought something must be wrong with them and/or their kid. When a family would leave the school in a huff, we thought of them as troublemakers and good riddance. Now those that are still there probably say the same of us!

I hope you understand just how sad I felt writing all of this to you -- but I want people to understand that it is not just cute Gnomes and all. Waldorf is the educational branch of a religious organization and the teachers are true believers. What they teach is not innocuous -- and the proof is that they hide the questionable stuff from the parents. I think your kid is doing fine there -- you are lucky. But as a journalist, perhaps you might do a bit of research on your subject and follow up.

Oakland Steiner School Reviews by Parents

Oakland Steiner School is located in Rochester Hills, MI.

http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/michigan/rochester-hills/oakland-steiner-school/#reviews

Anonymous: My sons teacher was very mean to him. She yelled at him for not being good at art or musical instruments. The teachers here are mean to the unartistic children and the ones who are allowed access to technology. Never send your child here

Submitted by a Parent on Nov 5, 2011

I have to agree with the previous reviewer, although our circumstances were not as tragic, my daughter is currently in therapy still working on the emotional scars left by her Oakland Steiner kindergarten teacher. I love the Waldorf curriculum, but this school doesn't follow it, and there are many children in third, fourth and fifth grade that still cannot read and write. Parents are told not to worry, it is the Waldorf way, and problems are never really addressed. There is a heavy emphasis placed on a child's ability to craft and draw, which is great, but my daughter is a bit delayed in that area, and she was belittled, teased and openly compared to other students, by her teacher. Labeled as naughty, she began to act out. When this was addressed to administration, we were ignored, then told that it was because she watched too much TV. To be clear, we don't have cable, and do not watch TV, but we watched a family movie together once a week. By February of kindergarten, we were no longer taking her to class, just coming in for lunch, and playtime, after her teacher had left for the day. We had already paid tuition in full and were unable to afford to pay for another school. Because of the wonderful friends I made, and the parent community, I was willing to give the First grade teacher a chance, but thankfully by that time our financial situation had changed and we were not able to return. I have watched my friends children fall further and further behind, not have their issues addressed, be bullied by adults and children, have mixed age grades, because of a lack of qualified teachers, and have teachers dismissed because of poor administration.
Finally, after a year of being through with the school, they came back at us with some unfair, and previously agreed upon financial issues. They wanted money. We ended up fighting with them all summer over it, and finally went in with our piggy banks and paid them so they wouldn't send us to collections. At the very least, if you do make the decision to put your child here, make sure you get every agreement in writing. Do not trust them, because they will come after your heart, and then your pocket book.

Submitted by a Parent on Sep 23, 2010

Debbie Smith: I would seriously caution anyone from having their child attend OSS.  While the Waldorf philosophy is great, this school does not apply it.  There is much talk of nurturing childhood, maintaining the same classroom teacher from 1st - 8th grade, teaching children where they are at academically, providing a compassionate and loving environment, and a wonderful curriculum.

Sadly, in my opinion,  this private school is really all about money.  Along with high tuition, parents are constantly being asked for more and more throughout the year.  They make you sign a tuition contract that they enforce even if circumstances change.

 If you were to get transferred mid year, you would still owe your full tuition.  If your child was diagnosed with cancer (as ours was) and you removed a sibling from the school - you would still be required to pay the full years tuition.  My son's teacher -who we adored, was fired abruptly at the end of 2nd grade.  (The main reason we enrolled at OSS was for our child to have the same teacher). We were assured the new teacher was going to be wonderful - not so.  We decided to give her a try and were so amazed at how cold, mean, unapproachable and negative she was.

Just one week into the school year, our daughters (6 yrs old) cancer had returned and it eventually took her life 5 months later.  During this time, our son had the worst experience at OSS.  The teacher was the most callous person imagineable regarding our family and what we were going through.  We did remove our son half way through the school year and the school is suing us for the remainder of the tuition contract.  Our sons self esteem was shattered and it has taken countless hours of therapy and a wonderful new school to erase some of the things his teacher said to him.  She made him feel stupid, inadequate, nervous and unteachable.

Don't be misled by all the "talk" about nurturing children - this is a business and they are all about the tuition.

Submitted by a Parent on May 4, 2009

Waldorf Academy Intimidates Parents into Silence about Sexual Predator-Teacher

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/waldorf-academy-teacher-charged-1.3534563

"The teacher, 41-year-old Ryan McCombe, was charged by Toronto police in January and February for alleged assaults in 2008 and 2012 that occurred outside of the school and involved a 13-year-old girl and then a 16-year-old girl."

A Toronto private school that was warned about the alleged "inappropriate behaviour" of a teacher more than a year before he was charged with sex assaults has asked parents to sign a code of conduct that some say is silencing them, CBC News has learned.

The Waldorf Academy's "Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct," obtained by CBC News, asks signees to "disengage from communication with fellow parents that place blame" and "refrain from 'third party talk', i.e., the passing of information, hearsay and speculation."

"We feel scared to speak," said one parent who asked not to be named. "It's like [the school] is saying, 'be silent and accept whatever we say.'"

Several Waldorf parents expressed concern about the code of conduct but did not want to speak about it on the record.

"Conduct deemed inappropriate," the letter reads, "will be dealt with immediately to resolve and repair the situation. If there is no willingness or effort by the parent to work constructively toward a resolution, the School reserves the right to terminate or decline re-enrollment." 

The code of conduct was issued in a March 16 letter to parents obtained by CBC News that came after the teacher was charged earlier this year with sexual assault, sexual interference, sexual exploitation and possessing, making and accessing child pornography.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

Well this sure sounds familiar. I think Highland Hall Waldorf School in California has a similar document that was issued when they had similar problems.

 (Click to Enlarge the images above)

Back to our story...

The teacher, 41-year-old Ryan McCombe, was charged by Toronto police in January and February for alleged assaults in 2008 and 2012 that occurred outside of the school and involved a 13-year-old girl and then a 16-year-old girl.

But it wasn't the first school administrators had heard of alleged inappropriate behavior involving McCombe.

The school received a letter in September 2014 from an "unregulated psychotherapist" that described an alleged relationship between McCombe and one of the therapist's clients, CBC News has learned.

In a letter to parents, obtained by CBC News, the school says the "anonymous, historical, unsubstantiated claim" gave it "no legal grounds to terminate Mr. McCombe's employment."

The school did not notify police and the teacher continued working at the school up until his arrest in January.

 "We were shocked. It's like they were hiding it," 

a parent, who requested anonymity, told CBC News.

When asked by CBC News why the police were not notified about the letter in 2014, the school said it was advised by legal counsel at the time that the police would not be able to address the matter.

Related Stories:

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2016/01/08/toronto-tutor-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-teen.html

On Friday, the Waldorf Academy, near Bathurst St. and Davenport Rd., removed a staff biography for a man named Ryan McCombe from their website. The private school also removed a video of man of that name at a 2014 school barbecue from their Facebook page.

A Waldorf Academy staff member declined to comment when the Star contacted the school about the removed pages.

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2016/02/03/more-sex-assault-charges-against-toronto-tutor.html

A Toronto private school teacher who was charged last month with sex offences is now facing more charges.

Ryan McCombe, 41, was arrested on Feb. 1 and charged with six offences, including two counts of sexual assault, one count of sexual exploitation and one count of making child pornography.

The charges relate to incidents involving a then-16-year-old girl that allegedly took place between September 2012 and October 2014 at a private residence near Yonge St. and Lawrence Ave.

On Jan. 7, McCombe was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference in connection with the alleged 2008 sexual assault of a then-13-year-old girl.

Police say McCombe, who worked at the Waldorf Academy near Bathurst St. and Davenport Rd., was tutoring the 13-year-old complainant when the incident allegedly occurred.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/waldorf-academy-warned-about-teacher-prior-to-sexual-assault-charges/article29614015/

A Toronto private school was warned by a therapist about alleged inappropriate behaviour by one of its teachers nearly two years before he was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault.

The Waldorf Academy felt it could not legally suspend or dismiss the teacher after he denied the allegations and the Children’s Aid Society declined to investigate because the complainant was more than 16 years old. Instead, according to a confidential review obtained by The Globe and Mail, administrators decided to let the teacher continue to teach elementary-school children and to monitor his behaviour informally.

Mr. McCombe, 41, has been suspended indefinitely without pay, the school said. The incident, however, raises questions about whether the school should have allowed him to work closely with children, and even accompany them on an overnight camping trip, after receiving the warning. 

Might have something to do with hiding problems and silencing dissent.

http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Ryan-McCombe/1613857108

Mountain Phoenix Waldorf Charter School Reviews by Parents

http://www.greatschools.org/colorado/wheat-ridge/4256-Mountain-Phoenix-Community-School---Wheat-Ridge/reviews/
Posted December 26, 2014
- a parent
This is a school's story of how to go about grabbing defeat out of the jaws of a clear victory in a Waldorf-inspired charter school that for a time was a model for the country. It was clearly bringing great creative-thinking education to our kids. But, with martinette precision, sheeplike Board members listen to and follow uncredentialled leadership as two individuals are in total control. Waldorf-trained teachers will soon be leaving. Even though a research showed lack of support for the new Principal, the Board voted to extend her 2 more years. She works with the School's Board Treasurer. As we seek for our children to become reasonably moral & socially presentable but if the Board is not so inclined how can we expect our children to be as well. Waldorf requires meaningful work keeping the curriculum healthy. Looks like that train has left the station. So sad.

Posted November 15, 2014
- a parent
This school is terrible. They ask for too many "donations". Also, if you were looking for a school where you can learn, just leave. There is too much play time. For example, most middle school classes get two recesses and a snack time. Really? The is much favoritism in the school. I looked at other reviews and saw that people were happy with how artsy this school is. Yes, it has a good art system, but the students are only copying the teacher's work and are not able to be creative with their own ideas. There are no sports at this school, which I find sad. The students don't do very much homework and will NOT be high school ready. This school is terrible and I will not recommend it to ANYONE.

Posted October 10, 2014
- a parent
Sadly we had to abandon Mountain Phoenix. We were sold on the idea of positive reinforcement fostering individualized academic growth. I was told that a student would be encouraged to meet their potential. What happened instead is my student was encouraged to find something quiet to do. This did not grow his skills in any way. In fact, he left the school with less proficiency, then he arrived. It appears to be a good concept, but it fails.

Posted May 12, 2014
- a community member
Phoenix Mountain School. I am a grandparent from out of state. Both my husband and I taught school. I am concerned about the D rating from the state for this school. It was posted in the Jeffco Observer. There were only 4 D schools and 2 F schools. How are the schools actually rated? Can anyone answer this question? A grandparent

Posted April 27, 2014
- a parent
The school is more closely aligned with Steiner philosophy than it claims. This can be ideal if you are looking for this type of education. If you are unfamiliar with Steiner philosophy then it can be a surprise. The imagination that children develop here is amazing. Children learn to be sensitive and kind. Friendships and community are above and beyond wonderful here. The school struggles to provide the education in line with its philosophy and meet state standards. It's a curious blend and brings unpredictability. Science education here is not in line with any other style of school. Academics are soft. Children with behavior problems bounce in and out of this school, teachers are left alone to deal with the disruptions. The adherence to safety and handling of injuries at the school is questionable at best and not in line with district requirements. Children are encouraged to tough it out, which has it's benefits, but parents are frequently not notified in a timely manner when children are injured. This school is not for everyone, but it is good to see it become more available to children as an option in education.

Posted April 27, 2014
- a teacher
I was at this school for two years and while it is a beautiful school that offers much more richness than most neighborhood schools can, there is a price to be paid. I have spent twenty years in education and this is the least innovative or creative environment I have been involved with. Children are required to copy the teacher's work and there is very little room for their own thoughts or ideas. In this educational environment, students are taught to rely on others for the "right" answer. Clearly, this leads to less curiosity and innovation than most other alternative schools The leadership is abysmal at MPCS and until the current head of school is replaced, I fear that the school will not be able to truly help kids become the best persons they can be. However, if the right changes are made, this could be an amazing school- there are wonderful teachers who know their profession and will do their best for children if they are allowed to do their jobs in an environment that feels safe, professional and supportive.

Posted April 04, 2014
- a teacher
I used to work at this school before the current administration took over and during the first year the current principal was in control. The school was always disorganized but it got worse my last year at the school. There was a lot of disagreement and contention with the staff and the principal. The principal seemed more concerned about furthering her career and making a name for herself than the school, the ideology and the kids. Many reviews mentioned their child was kicked out after the official student enrollment count from Jeffco so the school would still receive money for the child. I can confirm this was 100% the case for many of the years I was employed at the school. The structure of the school was alright, I could easily see favoritism from the teachers towards specific students. A school is supposed to be a place of learning with structure and encouragement but this was not the case. It was more of a hodgepodge of crafts, painting and writing with the staff acting like they were in high school rather than teachers.

Posted January 06, 2014
- a parent
In our first year at MCPS, our child flourished under a patient teacher who had the whole child's development in mind. We looked forward to a great 2nd year! Only several days into the new school year, our teacher expressed concern about behaviors in our child, which we had never witnessed typifying our child in a way completely different than teachers of the last several years. The teacher's communication lacked discretion and professionalism. Furthermore, we were concerned with both how she spoke to and restrained our child. We then learned from school leadership that this teacher didn't have an hour of formal study in education at all instead was self-studied for the certification exam. They maintained that the 2 teacher openings had not seen a single applicant. Leadership's tone with us included threats and fear mongering about our child's future. After exhausting all tools to make a change for our child within the context of remaining at MCPS, we left the school. We were not alone. Today our student is happy & thriving in a classroom with a well-qualified teacher at great Jeffco school. If you do choose this school, please know the risks and be ready with a Plan B.

Posted November 14, 2013
- a parent
Really look this school over before enrolling your kids. My experience hasn't been close to 5 stars. It looks really great and has some good elements, however the bad out weights the potential good in my opinion. The administration is really heavy handed and they have quite a bit of turnover with their teachers. That in itself is an issue especially in the format in which they operate (kids stay with one teacher through different grades). This is really not the place if your kids need any sort of extra help - they are not adequately staffed in this area nor are they required to provide what ANY normal (non charter) school would. There is a lot of patting on the back during the events which gets a bit old. The suggested "donations" per student are high as well. I'm not sold and think one should do a bunch of looking before leaping.

Posted October 25, 2013
- a parent
Don't get fooled ! Please do your homework, we could not stay here any longer and its only October. I had such high hopes . I tried to ignore the bad reviews but in the end the reviews were right this place is lacking in too many key areas.

Posted September 05, 2013
- a parent
All the criticism is spot on, especially regarding the principal and administration. This could be a great school. But it is sadly a terrible school. I'm a teacher and I am appalled at how little my children learned during their one wasted year here. You are better off putting your children in the neighborhood public school. They will actually learn. I'm appalled at how much my children lost academically while here. The only thing good they seemed to have learned is how to knit. I have so much work to do now to reteach them concepts they once knew and to get them caught up to where they should be so they can move forward and start liking school again. The teachers are unable to do much good in this toxic enviornment. The best solution for this school is to close. I would retract my previous positive review if I could.

Posted August 21, 2013
- a parent
Where do I start? This school is certainly not a fit for children with learning disabilities. They always state that they do not have the resources available to give students that need extra help the amount of help they deserve or really need to improve. They have been slow on discipline with bullying and seem to give additional chances to those kids that should be expelled that have ongoing behavior problems. It also seems to be a very loose adherence to the Waldorf program - They don't seem to follow the formative/qualitative plan that Waldorf is founded upon. I have been unimpressed by the administration, however many of the teachers are good. I would not recommend this school to anyone.

Posted July 08, 2013
- a parent
I was deceived by the smell of fresh baked bread, the gorgeous campus, wooden toys and the quiet voices, and we had to leave because of bullying and lack of academics. I suspect if parents knew the true origins of Waldorf they might be less than thrilled to send their children here. Unfortunately my child is now struggling in a different public charter school because she is behind. I implore you to Google "Waldorf critics" or "Waldorf watch" before you make the decision to try out this school.

Posted June 25, 2013
- a community member
I will NEVER EVER recommend this school to anyone. My children attended this school for two years and learned how to knit. There is no real curriculum to speak of. It's the most unorganized crazy mess I think I've ever seen. I pulled my children from this school and will never look back. I had them tested last week and they are SOOOO far behind that they will both have to have extensive help and extra tutoring. If I put them in a public school they are at least a grade behind. The administration is seriously lacking in compassion, organization, overall morals and values. The leadership at this school is lacking the skill and knowledge of educational training and mentorship for the students and staff. If you want your child to be ill prepared for high school and life in general you will send them here. I give this school no stars.

Posted May 16, 2013
- a parent
I absolutely agree with the reviews from the other parents of children with needs. I thought this school would be the answer for my gifted 7 year old with ADHD. After 2 years at MPCS, his self esteem has disintegrated and the only reply I can get from the leadership is that "We are a charter school and don't have the resources" to support him. I am getting him out before he is kicked out and before his self esteem is unable to be repaired.

Posted May 13, 2013
- a community member
Why are so many of the reviews from Jan 18-20th? I smell a rat. It seems very much as though there is a serious problem in the administration at this school and they're trying to cover it up by soliciting good reviews.

Posted January 20, 2013
- a parent
This school is great for children who are quiet, artistic and perfect. My child was asked to leave just after the charter school's "count day" (where their amount of money from Jef Co is determined). In other words, they got funding for her for the year but she was kicked out! She was asked to leave because she has special needs. The school would rather kick her out of "bad behavior" than meet her needs. The director is weeding out all of the special needs children who might need an extra hand. To some this might seem good but the children who need the most nurturing help which a Waldorf environment can provide are thrown out into the cold instead of receiving the services they are REQUIRED BY THE STATE to provide. However, if your child is of average intelligence, docile in nature and enjoys art this might be the school for you. That is, if you're a stay at home mom because there are no services provided for working families at a rate working families can afford. Also, if you happen to not fit into their idea of "normal" you might be shunned no matter how much love you give to the school. The teachers, however, are the best in the state. Highly trained, very caring.

Posted October 11, 2012
- a parent
I thought my child and I would love this school. They seem to have so many wonderful things going for them. I was wrong. The teachers are awesome. The administration not so. Yes, I agree with a previous post, this school did grow too quickly, out of greed. Yes, the bullying is rampant. Teachers and administration turn a blind eye. Teacher turn over rate should tell you something about the quality of this school. In 2012, three kindergarten teachers, one 1st grade teacher, two 2nd grade teachers, one 3rd grade teacher, one 4/5th grade teacher, music teacher, eurythmy teacher, two special education teachers, and the assessment coordinator left this school. This says a lot. Mind you, there is no librarian, (let alone a quality library), no music teacher, no art teacher. The teachers work hard here. They have no prep time. This effects how prepared they are, and how burned out they become. Frustrated and burned out teachers effect the quality of our children's education. My child deserves better.

Posted October 09, 2012
- a community member
It's really sad that this school has so much potential and so little in the way of leadership. Do not go here if your child has learning problems. You will get no help and maybe even be told to leave.

Posted September 29, 2012
- a parent
One word sums it up nicely. TOXIC. Toxic for the teachers, toxic for the students. It can all be so deceiving. It is a beautiful campus. If you are coming to this school expecting Waldorf philosophy, it isn't here. It is Waldorf-inspired in as much as the main lesson is taught using "some" Waldorf techniques. Looks can be deceiving. Waldorf is more than a lazured painted room, more than a curriculum. This school should not even be saying that it is a Waldorf - inspired school. The administrator does not live the Waldorf philosophy, she talks down to and intimidates the students, along with her teaching staff, and community of parents. The school grew from 40 students to 400 students in just over a year. This is NOT a good thing. If anything it is a sign of greed on the part of the administration. Because of this rapid growth, Mountain Phoenix has attracted students from every walk of life that are not making it. This school is a "catch-all" for all of the kids who aren't succeeding in private and public schools. I have never seen so many high needs, problem students in one school ever before. ...not a healthy place. ...not where I want my children to be.

Posted August 06, 2012
- a parent
The only "talk of the town" is about how poorly run this school is. Bullying is rampant, the principal has been seen screaming at staff in front of children, talks about children's behavior to other children's parents - very inappropriate- and in general, treats the school as her own little fiefdom. Ask the board of directors about the long list of complaints submitted about the principal and then run, don't walk away from this school. Save yourself the hassle of pulling your child out of the school midway through the year after they fallen behind academically. There are major, major problems with the leadership at the school, teachers are usually ill-prepared and this leads to restlessness among the children and and we have pulled our 2 kids out and know of 6 families that have done the same. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILDREN TO THIS SCHOOL.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/mountain-phoenix-community-school-wheat-ridge
1/22/2014

• Lisa S.
• Golden, CO
• I visited this school to ask about enrolling my children  after speaking with a parent that spoke very highly of it.   Once I found the main office I was completely ignored as administrators mulled around the desk.   No one even acknowledged that a complete stranger had walked into their school.  Not secure and not friendly.

10/25/2011

Todd J.

Denver, CO

This school has only money in mind. We enrolled my son at this charter school and the principle Dr Long assured us they had everything in place for our sons needs. His mother had three meetings with them and gave them all the information from his prior school. My son is twice exceptional and can get bored easily. 
They state they are Waldorf inspired but his teacher was not trained in waldorf and had no idea about my sons needs. They waited till after count day and had the state money and then told us they can't deal with him and threatened expulsion. No urgency was given to the matter untill after they were paid. No suggestions on how they were going to follow through on there promise of teaching my son was made. All Dr long cared about was filling her classrooms for count day and then she was more than happy to get rid of kids
This place is just a money making buisness for the owners. They ask that everything be done and donated by the parents. There main focus seems to raise money through a ton of fundraisers and charging fees. Non of our money was refunded by this school. 
This was just evil to put a child through this. We are now having to search out a new shool for our son. STAY AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL!!


http://www.greatschools.org/school/parentReviews.page?id=2567&state=CO&sortBy=dd&page=2#revPagination

Posted December 31, 2011

We enrolled our daughter at Mt. Phoenix. They promised bus transport from Wheat Ridge to the Coal Creek Canyon Campus, we thought, this is good. Then they told the eighth graders no ball point pens were used & no media presentations would be used in the classroom, we thought, that s odd. On the first day of school, there was no bus and no notification that five students would be jammed into a teacher's Buick, we thought, What s going on here? Then, our child and her best friend were repeatedly bullied. The teacher and principle told us it was my child s fault, we said, Enough! This is a little school in a remote canyon that operates on its own set of rules. I m sorry but I thought that when funded by tax payers, the school had to be worthy of that support! In our opinion, Mt. Phoenix is failing in that mission. Our child was suspended AFTER the October student count. I looked for another school. Everything was infinitely better once we found out about Alpine Valley School. This is best kept secret in Wheat Ridge. For us it was the only logical choice. If you haven t considered this option, you owe it to your child to look into this unique educational alternative!  —Submitted by a parent

Posted August 24, 2011

WORST SCHOOL EVER! We were so traumatized by our experience with this so called school. 12 people that I know of also left this school of 60. Quite a significant percentage.
—Submitted by a parent

Posted April 4, 2011

I had my grandsons there, the first year, they were wonderful and truly wanted to help them and help them become the best they could be. The following year after a admin change, they changed drastically. They no longer seemed to care about the children as much. Seemed more interested in who brought the money with them. One of the upper grads teacher actually lied to and about me and had me removed from the games day. One of my grandson was being terribly abused and all I heard from them was "well, you don't know the whole story" and that was after I was on the playground for recess every day. There are other people who feel the way I do. They are back in the public school and are doing good. But because the education at this school was not up to par, they are behind and the new teachers are trying and doing a good job. I would not recommend this school. —Submitted by a parent