FAQs

As students come to know the world, they come to know themselves. In keeping with this philosophy, every aspect of the school experience, from the science lab to the playing field to service learning, is viewed not only from the standpoint of academic preparation but also from its contribution to the student’s developing sense of self.

Grounded in the classics, courses expose students to the great ideas of mankind, the events that shaped civilizations, the beauty of mathematics, the power of the arts, and the phenomena of the natural world. The school's rigorous academic curriculum integrates ethical values and creative exploration. Faculty are committed to helping students become intelligent, imaginative, self-confident, and caring young adults.

We are not an “art school," yet the arts are deeply integrated in our curriculum. We believe that when the arts are a part of learning, learning becomes more meaningful and enduring. In addition to rigorous academic classes, students take a wide variety of art classes and music through four years of high school.

Technology is used in the classroom as a teaching tool; laptops are available for classes to use and students have access to Macs and PCs in our library/media center. The library offers many online resources, including a variety of databases for research at school or from home.

We believe that a diversity of experience strengthens education for all students. We work to establish an inclusive learning environment in which differences are understood and celebrated. We actively seek students from a variety of racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Students of color represent about 35 percent of the student body.
• Students represent a wide geographic range, from as far away as the Peninsula toward San Jose; Oakland and Piedmont in the east; and Sonoma, Corte Madera, and Mill Valley to the north.

• About 40 percent of families receive financial assistance through our Affordable Tuition Program

• The school has an active Multicultural Council that works to ensure diversity and inclusion through the school.

Some students have been enrolled at Waldorf schools since kindergarten and many others begin at the high school. In all, there are 35 different middle schools represented at the high school and an average of 50 percent of entering freshman come from schools other than San Francisco Waldorf School.

Our full tuition is $41,700 and approximately 40 percent of current families qualify for and receive some amount of tuition assistance. Please visit our Affordable Tuition Program page for details.

Students participate in a wide range of activities, from clubs to sports to study abroad.

Clubs: Students participate in various performing arts clubs, literary magazine, and gay/straight alliance, yearbook. Students form new clubs every year!

Athletics: As a member of the Bay Counties League-Central of the Bay Area Conference, the school competes with other independent schools in volleyball, soccer, cross-country, basketball, baseball, and sailing. 2014-15 sports highlights include:

• Varsity Boys Baseball: BCL-Central Champion
• Varsity Girls Volleyball: BCL-Central Champion and CIF Nor Cal Division VI Title

Community Service: All students complete community service, working both in the school and in the wider community every year.

Exchange Program: The school has an active student exchange program with Waldorf schools in Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Taiwan. Each year students choose to participate exchanges lasting from two to four months, including some summer study.

The school has a comprehensive student services program:

High School Mentor: The high school student mentor (sometimes called “counselor” in other schools) acts a resource for student wellness and social issues and helps guide our students through their high school experience. The student mentor is available to meet with students as individuals and in small groups to address any concerns regarding school matters, personal or family relationships, and social issues.

College Counselor: A resource for all students and families in the high school community. The college counselor assists students in understanding the college application process or in planning an alternative post-secondary path.

Class Sponsors: Each class year has two to three faculty “sponsors” who act as guides for the class through the four years of high school. The sponsors check in with their classes at the end of each school day, at regular class meetings, and are the first people the students and parents contact with questions or concerns. They keep a finger on the pulse of the class and are the ones other teachers can speak to if the class or an individual student needs extra academic or social support. Class sponsors are deeply committed to the welfare of their students.

Academic Advisor: Each student has a faculty Academic Advisor who support overall academic progress through the years.

Tutoring: Tutoring is provided both on and off campus. We have a professional educational consultant who assesses students at parent or faculty request, and hires tutors to work with the students as appropriate.

The Individualized Learning Committee (ILC), a dedicated group of faculty chaired by our school mentor, is responsible for designing and maintaining support structures for our students with learning differences. The ILC meets weekly to discuss student progress, identify challenges, and help find solutions. All of our faculty members are familiar with each student’s accommodation plans.

Our small size and committed faculty allow us to give each student individual attention. For many students, this attention is enough to help them succeed in their schoolwork. However, students who have challenges might be overwhelmed with the quantity of writing and reading expected in many of our courses. Our faculty try to give material in three different ways – orally, visually by writing on the board, and via handouts – and this can help students with a variety of learning styles.

We look carefully at different styles of learning before we admit students to be certain that we are able to meet their needs. Our Admissions Director can help you determine if the school will be a good fit.

For more than 90 years, Waldorf high schools have educated some of the world’s foremost leaders, thinkers, and creative minds, including Kenneth Chenault, former president and CEO of American Express, and Kristen Nygaard, a computer scientist whose work is the basis of all modern programming languages. Confident and creative, graduates of San Francisco Waldorf High School are enthusiastic about their educational pursuits and eager to meet the challenges of today.

Waldorf education has an established reputation for excellent college placement. Graduates of San Francisco Waldorf High School excel at a diversity of academic institutions in a wide range of subject matter, becoming young adults who make a different in the world. Please visit our College Acceptances page for more information.