Frequently Asked Questions
Below are links to topics for frequently asked questions. If you do not find the information you are seeking or would like more information, please contact our Admissions Office.
Academics
What is Waldorf education?
What makes Chicago Waldorf School so unique?
Is Chicago Waldorf an Art School? Do you have to be an artist to attend?
How does grading work?
How do your students perform on standardized tests?
How is technology integrated into the curriculum?
Do you offer advanced academic programs?
Community
Who are your faculty?
What is the school’s stance on diversity?
Costs
What are your current tuition and program fees?
Do you offer any financial assistance?
Student Life
What extracurricular clubs and programs are available?
What resources are available to CWS high school students?
After Waldorf
Where do your students go to college?
What career paths have Waldorf students taken?
Is there an alumni group?
Admissions Process
What kinds of students are you looking for?
How do I apply?
What standardized tests are required?
Is attendance at an open house required? Is an interview required?
Waldorf Philosophy
What is your media policy?
What is Anthroposophy? Is it taught to the students?
Academics
Q: What is Waldorf education?
Founded on the writings of philosopher, educator and biodynamic farming pioneer Rudolf Steiner, Waldorf education is based on the view that students develop academically in relation to their age-related phases of human development. Children at age 7 have different skills, tools and capacities for learning than a student who is 15.
The Waldorf curriculum is specifically designed to work with students through each phase of intellectual, social and emotional development. Ethical values and engagement with the larger community, both locally and globally, are integrated into the daily life and education experience. The arts are not separated from academic studies, with students creating their own textbooks full of maps, experiments, creative and research writings, illustrations and more. Phenomenological study approaches provide a context for students to learn intense observation and recording skills, experiencing their subjects of study and following the trail of information to their own conclusion rather than just reading about them in a book. Participation in a wide range of interests is encouraged, giving students a chance to try new things like sports or drama without having to already be masters of the material. This multidimensional approach results in students who are confident, capable and flexible in ways that prepare them to face whatever the future may bring.
Q: What makes Chicago Waldorf School unique?
Now in its 35th year, Chicago Waldorf School remains committed to preparing its students for an ever-changing world, instilling in them confidence, hope and a sense of belonging to the larger community. It is the only pre-K through Grade 12 Waldorf school in the Midwest.
Waldorf education focuses on the development of the whole person. With this in mind, a interdisciplinary approach emphasizes connections – between the student and the world, the arts and academics, physical and cognitive development, history and current events. Humanities, fine arts, physics, world geography, foreign language, and self-study all easily incorporate to provide a truly well-rounded education that engages students’ minds, hearts and imaginations. It is this integrational approach and the growing of human connections within the world community that truly set the Chicago Waldorf School apart.
Q: Is Chicago Waldorf School an art school? Do you have to be an artist to attend?
Chicago Waldorf School is not an art school. It is an academic school that fully integrates the arts into its curriculum. Students do not have to be artists to attend. Education research continues to bear out that the inclusion of the arts increases aptitude and creative thinking in traditionally “hard science” areas such as math and science. Additionally, emotional development and social skills have been positively tied to involvement in the arts. Students are expected to work with an attitude of participation and pride rather than any focus on superior artistic ability.
Q: How does grading work?
A full assessment of each student’s progress is provided in the form of a year-end evaluation. Each subject teacher provides a narrative review of the student’s work. In high school, GPAs are included in unofficial transcripts.
Q: How do your students perform on standardized tests?
We do not believe that standardized testing is an accurate reflection of a student’s learning and, thus, do not focus our programming toward them. We have found that colleges and universities are more interested in the whole student and what s/he has to bring to their academic programs. Outside preparation for SATs and ACTs are coordinated through our college counselor and have been very successful in helping students through the process. As you can see from our college acceptances list, our approach continues to provide students with any post-high school options for continued studies that they may choose to explore.
Q: How is technology integrated into the curriculum?
In the early grades, technology is not a part of the school curriculum. In high school, technology in used in the classroom as a teaching tool, such as in monitoring the solar panel output information through a computer tracking system.
In the upper grades, students use the Internet in research. High school students also use it to communicate through message boards and email. Multimedia presentations are a part of the Senior Project and include audio-visual equipment and computer software use for editing, music production and visual presentations. The Yearbook and the high school newspaper The Chronicle provide other opportunities for students to learn design, layout and publication skills.
Community
Q: Who are your faculty?
Our faculty members at Chicago Waldorf School bring rich and diverse training and life experience to the classroom. With the same teacher staying with a single group of students ideally through the 8th grade, teachers really get to know the students, developing a particular interest in each individual and a unique understanding if each students educational and emotional needs. This close bond increases the teacher’s ability to guide and support each student through the curriculum.
At the high school level, students interact with teachers in multiple capacities including as advisors and club sponsors. The close bond between teachers and students is the top item cited in student interviews as a major strength of the school.
Meet our Faculty.
Q: What is the school’s stance on diversity?
The Chicago Waldorf School is committed to supporting diversity in all its forms – racial, ethnic, economic and social. We believe that a diversity of experience strengthens the school community and the individual students’ connection to the world.
To promote multiculturalism, a Diversity Committee was created to explore needs and growth possibilities in related areas. This committee is made up of parents, staff and faculty who are committed to diversity and cultural issues at Chicago Waldorf School.
Many of our families receive tuition assistance through our Tuition Adjustment Program.
The school itself is located in the Rogers Park area of Chicago – demographically the most diverse neighborhood in an already-diverse city.
Costs
Q: What are your current tuition and program fees?
For a full listing of programs, costs and fees, see our Tuition and Fees section.
Q: Do you offer any financial assistance?
Chicago Waldorf School has a generous Tuition Adjustment Program that is based on financial need.
Student Life
Q: What extracurricular clubs and programs are available?
Our students have a wide selection of activities from which to choose for after-school sports, clubs and recreational activities.
In the grade school, students may participate in volleyball, flag football, basketball, Rumble Club, Circus Club and more.
At the high school level, additional opportunities include soccer, swimming, Golf Club, Beekeeping, Drama Club, Math Club, Yearbook, the Chronicle (student newspaper), the Green team, Student Council and Student Action Committee.
For a full listing of sports, groups and clubs, visit our Extracurricular Activities page.
Q: What resources are available to CWS high school students?
Class advisors provide students with guides for their high school experience, assisting in program navigation and providing a safe place for students to explore their academic and social needs.
An onsite College Counselor assists students and their families with the college application process and alternative post-secondary planning beginning in 9th grade and continuing through graduation.
Tutoring is provided for many grades and subjects, with referrals available for private tutoring in specific subjects where requested by the family.
After Waldorf
Q: Where do your students go to college?
Approximately 94% of our students continue their studies in a secondary education program. Please see our college acceptances page for a list of colleges and universities to which our students have been accepted over the last few years.
Q: What career paths have Waldorf students taken?
The range of career paths for our graduates is as varied as the individual students themselves. Over the years, Waldorf schools have educated some of the world’s foremost leaders, thinkers and creative minds including Kenneth Chenault, former president and CEO of American Express, Kristen Nygaard, a computer scientist whose work is the basis for all modern programming languages, David E. Blackmer, inventor of the DBX noise reduction system and Benjamin Agost, 2006 Olympic silver medalist in ice dancing and 4-time U.S. National Champion. Click here to see a larger list of notable Waldorf graduates.
Q: Is there an alumni group?
Our alumni program is currently in development and includes both a student alumni group and a parent alumni group. We are contacting interested people now as we are forming our groups. There is more information on our Alumni page. There is also a free eNewsletter for family and friends of Chicago Waldorf School. To sign up, click here. It’s a great way to keep up with school happenings and program as well as information on our graduates and supporters.
Admissions Process
Q: What kinds of students are you looking for?
We are looking for curious, engaged and creative students who want to challenge themselves academically, explore the arts and be a positive force in the world community. We evaluate each student based on interviews, teacher recommendations, observation of participation during the school visit, previous school reports and evaluations, samples of the student’s best work (in upper grades), parent interviews and student essays (upper grades). This lets us get to know each student as an individual.
Q: How do I apply?
You can download an application and receive additional information about our admissions process on our Admissions page.
Q: What standardized tests are required?
No standardized testing is required as part of the admissions process at the Chicago Waldorf School. We want to know about the whole student and who s/he is as an individual. We have found that standardized testing does not provide meaningful or useful information in these areas.
Q: Is attendance at an open house required? Is an interview required?
Attendance at an open house or school tour, a school visit and a student/parent interview are all required as part of our admission process. Please contact the Admissions Office to schedule a visit or attend a tour.
Waldorf Philosophy
Q: What is your media policy?
Waldorf education has long been grounded in the belief that media exposure is counterproductive to the development of imagination and the ability to entertain oneself, especially in the younger grades. While we know that most families have some media as part of the home experience, we encourage families to significantly limit or discontinue exposure to television, movies, video games, computers and other entertainment media. At the very minimum, we expect families to maintain a no-media policy during the school week.
As students get older, media is introduced and included in the school curriculum as an adjunct to the learning process. This includes use of computers for research, training in the use of audio-visual and presentation software, graphics layouts, scientific monitoring of research through web programs and more. The philosophy is rooted in a belief that children need the opportunity to fully develop their social, imaginative, intellectual and creative selves without interference or examples from outside media sources.
More and more education and human development research bears out the negative effects of large amounts of media on children, particularly in the preschool and grade school years. Visit our media page for specific articles addressing media and childhood development.
We acknowledge that this can be a difficult transition, especially if the student has had a lot of media interaction prior to Waldorf school attendance. We are supportive of our families making this transition.
Q: What is Anthroposophy? Is it taught to the students?
Anthroposophy is the name Rudolf Steiner gave to his theories about the evolution of human consciousness, drawn from a multiplicity if disciplines including anthropology, philosophy, psychology, science and various religions, particularly Christianity. Combining these with theories from his own research, he essentially created his own brand of spirituality.
While many Waldorf teachers are anthroposophists, Waldorf rules specifically prohibit its teaching in the classroom or related school settings. In a school where independent, creative thought is so highly valued, teachers are careful not to push their own philosophies onto students. Steiner himself wrote, “We must never be tempted to implement sectarian ideas. We must not chain children’s minds to finished concepts, but give them concepts capable of further growth and expansion.”
Source: “Schooling the Imagination” by Todd Oppenheimer, Atlantic monthly, September 1999. The full article is featured in our media section.