Shining Mountain Waldorf School is giving my sons a challenging, well-rounded, authentic education. With integrated studies of science, history, math, art, and two world languages, Waldorf education is a modern day Renaissance education. Most importantly, it is also a moral education, helping them develop strong character. Their outdoor education program, yearly circus performances, choral and orchestral programs are outstanding. Their classes integrate movement, singing, art, and poetry. They teach through a block system, allowing for deep understanding of each subject while studying it for three-four weeks at a time. The families create true community at Shining Mountain. The teachers and staff work with restorative communication programs, and the whole school benefits from a social health group, and the established Living Community Principles for communicating and working together. At Shining Mountain, students are truly seen by their teachers!

The front range community is incredibly lucky to have a K-12 Waldorf school in our area. Situated in beautiful natural surroundings, this school is well-funded, well-resourced, and equipped with a collaborative, inspired staff. The arts and music programs remain strong even in times when many school are cutting costs in these areas. The teachers are committed to individual attention, seeing each student for their unique strengths and helping guide them through their challenges. Classes balance academic rigor with time outdoors, and robust creative and physical activity. And the oldest students (in the high school) display clearly the awareness, care, and conscientiousness that has been learned through this education.

Shining Mountain is a great school! I am the proud parent of a kindergartner on their third year at SMWS. My family and I were introduced to Waldorf education by friends; they spoke very highly about the philosophy and I was attracted to the idea of an education that understood human development in a deeper sense and adjusted to the needs of each individual child.The school has allowed for my child to develop in the most beautiful way possible, at their own pace, really enjoying being a child and with a thorough understanding of social skills, morality and the world around them. We have also found a supportive community in staff and families; the faculty is highly skilled, responsible and I have experienced the teachers working hard to get to know each one of their students in order to help them with their education.The school is run by a thoughtful group of leaders that maintain high education standards and cares deeply about the future of its students in relationship with a rapidly changing world.

I simply love this school, the faculty, and the community that surrounds it. Filled with integrity. passion, and goodness, the faculty are deeply committed to giving their students the best education possible - on every level - head, heart, hands, and spirit. I highly recommend this school - from its magical Early Childhood program, to its experiential and expansive middle school program, to its empowering and inspiring high school program.

Both of my daughters are very happy with Shining Mountain. Im happy that the school has worked with us to make it affordable even with the stress Covid has put on my business. I recommend you check it out for yourself to see if its a good fit for you and your children.

Im a proud parent of three students enrolled in the Shining Mountain Waldorf School in Boulder, Colorado, USA. This community of families and faculty have helped my children from PreK-12 to grow and develop into intelligent, mature human beings. Waldorf education is based upon understanding that each individual has a spiritual life, realizing the world is filled with things we do not see and understand but is made available for us to discover and learn from, and encouraging our children to develop and tread a path of energized life-long learning and complete human experience.

During a pandemic, and whenever else, this community - the teachers, families, faculty, and friends create a steady, nurturing environment that teaches the students to think wisely with self esteem and kindness. Such great kids I can talk with, learn from, and be interested in what their thoughts are!

We love this school! Such kind, conscientious and wonderful people that run it and teach. A real gem in our community.

A true focus on the child - rather than on checking boxes of the material taught.

Shining Mountain resides at the base of the Rocky Mountains and the campus’s backdrop is quite picturesque! The faculty builds meaningful relationships with the students and bring the amazing Waldorf curriculum in a special way. The school is unique in its makeup with an ECE section, lower school encompassing grades 1-5, middle school with grades 6-8 and a full high school. In addition to the Waldorf education, Shining Mountain has an athletic program for grades 6-12, offering girls’ volleyball and coed cross-country in the fall, boys’ and girls’ basketball in the winter and co-Ed track & field in the spring. The school is a member of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA...CHSAA now.com) operating at the 1A level in both the 5280 and Mile High Leagues. They also boast the longest standing partnership in Colorado with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA...positive coach.org).

My daughter started at SMWS in the beginning of 3rd Grade. The children and teachers have been incredibly inclusive and her transition to a new school has been filled with love and grace. She is thriving in this beautiful, warm and intentional community. I am also a new class teacher at SMWS. Despite COVID, I have been welcomed as a member of the faculty and staff graciously. There is clearly a deep level of respect and openness between colleagues as well as genuine care and concern for the wellbeing of every single student. On top of all this, the school is set in the most magical and picturesque environment. The view of the mountains is stunning and expansive. Its truly a joy and honor to be at SMWS!!

Outstanding. Our children went K-12 to Shining Mountain. Now that they are adults and through the challenges of adolescence, we see every day the sound foundation they received to create happy, creative, ethical, fulfilling lives in these challenging times. They are making a positive difference in their work and their communities.

Two of my daughters attend this school and they love it! They are in the kindergarten and early grades, where the holistic, development-appropriate approach is allowing them to thrive and to enjoy their childhood. I am also a Spanish teacher at Shining Mountain Waldorf School and have seen how students benefit from the unique Waldorf curriculum all the way through the high school. The students really do have an opportunity to shine and discover who they really are.

Love this school. My daughter has been to a number of Waldorf schools in the past (out of state) and this is by far the most organised and most satisfying experience for my daughter and our family. I feel she has blossomed at this school.I am incredibly impressed by the staff at the school and their dedication to give our daughter the best educational experience possible.I wish more schools were like this!!!!

We have spent five wonderful years at SMWS. Our daughter is a freshman in the High School now and is thriving. She is engaged in her studies, has a wonderful group of friends and the faculty is awesome. We could not be happier.

This school follows Waldorf doctrine in a very strict way, which can have some negative effects on parents and families. Some of the teachers are wonderful and love the children but there is an us-versus-them mentality infecting administrative leadership, and a very judgmental, we-know-best attitude about your child. Head of school is a bully. The admin and board are trying to get out of a mountain of debt, have tried to right the wrongs of a former business director who embezzled funds, and are generally trying to be on a good path for the future. However the head of school has too much power, appoints a board of people unlikely to make waves or go up against her power. Admin takes a steamroller approach and their feeling is that they can do anything they wish to families and parents. Some of their internal processes and systems are broken and instead of fixing, they rally and circle the wagons, which doesnt provide for much-needed change. There is a hubris problem with the leadership, especially the head of school, who acts a queen, banishing staff, certain parents who dont tow the line, and anyone who disagrees with her. There is no recourse if you disagree with the head of school. Almost no diversity - no hispanic or African-American students and no outreach whatsoever. They are positioning as an elite Waldorf school for the wealthiest families. Transparency is minimal and many families are treated in an unequal way -- with children of staff not getting in trouble while infractions by other children are treated differently. Those who try to help the school get better are labeled as troublemakers and made to feel unwelcome. A beautiful education, some great teachers, some happy kids, especially in the early grades, but leadership problems at the top.

We moved from Northern California so that our daughter could attend this school. She is thriving in the nurturing environment and loves the opportunities to play basketball on one day and sing and dance on another. Our experience in the lower school, with Dorothea Altgelt, was fantastic as she is a treasure, and her current teacher, Meg Gardner, exemplifies the best of what Waldorf education has to offer. I highly recommend Waldorf education and Shining Mountain in particular for anyone whos looking for a wholesome, considerate, authentic educational experience.

An amazing, heartful school where our two children are thriving. People move from all over the world to send their kids here for a reason. They are loved, nurtured, instilled with a love of learning, nature and people, and how to create on their own and with others. SMWS is a wonderful alternative to the media-soaked, learn-for-the-test mess that comprises much of modern US education. The faculty are amazing people in their own right, love teaching and their students, and work together as a team. And, by the way, I find the school director and the current Board to be kind, highly committed, receptive and professional. SMWS is a precious gem of a school and community, for which I am most thankful. Our two are going to stay here all the way through 12th grade.

This school deserves no stars! Do not send your child to this school.

Its ok I guess