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United States, Washington Dc
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1. Learn about Waldorf education by attending a tour or open house and start a conversation by filling out the Inquiry Form with the enrollment office. This initial step connects families with the school and provides an introduction to WWS programs and enrollment options. 2. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis as space allows. For the 2025-2026 school year, decisions will be released on February 27, 2026 for applications received by the priority deadline of January 12, 2026; for the 2026-2027 school year, applications are accepted as space allows. Applications are submitted online in Ravenna; if you already have a Ravenna account you can access the school profile or start a new application, or you can begin by submitting the Inquiry Form to get started. 3. Age placement uses a May 31 cutoff for first grade and up; if you have questions about placement, email the Enrollment Office. 4. Admissions processes vary by program: Parent-Child (Infants to Age 3) enrolls on a first-come, first-served basis; Early Education (PK/K) requires a completed application, a $60 fee, progress reports, a teacher recommendation, and any applicable testing; Lower School (Grade 1) requires a completed application, a $60 fee, progress reports, a teacher recommendation, and any applicable testing; Lower/Middle School (Grades 2-8) requires a completed application, a $60 fee, official transcripts, teacher recommendations, a middle school questionnaire, and any applicable testing; High School requires a completed application, a $60 fee, official transcripts, two teacher recommendations, and a student questionnaire, with class visits typically 2-3 days. 5. WWS is non-sectarian and does not discriminate in admissions and programs, and seeks a diverse student body.
Financial aid supports qualified students who might not otherwise afford a Waldorf education, with about 20% of the annual operating budget devoted to aid and 34% of students receiving aid; high school aid can cover up to 95% of tuition. Financial aid is awarded through the Clarity Application, with a $60 submission fee, and annual aid priority deadlines of January 3 for returning families and January 31 for prospective families. Waldorf Fellowship Scholarship offers 30%–90% tuition relief in Grades 6–12, with up to three fellowships per grade per year; fellowships carry through the student's entire enrollment (e.g., from 6th through 12th grade). Application for the fellowship requires both a school application (via Ravenna) and a separate fellowship application, and fellowship awards are announced with admissions decisions. Scholarships and aid decisions are made based on need and merit and do not affect admission decisions.
Washington Waldorf School, located in Bethesda, Maryland, provides an education based on the Waldorf Steiner curriculum for students from eighteen months through twelfth grade. The curriculum integrates arts and physical movement into daily academic lessons; for example, students learn mathematical patterns through rhythmic movement and geometry through precise form drawing. In the lower school, a class teacher typically stays with the same group of students for multiple years to provide continuity. The high school features a four-year lab science sequence and specialized blocks in humanities. A distinctive feature of the school is the "Handwork" and "Practical Arts" program, where all students learn skills such as knitting, sewing, and woodworking to support cognitive and fine motor development. Facilities include specialized spaces for orchestra, a woodworking shop, and outdoor gardening areas. Students study both Spanish and German beginning in the early grades. The school operates as a co-educational day school.
