At Ithaca Waldorf School, we strive to develop free human beings by awakening in the students clarity of thought, warmth of heart and strength of purpose.
The academic, artistic and practical lessons respect childhood, encourage healthy growth and engage students in the living world.
Quick Facts (2025-26)
- School Type: Waldorf School
- Grades: Prekindergarten-8
- Enrollment: 74 students
- Yearly Tuition: $18,300
- Average class size: 15 students
- Application Deadline: None / Rolling
- Source: Verified school update
School Overview
School Type
School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-8
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Year Founded
2008
School Calendar
Last Day of School
Fri. Jun 12, 2026
Campus Size
80 acres
Student Body
Total Students
74 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
9%
State avg.: 40%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
10 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
National avg.: 13:1
Average Class Size
15 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
$18,300
% on Financial Aid
75%
Admissions Director
Emily Thompson
Application URL
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
7 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Arts and Music Programs:
Recreational Athletic Programs:
After School ProgramChess Club
Games ClubHomework Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Instrumental Music Lessons
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Ice SkatingSki Club
School Notes
- School Motto: To develop free human beings by awakening in the students clarity of thought, warmth of heart and strength of purpose.
- Our Early Childhood classes serve children ages 4-6 years old and nurture each child's development through gentle and sensory-rich environments and play-based activities that encourage the young child to investigate the natural world, explore social relationships and expand imaginative capacities.
- Our Waldorf Elementary School curriculum for 1st-5th grades is alive with fairy tales and fables, mythological sagas and stirring biographies of historical figures. And teachers integrate storytelling, drama, rhythmic movement, visual arts, and music into their daily work, weaving a tapestry of experience that brings each subject to life in the child's thinking, feeling, and willing.
- Our Waldorf curriculum for 6th-8th grades guides students' formal academic learning while awakening their moral development and increasing their awareness of their place in the world. Their intellectual and academic curiosity is met with an imaginative, artistic and stimulating curriculum that grows and expands each year as they grow and mature.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Ithaca Waldorf School cost?
Ithaca Waldorf School's tuition is approximately $18,300 for private students.
What schools are Ithaca Waldorf School often compared to?
Ithaca Waldorf School is often viewed alongside schools like Eac Montessori School by visitors of our site.
When is the application deadline for Ithaca Waldorf School?
The application deadline for Ithaca Waldorf School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
School Reviews
5 11/28/2025
It's hard to find places where kids can unplug and truly connect with the experience that being a child really is. IWS is that place for our kid. We have been very happy with our 1.5 yrs at IWS- our kid has a deep relationship with the natural world, her creativity and imagination, and her instructors. We have gotten significant social-emotional support from Dr. Erika at school, and the community is really unmatched (our kid went to a Friends school in PA before coming here and there is no comparison!). We cannot recommend our beloved school enough. If you want your child to "stay a child" as long as they're meant to be, but are given invaluable learning away from technology, this is your home.
5 11/7/2025
Our eldest started in Ithaca Waldorf School's early childhood classrooms and is now graduating 8th grade. The school has prepared her extremely well for high school, both academically and social-emotionally. When she graduates from IWS, she'll have 8 years of Spanish, 6 years of cello, 2 Regents exams (math and science), 3 full-length plays, dozens of fine art and textile projects, and an independent capstone project under her belt. The teachers work together as a beautiful team to help each child reach their potential and experience a sense of belonging & responsibility that facilitates learning that goes much deeper than books and subject matter. I've known many Waldorf alumni in my life, and they are hands down the most creative, grounded, perceptive, can-do, open-minded, interesting, and driven people I've known. What a joy to have my own children join the ranks of successful alumni who do meaningful, important work in our world.
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