Olympia Waldorf School (Top Ranked Private School for 2026-27)

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Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked WA School
School Type: Waldorf School
Grades: Prekindergarten-8
Enrollment: 153 students
Yearly Tuition: $15,330
Acceptance rate: 90%
Average class size: 15 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School News

Olympia Waldorf School celebrates 40 years of child-focused alternative education - 06/04/2026
Thurston Chronicle Highlight of OWS- The 2025-26 school year marks the 40th anniversary of the Olympia Waldorf School - a non-profit private school established by a group of parents ...morelooking for an alternative education option. "They were exploring everything," said Marianne Guerin, a parent and former Olympia Waldorf School administrator. After hearing a lecture from author and teacher Elana Freeland in 1983, the group settled on the Waldorf education style for its unique focus on supporting the whole child, rather than trying to achieve certain skill metrics. "It's all centered around the students and their development and what's appropriate for them at each stage, and not pushing something too soon, when they're not ready," said Olympia Waldorf School Development Manager Ali Carras.She related standard education, where students are pushed to meet certain grade standards at a certain time, to swimming upstream. hide

School Rankings

Olympia Waldorf School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Washington for:

School Facts

School Type

Waldorf School

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-8

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Olympia Waldorf School
Pre-K	25
Kind	35
1	13
2	19
3	8
4	20
5	5
6	7
7	7
8	14

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Year Founded

1985

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Last Day of School

Thu. Jun 10, 2027

Campus Size

5 acres

School Motto

Awakening minds, enlivening hearts, engaging hands for lifelong learning.

Student Body

Total Students

153 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

14%

State avg.: 32%

Academic Profile

Total Classroom Teachers

13 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

12:1

National avg.: 11:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

29%

Average Class Size

15 students

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

No media

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA)
Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN)

Tuition & Financial Aid

Admission Deadline

None / Rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$15,330

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

Price listed applies to grades 1-8. Go to www.olympiawaldorf.org/tuition--billing.html for Early Childhood information.

% on Financial Aid

30%

Average Financial Aid Grant

$3,000

Acceptance Rate

90%

National avg.: 85%

Application URL

Online Application

School Notes

Established in 1985, Olympia Waldorf School is a non-profit alternative school in the Waldorf tradition serving children and their families of the South Sound.
Olympia Waldorf School is Washington state certified, and received accreditation from the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America in January 2012.
Where children become capable, curious, creative humans. OWS creates connections with one another and the community at large, nurtures the whole child, and supports one another in a process of mutual learning and social renewal.

Waldorf education is a holistic and developmental approach that integrates academic, practical and artistic elements as it addresses the changing needs of the growing child and maturing adolescent. Waldorf schools engage the heart, hands, and mind, with a lively, experiential curriculum rich in literature, history, languages, the arts, the social and natural sciences. Olympia Waldorf School is open to children of all cultural, racial and religious backgrounds. Incorporated in 1985 as a non-profit organization, OWS owns the property of its current campus including Prairie Hall, a school building built in 1914 which is on our state's historical register, a Middle School building built in 1999, and a charming Kinderhaus on two, wooded acres. OWS is located just 15 minutes from downtown Olympia.

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Olympia Waldorf School cost?

Olympia Waldorf School's tuition is approximately $15,330 for private students and $375 for summer students.

What is the acceptance rate of Olympia Waldorf School?

The acceptance rate of Olympia Waldorf School is 90%, which is higher than the national average of 85%. Olympia Waldorf School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Washington with low acceptance rates.

What is Olympia Waldorf School's ranking?

Olympia Waldorf School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Washington for: Lowest average acceptance rates.

When is the application deadline for Olympia Waldorf School?

The application deadline for Olympia Waldorf School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

5.00 out of 5 (5 reviews)

5 8/16/2024

We looked all over Thurston and Pierce Counties for the right private school and let me just start by saying, we made the right choice. It first started for us looking for a pre-K during Covid as a need, but instead, it turned into gaining a whole community of friends that we adore. Since we are not the most religious in terms of being Christian or Catholic, some of the private schools in the area had too much focus on religion. Other pre-K schools felt as though we would have just been hiring a babysitter. Waldorf was a breath of fresh air, literally. The kids actually spend time outside in nature! Being kids, getting muddy, pretend play and learning about the wonders of our world. They focus on the whole child, not just academics and there are no grades, no tests, no homework and instead teach a love of learning. Not only that, they throw some really rad festivals and events for the kids - magical even! We are so blessed to have found a fun and safe place to call school.

- Posted by Parent - Svachie

5 5/29/2021

With a son, a daughter, three cats and all that we could carry, my partner and I drove thousands of miles to get the special treatment offered by The Olympia Waldorf School grounds staff and invested families. The elder two are in College and High School and this year we graduate a second daughter that we are extremely proud of! We plan to continue the work of community with a positive focused intentional staff, administration and greater Olympia community. The self-confidence and focus of our youth reflects the interest teachers and administration place on the students in their charge. The children reflect years of life lessons learned and help us prepare for the work yet to be done. Whereas sports may be pursued outside of the curriculum, lessons in music language and community building have molded exceptional individuals that might contribute to creating "a more perfect union."

- Posted by Parent - KoalaPa

5 8/2/2017

Both my girls love this school. The environment is caring and encouraging. The early childhood program teaches them to be kind, independent children and doesn't focus on academics before children are ready for them. The lower grades allow children to excel in a variety of different areas, really encouraging the love of learning rather than just route memorization or standardized test prep. Kids can excel in so many more things than just reading and math, although those elements are there as well. They learn music, art, community, history, map drawing, science, and so much more. They are taught it in a way that relates so much of the material to what is around them and to the age that they are at developmentally. There is a focus here to teach the whole child rather than just academics!

- Posted by Parent - momof2

5 8/21/2014

Since coming to Waldorf, my son has been able to open up in a way he never had before. This loving environment seeks out the best in each individual and allows them to thrive and shine in their own light. This school is not about memorizing facts to meet certain state standards; it is about engaging children in critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and more, while falling in love with the process of learning. It is these values that have Waldorf children thrive when transitioning into higher education. And, oh how I love our community!

- Posted by Parent - marip

5 7/31/2014

There are no bored children at OWS. The teachers are very dedicated and the curriculum is very engaging! If you want your children to sit in a desk and memorize facts and learn how to google everything, sure, send them elsewhere. At OWS, they will learn how to function as human beings in this ever-changing world! It is a classically rigorous education, including music, art and ethics alongside math and English. I wish the school was more centrally located, but otherwise I am very happy with it. No school is perfect, but neither is the world they will someday experience.

- Posted by Parent - cordi

Endorse Olympia Waldorf School. Endorsements should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Olympia, WA is $10,142 for elementary schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in Olympia, WA is 88% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).