Emerson Waldorf School 6211 New Jericho Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

"Our oldest daughter has been attending the EWS since Kindergarten. Children thrive in a warm, home-like environment and from what I see, they enjoy very much studying here! Academics are strong, and the same teacher stays with the class throughout the years. Children are treated with respect, curriculum is age-appropriate and most importantly, the school's environment helps children to develop critical thinking skills. Kids are growing together from Kindergarten through grades, thus creating a life-long friendships."

"LIke several families at the school we moved to Chapel Hill in 1993 from England and Virginia before that so all four of our children could attend Emerson Waldorf School. The campus was beautiful, the teachers were well trained and chosen for their experience and wisdom. We came for the pedagogy that allows young children to be children in our rushed world. Our younger children learned through play and imitation and as they matured they looked up to their teachers as guides and mentors as they explored and found their truths. In high school they explore and question concepts together rather than teach to the test. A deep wisdom resides behind the teaching. We loved that the children learned "how to think' rather than "what to think". Our youngest of the four is currently a senior in the Emerson Waldorf High School. He went to a public high school for one year and decided that he had spent a year there and "not learned a thing" so he returned to the rich and fulfilling challenge of the Emerson Waldorf High School. Our college counselor is especially excellent at spending time with each student exploring their future options and honoring all their paths. Take a look at all the universities and post graduate work our students have done. As well, the Waldorf graduates stand out to college admissions offices and also to employers for their well rounded personalities, eager minds, and ability to think "outside of the box"."

"From the moment my family walked on to campus we knew this was a wonderful school. The more we learned the more we knew we had found a good place for our kids to get a solid foundation of skills and confidence to take with them as they grew up and ventured into the wider world. Emerson Waldorf teaches kids to think without over working them. It teaches them that they can be musicians, artists, scientists or teachers and that they can do whatever they set out to do if they are willing to work hard and learn from others. The teachers at Emerson Waldorf are wonderful and become more than just teachers to these kids - they are role models and mentors. The setting is beautiful, the curriculum teaches the whole child, and the fruits are visible in Waldorf graduates that have come before - self confidence, curiosity, warmth, well-roundedness, success in college and a broad array of careers!"

"Our family moved to the area so that our children could go to this school and we've always felt that that was one of the best decisions we've ever made. The curriculum is a direct solution to all the problems facing our educational system today: kids are not bogged down by testing, they develop their creativity in every grade, they learn to be self-confident and socially adept and responsible, they get to develop many parts of themselves instead of being encouraged to specialize (music, sports, science, writing), and they are taught how to think and how to express themselves. The proof of what this school has to offer is in the children, and especially in our high schoolers and graduates - kids who are curious about the world, are hard-working, love a challenge, are quite comfortable talking to adults and speaking in public, are deep thinkers, and are creative. Part of the beauty of this school is that the curriculum is developmentally appropriate, so children are allowed to be children, and are pushed and challenged at just the right times. Our students go to college eager, not burned out; and ready to think, not overwhelmed with facts and data. To top it all off, the EWS campus itself is beautiful. My husband and I have been grateful almost every day for 8 years - since our kids started here - that they have this opportunity to attend EWS."

"The environment at Emerson Waldorf School is so caring and nurturing in every aspect, that we feel the children get holistic whole education, unlike many places that focus on grades, scores and kids as numbers rather than unique individuals. Parents learn how to deal with challenging issues in their children through observing & interacting with the very special teachers this school has, in addition to many educational circles that are held and community discussion groups. IT feels like a fantastic healthy large family; finally there is what "IT Takes a Village to Raise a Child"."