Capital Campaign

What is a Waldorf Charter School?

First Grade Handwork

Waldorf education began in Germany at the end of the First World War and is inspired by the educational philosophy of Dr. Rudolf Steiner. The Waldorf curriculum is designed to meet students’ readiness at each age and stage of development and helps nurture a lifelong love of learning. Today more than 900 Waldorf schools exist worldwide. Those outside the United States are predominantly public schools. In the United States, Waldorf education began as a private school movement, with annual tuition in the thousands of dollars.

Mrs Barber

In addition to being the first public Waldorf school in the United States, Yuba River Charter School was one of the first 100 charter schools authorized by California. Our school embraced a unique mission to usher Waldorf education into the public sector, free of tuition. Our teachers hold both a California teaching credential and a Waldorf training certificate, and half of them also have master’s degrees.

Our school meets both state standards and Waldorf curriculum goals while providing an education open to all students regardless of economic status. Students from YRCS are known for their confidence, academic excellence, social skills, mastery of handwork, and Spanish-language skills. The faculty imparts a curriculum infused with the arts and music. Teachers develop a deep personal awareness and knowledge of each child’s journey.