The Waldorf School of Garden City is part of an international educational system that began 80 years ago. Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian scientist, philosopher, artist and educator, laid the foundations for Waldorf education. In post WWI Germany, Dr. Steiner began to question the forces behind modern war and its ramifications. He concluded that to avoid the senselessness of war and the chaos it brings, individuals needed to be educated differently from the start. He initiated the opening of the first Waldorf school in 1919 in Stuttgart, Germany, through the sponsorship of Emil Molt, owner of the Waldorf-Astoria Company. This first Waldorf school was coeducational and tuition free and educated the children of factory workers. The Nazis closed the school in 1937, but the philosophy of Waldorf education had already begun to gain popularity internationally. The first Waldorf school in North America was opened in Manhattan in 1928 and today there are more than 700 Waldorf schools in 40 different countries.

Founded in 1947, The Waldorf School of Garden City continues with the rich educational traditions of the Waldorf philosophy. Teaching in order to be truly effective must address the needs and capacities of children and young people at various stages of their mental and physical growth. This recognition of child development shapes all aspects of our curriculum. The Waldorf approach to learning is multi-dimensional. It focuses on the acquisition of knowledge, but also on the growth of moral judgment. It values intellectual ability, but also creativity. It propels academic achievement while nurturing imagination, personal courage, sensitivity to others and emotional balance. From the early exploration and rich play life children experience in our preschool to the sophisticated conceptual challenges of our high school curriculum, The Waldorf School of Garden City strives to nurture the healthy and balanced development of the whole human being. This approach to learning lays the groundwork for a satisfying and creative future.