doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
C

Calgary Waldorf School

Canada, Calgary

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Co-founder & CEO

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Fees CA$8,750 - 15,150
Ages Not listed
Type Co-educational
Opened 1985
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Waldorf Steiner Curriculum, Canadian Curriculum
Taught languages French, German
Strengths Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

Calgary Waldorf School is an independent school in Calgary, Alberta, offering a Waldorf Steiner program alongside the Canadian curriculum for students from Parent and Tot through Grade 9. Founded in 1985, the school fosters a learning path that balances thinking, feeling and will—head, heart and hands—through age-appropriate development. The campus sits on four and a half acres, with 50,000 square feet of indoor learning space, an amphitheatre, forests, gardens and a kinderwing. Facilities include a gym, a performance space, a library, science and computer labs, woodworking, art and music rooms, and a commercial kitchen. French and German are taught from Grades 1 through 9. Central to life are Main Lesson blocks and a Class Teacher who accompanies a class for several years, integrating humanities, math, science and arts through drawing, singing, movement and modelling. The school also offers choral, drama and crafts, plus the Waldorf Buddy program and community service.

515 Cougar Ridge Drive SW, Calgary, Alberta T3H 5G9

The Essentials

Location
Calgary Waldorf School is located in the Cougar Ridge neighbourhood of southwest Calgary, at 515 Cougar Ridge Drive SW, Calgary, Alberta T3H 5G9, Canada. It serves Junior Kindergarten through Grade 9, including Parent and Tot programs. It is an independent private school founded in 1985.

Stages
Parent and Tot programs; Jr. Kindergarten; Kindergarten; Grades One through Nine

Type
Independent private school

Country affiliation
Canada

School day structure
Before Care begins at 7:30 a.m. Regular school day; After Care runs from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. After Care is not available on school holidays, organizational days, or days with noon dismissal.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school has a gym uniform requirement for Middle School students for Physical Education; they must purchase a gym uniform.

Food Options
The school has lunch supervision provided for Grades One–Nine; the children eat their lunch in their classrooms and are supervised on the playground. Grades 1–6 lunch break is 12:05–1:00 pm, and Grades 7–9 lunch break is 12:45–1:30 pm.

Governance and Ownership
The Calgary Waldorf School Society is the legal body operating the School. Membership is open to parents, faculty, and staff; an Annual General Meeting is held and the Board of Directors is elected by Members. The Board oversees facilities, policy, public affairs, fundraising, and long-term planning.
Fees

Annual tuition at Calgary Waldorf School ranges from CAD 8,750 to CAD 15,150 for 2026/27.

Application and Application Fee
- Complete an Application for Admission form with the required application fee and documentation to apply.

Non‑Refundable Enrolment Deposits and Re‑enrolment Deposit
- On acceptance: a $500 deposit per child is required.
- Scheduled non‑refundable deposits toward tuition: 10% of Annual Tuition Fees due March 1st (or upon acceptance if after March 1), 10% due June 1st, and 10% due July 1st (totaling 30% by July). New students accepted after those dates must pay deposits up to the last scheduled deposit date to reserve placement.
- Current families: $500 per child non‑refundable re‑enrolment deposit due December 1st, applied to the following school year's fees.

Annual Tuition Fees by Program (showing 1st child and sibling adjustments)
- Jr. Kindergarten (3 & 4 year olds; 8:22 am – 3:00 pm):
- 5 Full Days: CAD 15,150 (sibling discounts: n/a for listed options).
- 3 Full Days: CAD 9,230.
- 2 Full Days: CAD 6,880.
- 5 Half Days (8:22 am – 12:00 pm): CAD 8,750.
- 3 Half Days: CAD 5,500 (2nd child CAD 4,950; 3rd child CAD 2,200; 4th child CAD 820).
- 2 Half Days: CAD 4,090 (2nd child CAD 3,680; 3rd child CAD 1,640; 4th child CAD 610). Note: available Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Affordability Grants will be applied to reduce tuition for applicable Jr. Kindergarten programs.

- Kindergarten (4 years 8 months & 5 years; 8:22 am – 3:00 pm):
- 5 Full Days: CAD 13,760 (2nd child CAD 12,390; 3rd child CAD 5,510; 4th child CAD 2,070).
- 5 Half Days (8:22 am – 12:00 pm): CAD 9,030 (2nd child CAD 8,140; 3rd child CAD 3,610; 4th child CAD 1,370).

- Senior Kindergarten (5 years 8 months & 6 years; 8:22 am – 3:00 pm):
- 5 Full Days: CAD 12,470 (2nd child CAD 11,230; 3rd child CAD 4,990; 4th child CAD 1,890).

- Elementary (Grades 1–6):
- Annual tuition: CAD 12,050 for the 1st child (2nd child CAD 10,850; 3rd child CAD 4,830; 4th child CAD 1,800).

- Middle School (Grades 7–9):
- Annual tuition: CAD 13,790 for the 1st child (2nd child CAD 12,420; 3rd child CAD 5,520; 4th child CAD 2,080).

Additional Mandatory and Grade‑Specific Fees
- Field Trip & School Supply Fee (per child, by grade):
- Grade 1: CAD 470. Grade 2: CAD 700. Grade 3: CAD 760. Grade 4: CAD 840. Grade 5: CAD 930. Grade 6: CAD 790. Grades 7–9: CAD 890. These fees are payable with tuition and are not pro‑rated for mid‑year enrolments.
- After Care (3:00 pm–5:30 pm) for eligible programs (annual):
- 5 Days/week: CAD 3,900. 4 Days/week: CAD 3,350. 3 Days/week: CAD 2,650. 2 Days/week: CAD 1,850. Early Childhood before/after care fees vary by program.
- Family Initiation Fee: one‑time, non‑refundable CAD 1,500 per family (payable June 1st or upon acceptance).
- International Student Fee: CAD 6,400 annually in addition to standard tuition fees.
- Middle School instrument rental, elective program fees, gym uniform and extra‑curricular participation fees may apply as required. Students may also need to purchase additional or replacement supplies not covered by the School Supply Fee.

Billing Schedule and Payment Terms
- Deposits: see the Non‑Refundable Enrolment Deposits section above (initial $500 on acceptance, plus scheduled 10% deposits on March 1, June 1, and July 1).
- Balance options:
- Payment in full: remaining balance due September 1st. A 1% tuition reduction is applied if the full remaining balance is paid by September 1st.
- Payment by instalments: from September 1st to May 1st—seven additional monthly payments of 10% of Annual Tuition Fees (i.e., seven payments of 10% each) with the Field Trip & School Supply fees due August 1st. Together with the earlier deposits, this schedule totals 100% of annual tuition.
- Cheques: individual cheques are not acceptable unless all fees are paid in one payment.

Accepted Payment Methods
- Pre‑authorized Bank Withdrawal Agreement. Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Individual cheques are not accepted unless all fees are paid in a single cheque payment.

Refund and Withdrawal Policy
- Parents are entitled to a pro‑rated refund of tuition fees effective the end of the month, three full months after written notice of withdrawal is received by School Administration. Refunds are not calculated for mid‑month withdrawals. Field Trip & School Supply Fees, the Family Initiation Fee, and the annual International Student Fee are not pro‑rated and are non‑refundable in the event of withdrawal. The School reserves the right to require withdrawal of a student when deemed necessary.

Notes on Subsidies and Assistance
- Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Affordability Grants will be applied where applicable to reduce Jr. Kindergarten tuition for eligible programs.
- A small Tuition Assistance fund is available by application; deadlines and eligibility criteria apply.
Academics

Calgary Waldorf School teaches Waldorf Steiner Curriculum, Canadian Curriculum.

Curriculum
The school offers Parent and Tot programs, Jr. Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Grades One through Nine. The school uses a Waldorf curriculum that balances academic, artistic, and practical activities to stimulate intelligence and encourage creativity. The Waldorf approach emphasizes thinking, feeling, and will, guided by age-appropriate development from early childhood through middle school. French and German are taught from Grades One through Nine.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Calgary Waldorf School nurtures social and emotional development through Waldorf education, which emphasizes care, reverence, imagination, creativity, and ethical action. The curriculum educates the whole child by balancing humanities, sciences, mathematics and world languages with arts, movement, and athletics. It aims to develop clear thinking, balanced feeling, and initiative in action in alignment with Waldorf pedagogy. The school's mission highlights the development of self-confidence, self-responsibility, moral imagination, and social responsibility, supporting students' interpersonal skills and personal integrity. The environment is welcoming, safe, and respectful, and it encourages active parent involvement in the life of the school. The guiding principles include recognizing the spiritual nature of the human being and educating the whole child through integrated content that fosters wonder, empathy, and respect for life.
Parent Experience

History
Calgary Waldorf School is an independent private school founded in 1985. Its curriculum includes Parent and Tot programs, Preschool and Kindergarten, and Grades One through Nine. The Waldorf approach emphasizes a whole-child education that integrates thinking, feeling, and will—head, heart, and hands.

Community
Calgary Waldorf School describes its community as diverse, passionate, and engaged, bound by a shared commitment to doing good in the world. The school notes that festivals, assemblies, and events bring the community together, and that parents are integral to much of the programming. Festivals include Festival of Courage, Festival of Light, Midwinter Festival, and Mayfest.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Parent Participation is Calgary Waldorf School's framework for parent involvement. Parents participate in class parent evenings, educational workshops, and fundraising, and commit to financial and volunteer contributions each year. Financial commitments include purchasing grocery cards totaling at least $500 per month (the school earns between 5% and 10% of card sales), or making a $400 donation in lieu, and volunteering for two casino shifts if available. Parents are encouraged to participate in social and cultural life through festivals, assemblies, and school and class events, and to take part in parent education events.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Calgary Waldorf School campus covers four and a half acres and provides 50,000 square feet of indoor learning space. Outdoor play areas, an amphitheatre, forests, gardens, and a dedicated kinderwing surround the campus. The indoor facility is airy and flooded with natural light and includes a full-sized gym, a performance space, an assembly hall, a library, and rooms for woodworking, art, music, and other support spaces. Science and computer labs and a commercial kitchen support hands-on learning across disciplines. The kinderwing houses the early childhood programs, with a play-based sanctuary, and the kinderyard features wooden play structures, a sand pit, and forest spaces.

Sports Facilities
On-site there is a full-sized gym for physical education and sports. Outdoor play areas and grounds provide space for active movement and recreation. The kinderyard and surrounding natural spaces support movement activities for early childhood programs. The campus layout integrates indoor and outdoor spaces to encourage ongoing physical activity as part of daily learning.

Academic Facilities
Science and computer labs support hands-on learning across disciplines. A library provides research and quiet study space. Woodworking, art, and music rooms support practical arts and the arts. Support rooms accommodate teachers' and students' needs. A commercial kitchen supports hands-on food-related learning.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Main Lesson is the heart of the Calgary Waldorf School curriculum, a multi-sensory, in-depth study block that runs daily from elementary through middle school. A Class Teacher stays with a class for several consecutive years, providing mentorship, continuity, and a deep understanding of each student's development. The curriculum explores humanities, mathematics, history, and science through drawing, dancing, singing, writing, painting, and modelling. The Waldorf approach is rooted in the ideas of thinking, feeling, willing and head, heart, hands, guiding children to grow academically, socially, and morally.

Arts & Creative
Art is an essential instructional tool in every subject and grade. In the early years, artistic work precedes academics, with daily drawing, painting, and modelling; beeswax modelling in Grade 1 and clay introduced later. Music is a constant means of expression, with recorder starting in Grade 1, ukulele in Grade 3, and a Junior High Band by Grade 7, plus regular performances at recitals and assemblies. Drama, handwork, practical arts, and visual arts deepen creativity and expressive skills across the curriculum.

Cultural & Language
French and German are taught from Grades One through Nine. Through story, song, rhyme, and movement, younger students become acquainted with different cultures and look at the world through the eyes of others. Grammar and reading begin in Grade Four and progress in higher grades, with occasional performances in another language at school assemblies.

Social & Hobbies
Choral and instrumental music education runs through Grades One to Six, with class teachers guiding music; recorder is taught in Grade One, ukulele in Grade Three, and a Junior High Band is formed in Grade Seven. Drama provides yearly class plays that build teamwork, memory, and confidence. Handwork, practical arts, and visual arts offer hands-on, collaborative outlets that complement social learning.

Community & Service
The Waldorf Buddy program builds relationships across grades, offering mentorship and social support. The school expands community service work locally and farther afield across Grade School and Middle School. Community Education and Engagement notes a collaborative, school-wide effort to support Waldorf education and learning.

Leadership & Professional
Middle School Student Council provides opportunities for students to demonstrate leadership capacities. The Class Teacher model supports ongoing leadership development through mentorship and continuity in learning. The Annual Education Results Report describes staff leadership, professional learning, mentoring for new educators, and governance structures that support leadership within the school.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Emotional, physical, and social well-being are central to Waldorf education. The use of electronic media, particularly television and screen-time, by young children is discouraged. A balanced family life is emphasized and supported, with a focus on unhurried childhood and reducing overly busy schedules.
Languages

Language Provision
French and German are taught from Grades One through Nine. In the early grades language learning uses story, song, rhyme, and movement to introduce different cultures and widen students' horizons. Grammar and reading begin with imaginative games in Grade Four and continue more formally in the higher grades. Students occasionally present short plays, songs, and poems in another language at school assemblies.

Bilingual Teaching
French and German are taught from Grades One through Nine.
Reputation

Awards
null

Accreditations
Calgary Waldorf School is an accredited Full Member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Submit an Application for Admission Form with the $50 application fee and requested reports; Applications are accepted year-round for immediate or mid-year enrolment, for the upcoming school year, or for a future year and can be mailed or dropped off. 2. If applicable, review International/EAL Student Requirements before submitting. 3. Grade 1 requires at least 6 years old on or before September 1; Grades 2–9 ages are reviewed on an individual basis. 4. For Parent and Tot, Jr. Kindergarten, and Kindergarten entry requirements, refer to Early Childhood. 5. Non-refundable enrolment deposits: On acceptance $500; 10% of the annual tuition due March 1 (or upon acceptance if after March 1); 10% due June 1; 10% due July 1 (total 30%). 6. New student applicants: deposits must be paid up to the last deposit date to reserve placement. 7. The school does not take applications for temporary or short-term enrolments. 8. Applications for Junior Kindergarten 2026/27 will be added to the wait pool list. 9. International Student Fees apply for eligible students; International Student Fee is $6,400 in addition to tuition; Initiation Fee per family is $1,500.

Scholarships
Tuition Assistance is available from a small fund; the deadline for applications is March 15 (or upon acceptance if after March 15); Grants are allocated based on income, family size, the current year's budget, number of applicants, and contribution/commitment to the school community; Tuition Assistance is considered after an offer of enrolment and is not available for mid-year enrolments; Online application will be posted in January.

Waitlist
Junior Kindergarten 2026/27 applications are added to the wait pool list; a wait pool is used for Junior Kindergarten entries and spaces are filled from the pool when available.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Canada View all schools in Calgary View all schools in Canada Canadian curriculum schools in Canada Open days & tours in Calgary What is the Canadian curriculum? View all schools Search all schools