The Living Elements of Shining Mountain Waldorf High School
Our development as human beings is a constant, renewing endeavor. Our high school students are making their way through the final, intensive work of adolescence. The Living Elements address the interdependent pathways of growth, both academic and personal, to which both teacher and student devote themselves. As they move through high school, the student experiences these pathways as an ever-maturing being moving toward adulthood.
Discovery of Self
Along with a focus on strong academic and social competencies, Shining Mountain commits to working with the adolescent to foster the development of self-knowledge. Developing an understanding of one's relationship to risk, motivation, resilience, interdependent thinking and collaboration forms the foundational layer of the lifelong journey of "know thyself". We work toward developing, strengthening and synthesizing this undertaking throughout the four years.
Learning through Experience
At Shining Mountain, the commitment is in the doing. We ask our students to take an active role in their learning. They cultivate wonder, seek meaning, engage their will, and effectively communicate. Experiential learning brings the academic experience alive within the student which in turn awakens them to their place in the world.
Integration of the Arts
Fine, practical, and performing arts are central to a Shining Mountain education, yet the creative process goes beyond the arts as they are traditionally understood. When each discipline is approached as a creative endeavor, experiential knowledge is deepened through a revelation of the unseen, and the discovery of its intrinsic value. A creative interaction with the processes enriches learning, strengthens recall, and inspires original, and innovative work.
A look inside our classrooms
Alumni Stats at a Glance
98%
college graduates
Of surveyed SMWS graduates, 98% attend and graduate from college, far above the U.S. national average.
51%
with honors
Of surveyed alumni, 51% complete undergraduate study with honors.
37%
advanced degrees
37% go on to graduate school to earn master's and PhDs.
35%
self-employed
Of surveyed alumni not currently in school, 35% are self-employed, more than double the national average.
