A home for joyful learning in Whatcom County
Whatcom Hills Waldorf School offers a learning environment unlike any other in our region, set on a historic campus in the middle of (we think) the most beautiful corner of the Pacific Northwest. We nurture interest, wonder, and a lifelong love of learning by engaging the whole child—head, heart, and hands.
Accreditation & Memberships
Whatcom Hills Waldorf School is a fully accredited member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) and the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN), and a WA State Approved Private School.
Why Choose WHWS?
A Curriculum for Life
A time-tested, developmentally grounded curriculum comes alive through the arts, movement, world languages, outdoor experiences, and practical work. Students build the confidence to think critically, the creativity to solve real problems, and a strong sense of responsibility to the world around them—preparing them not just for academic success, but for a meaningful life.
Surrounded by Nature
Nestled in a quiet neighborhood just above Lake Whatcom, our campus is a wooded haven of trees, streams, gardens, and outdoor classrooms. As part of daily life, regular time outside builds resilience, curiosity, and connection to the natural world.
Unplugged, On Purpose
In a world saturated with screens, we take a different path — one where children learn through their hands, imagination, and meaningful relationships rather than devices. Screen-free classrooms in the early years build deep focus, creativity, and a love of learning that lasts.
Small Classes, Lasting Relationships
With an average teacher-to-student ratio of 1:16 in the grades and 2:12 in early childhood, our teachers get to know each child deeply — their strengths, challenges, and how they learn best. Class teachers also often remain with the same students across multiple grades, fostering long-term relationships that build trust and support a rich, stable social dynamic in the classroom.
A Vibrant, Connected Community
At the heart of WHWS is a warm, close-knit community of families, teachers, and children who support one another through festivals, gatherings, and shared traditions from early childhood through 8th grade. Parents, caregivers, and loved ones aren't just observers — they're active participants in the life of the school.
Graduates Who Thrive
Waldorf graduates go on to college and careers at above-average rates, and consistently report feeling well-prepared, creative, and equipped for leadership. Long-term studies confirm that a childhood rich in creativity, community, and hands-on learning also produces confident, capable adults. Meet some of our alumni, or read more about life after Waldorf education.
Our Mission
Our mission is to deliver a diverse curriculum, guided by Waldorf Principles, that nurtures and builds capacities in each student so they are able to engage in the world with confidence, initiative and compassion.
Our History
Founded in 1986 in Bellingham’s Happy Valley neighborhood, Whatcom Hills Waldorf School moved to its current historic campus—the original Geneva School—in 1998. Improvements made over the years include a performing arts hall, additional grades building, outdoor classrooms, teaching garden, rooftop solar panels, and a preschool cottage. In 2026, WHWS acquired the barn property adjacent to our campus, creating exciting opportunities for future growth.
Land Acknowledgment
Whatcom Hills Waldorf School acknowledges that we gather and learn on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Coast Salish peoples, who have lived in relationship with these lands and waters since time immemorial and continue to do so today. We honor past, present, and future Coast Salish communities and seek to deepen our understanding through a curriculum that engages local Indigenous history, culture, and stewardship of place.
Commitment to Human Diversity and Dignity
It is a fundamental goal of Whatcom Hills Waldorf School to bring students to an understanding and experience of the common humanity of all people, transcending stereotypes, prejudices, and divisive barriers of classification by sex, gender identity, race, socio-economic standing, religious heritage and culture. We emphatically reject racism in all its forms, and fully embrace the principles of common humanity expressed in AWSNA’s 8th Principle for Waldorf Schools.
