We just left a Waldorf school. One known to be one of the best. We moved our family across the country, because we love the philosophy of Waldorf. Unfortunately, gifted children DO NOT belong in Waldorf schools. My child told the teacher he was bored 2 years ago. He said he would find ways to challenge him. That never happened. My child always made fun of the system. Still does. The teacher told us he was doing well, and happy. We should have left then. Each year got worse. Waldorf schools have 25-33 children. They all move together. I don't care what they tell you on the tour. The reality is they don't recognize gifted at all. My child said that he had to wait until the 32nd child in the class understood the math before they could move up. Yes, the knitting was great, but gifted kids need a challenge younger. It was not a good experience academically for us at all.

I see Waldorf and Gifted in the same sentence and kind of freak out. Everything I have heard has been similar to your experience.

I agree - about the only positive thing I have heard about Waldorf schools and gifted kids is that Waldorf preschools do a pretty good job of providing a play-based curriculum for these kids.

I will add that Waldorf kindergarten is wonderful with all of its story-telling, art, cooking, outdoor play and crafts that teach hand-eye coordination. As long as you supplement where your child desires more learning. But my experience is that gifted kids will wilt on the vine from first grade on. Like the OP, we left a Waldorf-inspired charter school after two years of listening to the teacher say that she would challenge dd but absolutely never did anything.

FYI: there was a long thread on Waldorf schools at the end of 2014/beginning of 2015: Waldorf thread.

Wow,I just read that old thread. It was enormously entertaining, and fairly creepy. I knew the system emphasized nature and their own view of child development, but had no idea about the stranger ideological underpinnings.