Portland Private High School - Portland Waldorf School

PWHS students spend four years immersed in a richly integrated academic, artistic, and social education. Guided by expert teachers, Waldorf high schoolers explore the sciences, arts, and humanities through experiential projects, language study and foreign exchange opportunities, and environmental and sustainability education.

Science

9th Grade: Anatomy, Organic Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Geology

10th Grade: Mechanics, Acids & Bases, Meteorology, Physiology

11th Grade: Astronomy, Electricity & Magnetism, Botany, Chemistry

12th Grade: Zoology, Biochemistry, Optics, Science Elective (topics in Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

Math

PWHS offers an innovative math program that focuses on strong understanding of concepts and allows students to move at their own pace (with regard given to meeting the graduation requirement of three credits), while also gaining 21st century skills such as problem solving, resource utilization, collaboration, independent thinking and persistence. It is possible to complete more than four credits of math in this program.

Ninth graders enter one of two math groups: one starting with Algebra 1 and being coached into how to work in the self-paced program; the other starting with Geometry in the self-paced program. Both groups will be using the self-paced program by the start of 10th grade.

The curriculum includes additional, rich math courses that are not part of math in other schools. These courses strengthen logic, distinct application, different forms of abstract thinking, and broaden a student’s understanding of what math is. Examples include Projective Geometry and Mathematical Thinking in Ancient Civilization.

History

9th Grade: US Colonialism & US Revolution, World History through Revolutions, World History through Art

10th Grade: Africa, Ancient History, US History, Civics

11th Grade: Rome & the Middle Ages, The Age of Discovery, The Middle East, Music History

12th Grade: The Global Economy, History of Architecture, America in the Modern World

English

9th Grade: Comedy & Tragedy, Grammar, Short Stories, Biography, Literature of the Pacific Rim

10th Grade: The Odyssey, American Literature, Poetry, Creation Stories

11th Grade: Parzival, Romantic Poetry, Dante and the Romantics, Cultural Identities, Shakespeare

12th Grade: Transcendentalism, Russian Literature, Senior Essay

Arts

All Four Years: Music (choice of Choir, Orchestra, Guitar, African Drumming)

9th Grade: Basketry, Coppersmithing, Fine Arts

10th Grade: Spinning & Weaving, Woodworking & Marquetry, Fine Arts

11th Grade: Blacksmithing, Book Arts, Fine Arts

12th Grade: Painting, Sculpture, Book Arts, Fiber Arts, Auto Mechanics

Health & Wellness, College & Career, Internships

All Four Years: Health & Wellness Skills

11th grade: ACT preparation, Internship Elective, College & Career Counseling

12th Grade: Senior Project, Apprenticeships Elective, Internship Elective, College & Career Counseling

College & Career Success: PWHS prepares its graduates for a wide variety of prestigious colleges and rewarding careers. Click for a sampling of PWHS college acceptances, and read our High School Newsletter for alumni stories.

Technology

9th Grade: Typing, Word Processing, File Sharing

10th Grade: Photo Manipulation, Spreadsheets & Graphing, Publishing Software, Website Design & Coding

11th/12th Grade Elective: Computer & Robotics Lab, Game Creation, Basic Circuits, Circuit Boards

Foreign Language

Spanish, German

Outdoor Education

9th Grade

Outdoor Week: Camping, Social Bonding, Survival Skills
Farm Week: Internship on a working farm
LivingLAB classes

10th Grade:

Outdoor Week: Camping, Tracking, Plant Identification

11th Grade:

Outdoor Week: Backpacking, Sustainable Practices
LivingLAB Elective

12th Grade:

Outdoor Week: Retreat & 48-Hour Solo Sit
LivingLAB Elective

Honors Curriculum

Unlike AP and IB classes which usually have a set curriculum preparing students for the big test, PWHS Honors curriculum allows Honors level work and credit to be made available in any course through an agreement between the student and teacher. Teachers encourage students to be curious and look for ways to challenge themselves and connect their personal interests to the curriculum. In any given class, students who are performing well with the regular curriculum can gain Honors by doing extra research in addition to the regular expectations of the class. They then work with the teacher to design a unique essay topic, presentation or tangible product that demonstrates what they’ve learned. This added work results in the course becoming an Honors course and provides a bump in the student’s GPA.

Drama & Movement

All Four Years: Drama (including games, skits & monologues, theatrical production), Eurythmy, Physical Education

Extracurricular Activities

Athletics: Cross Country, Volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, Basketball, Track & Field, or other sports through our OSAA membership

Leadership Opportunities: Student Council, Student Ambassador Program

Clubs (vary based on student interest): Speech and Debate, Jazz Band, Culture Club, Bowling, Yearbook, Chess Club, Literature Club, Math Club, Film Club

Visiting - virtually or in-person

Shadow a student when campus is open or talk with a student when PWHS is in distance learning mode.

Shadow a Student: Discover a day in the life of a PWHS student – a chance to explore our curriculum and school culture from within. For prospective students in Grade 8 or above, when the campus is open.

Talk with a Student: Want to learn more about PWHS but aren’t able to come visit? PWHS is hosting a Conversation with a Senior, to give applicants an opportunity to hear more about the student experience…from a peer’s perspective.

If you are interested in scheduling a shadow or a student conversation, please reach out to our Admissions office.

HOW TO APPLY

2020-21 Applications Now Available

Apply for High School

For international students interested in attending PWHS for a year or more, click to learn more about our International Student Program.

Contact our Admissions Office with questions.

High School News

Beyond the Classroom: Distance Learning at PWS

Click through the photos and videos in the slideshow below for a glimpse of the PWS distance learning curriculum, and to catch up with our students and teachers beyond the classroom. A Glimpse into Distance Learning at Portland Waldorf School Making Sunflower Nursery...

Earth Day: A Letter to the HS students

Dear students, I am writing to send you warm greetings on Earth Day, 2020. This is the day when people around the world commemorate the beauty and wonder of our planet and its ecosystem, acknowledge the harms and challenges which humans pose to the planet, and pledge...

Class of 2020: Our Athletes (Part 1)

The movement curriculum at PWHS is plentiful and diverse and one in which the active Class of 2020 has particularly shined. Over their four years of high school, 80% of the students played a traditional sport such as basketball, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, cross...

Class of 2020 – Early Admissions!

This spring, the class of 2020 begins to reflect on their time in high school while also looking ahead to the future. Some seniors identified their first-choice school early in fall. For Alden Baartz- Bowman, Kai Givens and Riley Layton, applying and committing to...

Poetry Series: Why Home is Spelled W-A-L-D-O-R-F

In honor of National Poetry Month, we are happy to share poems written by parents, students, teachers, alumni, and other beloved community members. We thank them for celebrating with us. If you have a poem to share, please get in touch! It’s all block crayons...

Introducing the Class of 2020

Each year, we have the honor and the privilege to graduate a remarkable group of young adults into the world. It is a moment when we as teachers and we as a community have the opportunity to step back and appreciate these students for who they are as individuals as...

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