Parent and child classes
A weekly morning for caregivers with children 18 months to 3 years, baking and singing together.
Eleven wooded acres since 1988
Childhood is not a race to the next grade level
Handwork, music and outdoor time sit alongside math and literature, and one class teacher stays with your child for several years running.
37 yrsin Ann Arbor
11wooded acres
18maximum class size
40%of families receive aid
Our programs
From parent and child classes to grade eight
Tuition figures are annual. Roughly four in ten families receive need based assistance.
Preschool and kindergarten
Mixed age classes with real work, outdoor play in all weather and a warm daily rhythm.
Grades 1 to 5
One class teacher across several years, main lesson blocks, handwork, music and two languages.
Grades 6 to 8
Subject specialists join, with woodwork, gardening, class plays and an eighth grade project.
Aftercare
Supervised play and a snack until 5:30pm, drop in or scheduled.
Summer camp
Two week outdoor sessions in June and July, open to children from any school.
About our school
A faculty run school on the edge of the woods
Cedar Hollow was founded in 1988 by a group of Ann Arbor families and now serves about 190 children from preschool through eighth grade. The school is run collaboratively by its faculty rather than a single administrator, and our campus includes a garden, a woodshop and eleven acres of woods children are actually allowed to be in.
•Waldorf curriculum, member of the association of Waldorf schools of North America
•Screen free during the school day at every grade level
•Outdoor time every day, in all weather, at every age
•Need based tuition assistance offered to roughly 40 percent of families
Reviews
What our families notice
“My daughter came to us in third grade after struggling to sit still all day. She now spends recess building things in the woods and reads for pleasure.”
Hannah L., parent, grade 5
“Having the same class teacher from first through fifth meant nobody had to reexplain my son every August.”
Ken O., parent, two graduates
“We were honest about what we could pay and the aid conversation was straightforward and private.”
Rosa M., parent, kindergarten
FAQ
What prospective families ask
How is Waldorf different from a conventional school?
Academic content arrives in main lesson blocks of several weeks rather than short daily periods, and each subject is introduced at the age it tends to land best. Handwork, music, movement and outdoor time are part of the core curriculum, not extras. Formal reading instruction begins in first grade rather than kindergarten.
Will my child be prepared for high school?
Our graduates go on to Ann Arbor public high schools, area independent schools and the international baccalaureate program, and they typically report that writing and public speaking come easily. We are glad to connect you with recent graduate families so you can ask them directly.
Is this a religious school?
No. Cedar Hollow is not affiliated with any church and we do not teach religious doctrine. We mark seasonal festivals through the year, and our families come from many faith backgrounds and none.
What does tuition assistance look like?
We use a third party service to assess need confidentially, and awards typically cover 20 to 60 percent of tuition. Around forty percent of our families receive some assistance. Apply for admission first, then the aid application opens in January.
Contact
Walk the campus with us
Tours run Wednesday mornings during the school year and include time in a classroom while class is in session. Call or send the form to reserve a spot.
Phone(734) 555-0139
Address5580 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, Michigan
HoursMon to Fri 8am to 3:15pm, office until 4:30pm
AreaAnn Arbor, Ypsilanti, Dexter, Saline, Chelsea