The Waverly School

The Waverly School
67 W. Bellevue Drive
Pasadena, California 91105

United States
Information
TypeIndependent, Day, College-prep
Established1993
Head of schoolClarke Weatherspoon
Faculty35[1]
GradesPreschool-12
Enrollment360
Student to teacher ratioPreschool: 8:1
Elementary school: 12:1
Middle school: 11:1
High school: 11:1
AccreditationWestern Association of Schools and Colleges, California Association of Independent Schools
Websitethewaverlyschool.org

The Waverly School, founded in 1993, is an independent, co-educational day school in Pasadena, California. Consisting of approximately 360 students from preschool through grade 12, the school offers a college-preparatory program divided into lower, middle, and upper schools.

The school operates from its Bellevue Drive campus and maintains a separate, one-acre organic farm used for educational programming.

Accreditation

The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the California Association of Independent Schools[2] and is a member of the Independent School Alliance, People of Color in Independent Schools,[3] and A Better Chance.[4]

Programs

Preschool

Preschool students spend about half the day outdoors in unstructured but supervised play.[5]

Waverly's preschool program, licensed by the California Department of Social Services, is designed for children from 3 1/2 to 5 years old. Younger children usually attend preschool for two years. Enrollment is limited to 17 students and the program is held on the elementary school campus at 67 W. Bellevue Drive.[5]

Elementary school

Kindergarten through sixth grade are taught in self‑contained classrooms staffed by a lead teacher and an associate teacher, with an average student-teacher ratio of 12:1. Beginning in first grade, most classrooms are multi‑age and dual‑grade (e.g., 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th).[6]

Middle school

Students work with five core educators who teach multiple subjects throughout the school day.[7]

High school

The high school follows a college-preparatory program. According to the school, its graduation requirements are aligned with or above the ‘A–G’ entrance requirements for the University of California. The Waverly School may be registered with the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).[8]

Organic farm

The school maintains a one-acre organic farm at 665 South Pasadena Avenue. The farm is used for instructional activities, including wildlife observation, scientific experiments and student writing projects. Teachers may request the use of designated garden plots for class activities.[9]

The farm is generally open to the community and supports a range of uses, including cultivation, educational programming, and outdoor learning activities.

References

  1. ^ K-12 Directory of Schools
  2. ^ "The Waverly School - California Association of Independent Schools". www.caisca.org. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  3. ^ "home". People of Color in Independent Schools. March 21, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  4. ^ "Waverly At-A-Glance". The Waverly School. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Preschool". The Waverly School. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "Elementary School". The Waverly School. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  7. ^ "Middle School". The Waverly School. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "CIF Participation Census". California Interscholastic Federation Participation Census. August 4, 2025.
  9. ^ "Farm". The Waverly School. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.


34°08′19″N 118°09′07″W / 34.138628°N 118.151974°W / 34.138628; -118.151974