FAQ

CESJDS serves students in Grades K-12. Our early childhood program, Gurim (junior kindergarten), serves 4 year olds and provides a joyful introduction to our school’s community and educational philosophy.

All applications for admission can be submitted through our online portal. You can find detailed instructions and all required materials on our website's Admissions Process page.

The application deadline is typically in early January for the following school year, but we encourage families to start the process in the fall to allow time for tours and interviews. You can find all key dates on our Admissions Process page.

Yes. We believe the best way to experience our community is to see it for yourself. We offer a number of admissions events throughout the fall, including open houses and on-campus tours. You can register for an upcoming event or schedule a personal visit on our website's Admissions Process page.

CESJDS welcomes any student who is being raised Jewishly, and any family interested in providing their kid(s) with a pluralistic Jewish education – including families who are entirely Jewish, interfaith families, and families in the process of choosing to be Jewish. Our program is designed to meet children where they are and at all levels, particularly as it relates to Hebrew education. As a result, students do not need to know Hebrew in order to enroll - no matter their grade. CESJDS students are intellectually curious, emotionally resilient, and passionate about becoming lifelong learners. Our admissions process is designed to find families who will be enriched by, and will enrich, our community.

We are deeply committed to making a CESJDS education accessible to all qualified students. The school has a robust tuition assistance program to help families make the investment in a transformative education work. All tuition information and application materials can be found on our website.

Our academic philosophy is rooted in providing a transformative education that prepares students to make a meaningful impact on the world. This is achieved through the seamless blending of an academically challenging curriculum with deep, engaging Jewish learning. We believe that this integrated approach, which we refer to as the "learning more" advantage, doesn't just build an outstanding intellectual foundation—it cultivates curiosity, fosters intellectual debate, and develops critical thinkers who are confident in their abilities and equipped to address life’s most challenging questions.

Our outstanding faculty are the living proof of our mission, embodying the core values of our school every day. They are not only subject experts and master educators, but also caring individuals dedicated to teaching the whole child, ensuring they not only excel academically, but become good, passionate, caring mensches. 

Our teachers are committed to meeting every child where they are and fostering strong, personal relationships that allow students to truly thrive. Our teachers provide personalized support for students who need it, as well as tailored challenges that allow our most gifted learners to reach their full potential. Their ability to see every student for who they are creates lifelong learners. This dual commitment to academic excellence and nurturing mentorship ensures our students receive an exceptional experience every day.
 

Yes. Our school is fully accredited and meets all state requirements. Within that framework, we follow a thoughtfully designed integrated curriculum that is intentionally structured to build on itself year after year. We do not teach to a test; rather, our focus is on fostering a deep conceptual understanding and a lifelong love of learning.

This means the knowledge and skills your child gains in one year serve as a solid foundation for the next, creating a cohesive and purposeful educational journey that never feels disjointed. Through this approach, we empower students to become independent, creative, and critical thinkers who can confidently apply lessons from our academically challenging curriculum and their Jewish learning to new questions and challenges, preparing them for a lifetime of meaning and purpose.
 

Our integrated curriculum is designed to ensure students learn more, not less. By seamlessly blending our academically challenging general studies with deep Jewish learning, we strengthen critical thinking, enhance language acquisition, and provide a broader perspective that actually fortifies their overall academic foundation. Our graduates consistently achieve more and are prepared for top universities and beyond.

We are committed to maximizing individual potential for every student. Our master educators are experts at meeting every child where they are, providing tailored challenges and enrichment opportunities for our most gifted learners. We foster intellectual curiosity and empower confident voices, ensuring no potential is untapped.

Not at all. We are committed to meeting every child where they are on their learning journey, and our Hebrew program is specifically designed for new students with no prior background. We utilize a modern, research supported, proficiency-based approach to language acquisition, which focuses on developing conversational skills, reading, writing, and comprehension in an engaging and effective way. We provide dedicated programs and support to help them feel confident and integrated with their peers, ensuring that every child is able to participate fully and that no potential is untapped as they cultivate their proud Jewish identity.

Our purposeful educational journey is designed to prepare students for college and life beyond from the moment they step through our doors. Our integrated curriculum builds an outstanding intellectual foundation and develops incisive critical thinkers who are confident in their abilities. We provide comprehensive college counseling and support services to guide students through the application process, ensuring they are well-prepared to make choices that unlock future opportunities. Our curriculum and Portrait of a CESJDS Graduate emphasize skills, habits of mind, and character development that set students up for success in college and life beyond.  

CESJDS graduates are accepted into a wide range of colleges and universities, reflecting the diversity of their interests and achievements. Our students consistently gain admission to top-tier national universities, prestigious liberal arts colleges, and leading state universities. You can find detailed statistics on our graduates' college matriculation and a list of schools they've attended on our website's College Counseling page.

In our Lower School, students begin to build a deep connection to Israel. Our curriculum focuses on an age-appropriate exploration of Israeli culture, geography, Hebrew language, and holidays. Students are exposed to the wide diversity of people, cultures, and groups that make up modern Israel’s vibrant society. We instill a deep sense of love and pride for Israel through song, story, and art, laying a foundation for a strong personal relationship with the Jewish homeland.

In the Upper School, Israel education evolves into a rigorous academic inquiry. Our curriculum explores the history of Zionism, the establishment of the modern state, and contemporary Israeli society. Students engage with a variety of primary and secondary sources to gain a nuanced understanding of Israel's place in Jewish history and among the nations of the world, fostering incisive critical thinkers prepared to articulate their connection to Israel with confidence.

Yes. We believe that to truly prepare students to navigate and shape our complex, interconnected world, they must be equipped to engage with its most challenging issues. Our Israel education is grounded in Ahavat Yisra'el, a love for the people, culture, and land of Israel, which is not synonymous with endorsement of any specific government or policy.

In our Upper School, the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict is taught in an open and thoughtful academic environment. We approach this work educationally, not politically, and our curriculum includes the teaching of multiple narratives, including Palestinian voices and perspectives. Just as schools teach American history with a lens of critical inquiry, we teach students to engage with Israel's complexity and moral dilemmas through inquiry and study. The goal is to develop students who can engage with complexity and demonstrate deep knowledge and understanding rather than to prescribe a specific viewpoint.

A typical school day at CESJDS is a dynamic and integrated experience, purposefully designed to foster a child's full potential in an inclusive and welcoming community. Your child will seamlessly transition between a robust academic education—deep in subjects like math, literacy, and science—and rich Jewish learning, which might include lively discussions of ancient texts, an exploration of modern Israel, or a project on Jewish values. 

Our incredible faculty ensures that this blend is a powerful advantage. Students are constantly learning more as lessons in one area reinforce skills and concepts in the other, strengthening their critical thinking and broadening their perspective. In addition to rigorous academics, the day includes time for co-curriculars, arts, and physical education—all part of our commitment to nurturing the whole child.

Throughout the day, our students are encouraged to ask questions, speak up, and advocate for themselves, creating an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity and joyful inquiry. It is a day where every student feels seen, understood, and has a sense of belonging in a community that prepares them not just for the next class, but for a lifetime of purpose.

Our inclusive and welcoming community is truly at the heart of the CESJDS experience. We believe a strong sense of belonging is fundamental to a child's growth and a family's journey. As a pluralistic day school, we deeply respect and embrace families from the full spectrum of Jewish backgrounds - whether your family identifies as traditional, cultural, interfaith, or if you’re just embarking on your Jewish journey - all are embraced. We celebrate Jewish life and learning with Jewish joy and a deep sense of shared heritage. From community-wide holiday events to collaborative school projects, we build strong relationships among students, faculty, parents, and alumni, forging a lifelong bond that extends far beyond graduation.

We are committed to meeting every child where they are, which is why our average class size is 13 students. This allows our faculty to provide the personalized attention and support needed to ensure every student feels seen and that no potential is untapped.

Our commitment to nurturing the whole child extends far beyond the classroom. We offer a wide range of what we refer to as “co-curricular” activities, from athletics to arts and academic clubs. All co-curriculars are designed to be inclusive and accessible to every student, providing opportunities for them to explore their passions, develop skills, and build strong relationships within our community.

Our inclusive and welcoming community is a shared home, and parental involvement is the cornerstone of its vibrancy. We offer a wide range of opportunities to get involved, from joining our Parent Association to volunteering at community-wide events and supporting our co-curricular programs. Whether you're a new family seeking connection or a seasoned CESJDS parent, you'll find a place to contribute and a community to belong to.

A typical school day at CESJDS runs from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM in the lower school, and until 3:45 PM in the upper school. During daylight saving time, dismissal is at 2:15 PM (Lower School) and 2:20 PM (Upper School) in observance of Shabbat.

Yes, we offer a comprehensive bus service that serves a wide range of neighborhoods in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. You can find specific routes and costs on our website's Transportation page.

CESJDS does not require a uniform. Students are expected to adhere to a school attire policy that reflects our school’s values of respect and community. Beyond attire, students who identify as male are required to wear a kippah or hat on their head while in our buildings. Girls who choose to wear a kippah are encouraged to do so.

Our mission is to provide an outstanding and inspiring independent, pluralistic Jewish day school education for students who are being raised Jewishly. This includes families who are entirely Jewish, interfaith families, and families who are in the process of choosing to be Jewish. We partner with families from many different backgrounds who are all committed to their child(ren)'s Jewish journey.

Yes. As a pluralistic day school, we are deeply enriched by families from all backgrounds, including those who are more observant. Our community is built on a foundation of mutual respect and learning from one another. To support this, our school calendar observes all Jewish holidays and provides an early dismissal on Fridays during daylight saving time to ensure that our families and faculty have time to prepare for Shabbat. We follow the rules of kashrut in our cafeteria, so that our students can eat and socialize together in a fully inclusive environment. Our curriculum provides a rigorous and intellectually honest approach to Jewish texts and tradition, offering a challenging environment for students with a strong Jewish background to deepen their knowledge and understanding.

Our inclusive and welcoming community is founded on a commitment to pluralism that celebrates the full spectrum of Jewish life. Families from mixed-faith backgrounds are a valued part of our school community. We create a nurturing space that is free from judgment and focuses on fostering a profound, confident Jewish identity through engaging and accessible Jewish learning that resonates with every family's unique journey and perspective.

Quite the opposite. At CESJDS, intellectual inquiry and diversity of thought are paramount. Our curriculum, rooted in Jewish tradition's culture of questioning and interpretation, actively encourages students to explore multiple perspectives and engage in respectful debate. We teach students how to think critically, not what to think, ensuring they are not bound by a single ideology and cultivating a rich appreciation and thirst for varying perspectives.

We are committed to a whole-child approach that supports students academically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Our faculty, as master educators and caring individuals, are dedicated to building strong relationships and creating an environment where students feel safe to take intellectual risks, explore their passions, and develop into principled mensches who are confident in who they are.

The safety and security of our students is our highest priority. CESJDS has comprehensive, state-of-the-art security measures in place, including armed security guards, a secure campus perimeter, controlled access points, and ongoing training for staff and students. We work in close partnership with local law enforcement and security experts to ensure our protocols are always up-to-date and effective.