Our students, living in a world of perpetual change, grow to understand that some wisdom remains constant over the centuries: the insights of ancient philosophers, the words of great writers, the theories of mathematics, and the laws of science. JCDS students’ particular heritage is Jewish tradition. In our academic program students readily engage with Jewish texts, both classical and modern, sacred and secular. Our dual curriculum assures that they graduate as competent, contemplative, and creative young adolescents, navigating with confidence in a world of rapidly changing information.

A JCDS education is designed to assure that our students are well-grounded in essential skills and creative in spirit; that they will know the academic disciplines while learning to work diligently and persevere; that they will succeed according to standardized scholastic measures but excel, too, in realms like citizenship and menschlekhkeit that are not quantifiable. JCDS students learn to be remarkably good readers, writers, and thinkers; they have fluency in math, and learn both content and method in science; they are literate in Jewish tradition, alive with Jewish culture, and at home in Jewish communities. They gain entry to whole worlds through their mastery of Hebrew. Through prayer and sport, art and music, our students find here many pathways for growth and expression.

For all that we do to cultivate community at JCDS, we never lose sight of the individual. We understand that every student comes to learning in her or his own way, so our curriculum features differentiated instruction. We want our students to emerge as the best possible version of themselves.

In both the Lower and Middle Schools, a deep respect for every member of the school community underlies our curricular choices. As our sources long ago established the principle דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה – Derekh Eretz Kadmah laTorah – Right Behavior Precedes Learning, we strive to uphold this value in every aspect of our school. We cultivate specific מידות – Middot – Qualities of Character in classrooms, on the playing fields, and in the relationships formed at school. As you read about the Lower and Middle School curricula, please remember the centrality of our ethical commitments.