1. The school has a child-centered program that values the different learning styles of its students and that encourages critical thinking and creativity through the arts and music.
2. Our students come from families representing a wide range of beliefs and practices within Judaism.
3. Hebrew and English are used throughout the day, as languages of instruction and communication.  Children learn to function well in both languages and develop a strong cultural connection with Israel as well as America.

1. We promote joyful, passionate learning among our students and teachers, and we strive for academic excellence through the use of innovative teaching strategies and curriculum.
2. We have a rich integrated curriculum that prepares knowledgeable, caring and committed Jews who are able to engage in meaningful study of Hebrew sources.
3. Music, the visual arts, and the performing arts are integral parts of the curriculum and of the life of the school.
4. Our school program and classroom structures facilitate respect for individual differences among students and promote a cooperative spirit. We offer mulit-age experiences throughout the school, and some classes span two traditional grade levels.
5. JCDS is a welcoming community that respects and cherishes diversity.
6. There are many opportunities for parent and community involvement.

JCDS begins at 8:00 am daily. Dismissal for Kindergarten through Grade 4 is at 3:30 pm Monday through Thursday and at 2:00 pm on Fridays. Middle School classes are dismissed at 3:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, at 4:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at 2:00 pm on Fridays.
There is an After-School Program which operates until 6 p.m. daily, with earlier closings on Fridays. For the convenience of parents and carpools with students who have different dismissal times, special arrangements can be made for the time to be spent in the After- School Program.

For the 2008-2009 school year, tuition is as follows:
Kindergarten $18,900 per student.
Lower School $20,000 per student (Grades 1-4)
Middle School $20,800 per student (Grades 5-8)
There are no additional activity or materials charges except for the annual Middle School overnight trip (approximately $400).

Our tuition reflects the School's commitment to
* The pursuit of excellence in child-centered education - with a wide range of new curricular resources, a compensation package to attract and retain high-quality faculty, and ongoing professional development opportunities for staff.
* Diversity of our community along multiple dimensions - with the JCDS Flexible Tuition Program supporting the financial diversity that truly enables us to be a community school.
* Fiscal responsibility - with tuition offsetting a large portion of the cost of delivering an excellent JCDS education. Grants and donations from foundations and individuals cover the balance of our expenses.

What do you offer in the After-School Program?
The JCDS After School Program provides a safe, nurturing environment for students, with a balance of staff-guided and student-initiated activities. It runs until 6:00 pm four days a week, and until adjusted times on Fridays. 2007/2008fees for the JCDS After School Program are as follows: $3980 for full-time participation for the year; $3675 for four days/week; $3060 for three days a week; $2345 for two days a week; $1225 for one day a week. Students can enroll in "huggim" – special interest clubs – whether or not they enroll in the After School Program. There are fees for these clubs – currently between
$145 and $175 per trimester session. Examples include Arts and Crafts, Yoga, Chess, Martial Arts, Science, Speech Team, and Sports.

What can I do if I'd like to send my child/ren to JCDS but am unable to pay the full tuition?
JCDS has a highly confidential Flexible Tuition Program that adjusts tuition for families for whom the tuition costs are not realistically affordable.  Information and applications are available from Alysia Stark in the school office.