About Us

Sparked by a vision, a small group of dedicated parents came together to plan for a new kind of Jewish day school. The hallmarks of this school would be pluralism, both of observance and worldview, small size, academic innovation, reflective teachers, and an engaged community that would nurture each child individually. In this joyful and dual-language environment, each child's flame would be kindled.

Thanks to generous philanthropy and wise leadership, the first pluralistic day school in the Boston area opened in 1995 with four teachers, two administrators, seven trustees and 11 students in two multi-age classes spanning kindergarten through fifth grade. Over the years, JCDS grew steadily, reaching the current enrollment of approximately 200 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

From its first home in The First Unitarian Society in Newton, JCDS moved in 2003 to its current five-acre site in Watertown, a convenient location that draws families from Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, and numerous surrounding communities.

In 2008, a generous group of benefactors came together to fund the purchase of the site. The school is forever grateful for the wisdom and dedication of the many individuals and families who made this possible. JCDS looks ahead to the development of a modern campus that reflects the highest ideals of the school's educational model.

The recipient of many awards and grants for innovation in the teaching of Hebrew and pluralism, JCDS has been selected to pilot many new programs focused on student learning and professional development. Staff and lay leadership are often invited to present at such conferences as the Jewish Day School National Conference. JCDS has earned an international reputation as a role model for best practices and cutting-edge pluralistic Jewish day school education.

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