Jewish day school enrollment rising across denominations

Jewish day schools across the United States are experiencing a significant enrollment surge, marking a reversal of long-term declining trends, particularly in non-Orthodox institutions. A new report from Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools reveals that within its network of 305 schools, overall enrollment climbed from 94,008 students in the 2021-2022 academic year to approximately 101,041 students in 2025-2026. This represents an increase of over 7,000 students, or 7.5%.

The report highlights growth across the denominational spectrum. Non-Orthodox school enrollment has risen by 3% between 2021 and 2024, while Orthodox schools saw a 7% increase. Reform day schools, specifically, have experienced a 5% rise, reversing years of decline. This marks the first time Prizmah has documented growth across all Jewish day school denominations in decades.

Paul Bernstein, CEO of Prizmah, attributes this enrollment boom to several factors. These include an increase in the Jewish population in certain communities, concerns about the quality of education in some public school systems, and substantial new philanthropic investments directed toward Jewish day schools. While Bernstein noted an influx during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven partly by parents seeking in-person learning, he emphasized that the sustained growth reflects a broader, ongoing shift in parental perception.

"We’ve had growth in enrolment every single year in the last five years, and that’s because the understanding of the quality of day schools and the value of having an education in a Jewish day school is really much clearer to families," Bernstein stated. He acknowledged that previously, enrollment had consistently fallen in non-Orthodox systems, leading some to question their future viability. This contrasts with a 2018-2019 census by the Avi Chai Foundation, which reported a more than 16% drop in non-Orthodox Jewish day school enrollment over a 20-year period.

Affordability remains a key challenge for many families considering day schools. However, significant investments from local philanthropies, such as $90 million from the Mandel Foundation in Cleveland and the Generations Trust in Toronto, alongside tuition subsidy programs in Chicago and Seattle, are helping to mitigate these costs in some communities. Rabbi Mitchel Malkus, head of school at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, pointed to cost as a significant barrier.

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We’ve had growth in enrolment every single year in the last five years, and that’s because the understanding of the quality of day schools and the value of having an education in a Jewish day school is really much clearer to families.