On November 26, 2024, I wrote an article for “The Jewish Week” entitled, “I’m an NYC schools consultant. Here’s what I tell parents worried about antisemitism.”
In it, I explained that: I’ve… been a New York City school consultant for 20 years. I help parents navigate the admissions process for not only private schools but the city’s public schools, too. Together, we figure out not just the best school fit for their child but how to maximize their odds of getting in…. Ahead of the city’s public high school application deadline on Dec. 4 — with middle school and kindergarten application deadlines to follow — I’ve noticed a new concern among many of my clients: Parents are now taking into account just how safe a school’s climate is for Jewish students.
In July of 2025, I followed up on Families For New York with “Why NYC jewish families are choosing catholic and christian schools.”
A reader fumed in response: I literally cannot believe this article doesn’t even discuss Jewish schools as an option…did the interviewer even ask? This is unbelievably sad to me that Jewish schools weren’t even a viable option in the minds of these parents…
When it comes to Jewish Day Schools, the issue that comes up again and again as a stumbling block to attending is cost. For instance, at Rodeph Sholom, a Nursery through 8th grade Reform school, tuition ranges from $27,650 to $71,890 a year. At Heschel, a Nursery through 12th grade non-denominational school, it goes from $33,180 to $62,650. At Ramaz, a Modern Orthodox Nursery through high school option, it’s $28,900 to $38,600. Hannah Senesh hovers around $45,500 with extra fees as you go up in grade levels, similar to Yeshiva of Flatbush, Beit Rabban, Leffell, and more. The SAM School is a bit lower, at $37,800.
Many Jewish families absolutely see the benefits of a Day School education. (Watch the video below if you’re curious about what those are.)
But they, nonetheless, find Jewish Day School costs prohibitive.
That’s where a new player on the block, Emet Classical Academy, comes in. Their tuition is similar to several of the lower priced schools mentioned above. And while all of the institutions we’ve listed offer need-based financial aid (full disclosure: My daughter attended one of them at one-fourth of the sticker price, these schools can be very generous), Emet also hosts a unique, merit-based opportunity, in addition to a broader UJA-funded one.
Abigail Weiss, Senior Director of Educational Marketing for Emet Classical Academy, gave us the complete scoop, below:
A new generation of leaders is getting a powerful head start at Emet Classical Academy. A select group of incoming 9th grade students have been designated as Kovner Scholars in recognition of their leadership promise, academic achievements, and commitment to strengthening both Jewish civilization and the American promise.
This scholarship is made possible through the philanthropic vision of Bruce and Suzie Kovner and students receive substantial tuition awards for their four years of high school at Emet Classical Academy. In addition to writing an application essay, finalists receive an interview with Emet Chairman and Tikvah CEO Eric Cohen. Final selections are made by a committee of Emet school leaders. This year’s applications included a diverse group of students from New York City, New Jersey and Westchester.
Applications are currently open for the 2027-28 Kovner Scholars cohort. We encourage incoming 9th grade students who are committed to studying the great books, questions and ideas of Western and Jewish civilization to learn more and apply here.
Families have additional compelling new opportunities to explore Emet. Last year, the UJA-Federation of New York announced its Day School Tuition Fund, a critical source of financial support for families seeking to enroll their children in Jewish schools and who are moving from public or secular private schools. Emet is a proud participant in the program, securing support through the fund for several of our new families. UJA has announced a new cohort this fall, presenting a unique opportunity for eligible families seeking to enroll in Emet for 2027-28.
To meet the growing demand for classical education, this summer we opened our world-class 30,000 square foot campus on the Upper East Side. Our new building reflects Emet’s commitment to serious scholarship, meaningful community and intellectual discovery. Emet has also invested in assembling a world-class faculty of accomplished scholars who are not just experts in their academic fields, but also role models and mentors for our students.
Emet has gained the attention of parents, students, and educators as a citadel school in the pursuit of academic excellence. We are guided by our foundational question: What kind of education prepares children not only to succeed, but also to become thoughtful, knowledgeable and morally confident Jewish leaders?
Our answer is a return to classical education.
As America’s first classical Jewish preparatory school, Emet was created to offer something fundamentally different from both elite secular independent schools and Jewish day schools. Our founders believe that Jewish students require an education that prepares them not merely for college, but for lives of scholarship, citizenship and leadership.
To do so, we are redefining Jewish education by returning to the classics and skills-based learning. We are an “old school” new school, where students learn real academic skills like putting pen to paper, cite primary sources from the greatest texts of the west and annotate books. It’s a far world away from laptops, tablets and ed tech which have become ubiquitous distractions in other schools.
Emet’s course of study unites the great literature and philosophy of Western civilization with the study of Jewish texts thought and history alongside rigorous instruction in mathematics, science, classical languages and the arts. Students learn not simply to master information, but to ask enduring questions, wrestle with challenging ideas and develop the skills of intellectual and moral excellence.
For families seeking an education that develops the whole person and opens extraordinary opportunities for the future, Emet Classical Academy offers a compelling answer.
For more, watch the video below:
Emet is now scheduling private tours for prospective parents on school mornings. Visit them here to schedule your tour or contact Abigail Weiss at aw****@******************my.org.
And if you would like to learn more about private schools in general, including financial aid options, alongside public, charter, and gifted ones, NYC School Secrets is hosting September and October workshops on “Getting into NYC Kindergarten” and “Getting into NYC Middle and High School” for 2027. RSVP at this link. We’ll see you there!