Our Enrollment Process

We appreciate your interest in the Jewish Day School and look forward to helping you learn more about our admissions process. At the JDS, we understand that learning is a life-long journey in partnership between family, school, and community.

As you consider what the Jewish Day School has to offer your child, we invite you to personally explore our school, meet our staff, and discover what makes the JDS a unique environment for learning. Please explore our website and see for yourself how JDS students negotiate the path to success.

Applying to JDS

We are thrilled for the opportunity to get to know you and have you join the JDS family!

Begin the Enrollment Process

1. Schedule a tour.

Schedule an in-person or virtual tour by emailing our Director of Recruitment and Engagement, Beth Kushnick, at bkushnick@jdslv.org.

2. Read the new family letter.

Read the New Family Letter, which includes enrollment process information and tuition details, download and fill out required forms, and review other important information needed to apply.

3. Submit your paperwork.

Download and fill out our enrollment contract and Family Information Form, and then email it to Sara Schonbach at sschonbach@jdslv.org or drop it off during your tour.

Next Steps

  • All students entering the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley are formally assessed.

    Pre-Kindergarten applicants are screened to determine if the child is developmentally ready for our program.

    Applicants in kindergarten through grade 8 are also screened to determine ability level and placement as well as appropriateness of fit between school and student.

    Parents will be contacted by the Director of Admissions, Sara Schonbach, to discuss the results of the assessment and to answer any questions.

  • Student records are an important part of the admissions process. We request that families provide a copy of all official school records for the student applicant.

    Official records include:

    • Official transcripts of grades/scholastic records

    • Standardized test records

    • Immunization / Health and Dental forms

    • Personal health records

    • Attendance records

    • Discipline records

    • Psychological records and IEP (if applicable)

    • Teacher narratives or recommendations

    • Other available school records

  • When a student applicant has completed all of the above steps in the admission process, the Head of School and Director of Admissions will meet to determine the acceptance of the student. At that time, families are contacted regarding the acceptance of the student. Students not accepted will be contacted with a letter of explanation or an in-person meeting will be arranged.

2024 - 2025 Tuition

  • $11,500.00

  • $13,600.00

  • $14,600.00

  • $15,750.00

  • $16,000.00

What’s included in tuition?

  • Books and classroom materials

  • Individualized learning programs

  • LVKC-certified 5-day hot Kosher lunch and salad bar

  • Personal Chromebook

  • + More

The Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley will make every attempt to ensure families are able to attend regardless of socioeconomic status.

We offer a Flexible Tuition Program that allows families to pay tuition based on their specific financial situations.

JDS utilizes the Continuous Enrollment model, which automatically re-enrolls each child for each school year.

Every year, we will notify families of potential increases in tuition, and the deadline for families to inform the JDS if they will not be returning the following year. Unless we hear from parents in writing, students will automatically be re-enrolled, and their spot secured for the following school year.

Continuous Enrollment

  • Simplicity. Peace of mind. With continuous enrollment, parents will be securing a seat for their children until graduation or until they tell us they will not return. The Enrollment Contract will be in effect until their child graduates. An ease in the application process using a new streamlined online enrollment process, alleviating paperwork and a need to remember deadlines.

  • The JDS leadership does a lot of planning to ensure that we are prepared to fulfill our commitment to our students every year. Until our families “sign on the line” that they are returning each year, we can’t make solid plans for staffing, programming, materials, curriculum, etc. Planning ahead is golden, and because our faculty is the best, they deserve the best. If we know how to plan for next year, we can guarantee employment, retain wonderful faculty, and guarantee the level of excellence you have come to expect from the JDS. Continuous Enrollment will allow us to plan earlier and better steward tuition dollars entrusted to us every year.

  • Each January, JDS families will be informed of the tuition for the coming year and reminded of the opt-out deadline. The conditions under which opt-out is available will also be included. The Opt Out deadline is April 1, 2024 - the Head of School and the Director of Admissions must be notified in writing if their child will not be returning to the JDS. The Flexible Tuition deadline is March 15, 2024.

  • JDS recognizes that family plans change. These unique circumstances that may cause a family to withdraw after May 15th will be exempt from the Cancellation Policy stated below:

    • Moving/Relocation 25+ miles away from JDS.

    • Educational needs for the student that can no longer be met at JDS.

    • Other unforeseen circumstances that the Administration and Board approve.

  • I/we understand that no refund or cancellation of the yearly tuition, charges or fees will be made by the School for absence, withdrawal, cancellation of enrollment or dismissal of the Student before the end of the school year and thus, I/we agree to assume full responsibility for all amounts due and owing under this Agreement including tuition, fees, charges and if applicable, interest. No portion of such amounts, whether paid or outstanding, will be refunded or canceled regardless of the subsequent absence, withdrawal, or cancellation of enrollment or dismissal of the Student.

  • Pending space available in the specific classroom, students will be accepted for re-enrollment and pay a fee of $1,000.

  • Re-enrollment will be finalized after a family has worked out their flexible tuition plan. Families opting to participate in the Flexible Tuition Program will submit financial material through FACTS by March 15th, complete a tuition assessment, and then they will have one week to accept their awards. The JDS has created the schedule to ensure that families have full tuition information before accepting the award for the school year.