The Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle Programs
- We provide a program of academic excellence distinguished by a comprehensive and rigorous curriculum, a deep and collaborative learning environment, character education and a community that seeks, promotes and embraces a diversity of people and thought.
- A strong Mitzvah/Community Service program permeates the campus with children in every grade giving back through class service projects; two school days each year dedicated to community service and housing of the Jewish Family Service Food bank on the campus and staffed with 3rd grade volunteers providing support.
- We are an entry point into the Jewish community and serve as a facility which builds community and extends Jewish culture.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In 2005 JDS embarked on a Capital Campaign to raise $15m including $3m toward an endowment. Just under $15 million was raised. JDS achieved Level 2 status as a King County Green School in 2012.
As a part of the organization’s mission as a community school, JDS accepts all applicants to the program regardless of their financial circumstances. As a result, the school does not limit resources available for annual tuition scholarship. The economic recession has had a significant impact on many of our families, and has resulted in increasing demands for annual school scholarship resources. Middle income families are also finding it increasingly more difficult to afford a private school due to the cost of education. As a percentage of tuition, scholarship allocations have increased annually from 14% in 2008-2009 to 32% in 2012-2013, or $512K and $1,204K, respectively. JDS has taken steps to better align tuition scholarship funds in the coming school year. Currently, it is anticipated tuition scholarships will account for approximately 28% of total tuition. The goal is to keep tuition scholarship dollars manageable in the coming years.
In addition to scholarship and operating budget challenges, our grant funds for the 2012-2013 school year continue to be below historic levels. This places additional pressure on the school to make up the difference with tuition, fundraising, and other sources of income. JDS has already taken measures to cut back on operating expenses and re-align key areas of the organization to improve efficiency. The organization is also offering a number of new programs aimed at increasing enrollment at the school. We are starting to see the impact of these programs this year (2012-2013).