Q: Considering the dual program, will my child miss some areas of general studies?
Studies have shown that foreign language instruction uniformly enhances academic achievement in other areas. For a summary of the research in this area, click here. Results at the Hebrew Day School support this research. On the standardized Iowa Test of Basic Skills, our school consistently places above the 97th percentile among all elementary schools nationwide on an overall basis. In addition to the Hebrew immersion program, the Judaic studies curriculum enhances the general studies experience, because the critical study of Bible and Hebrew literature develops critical thinking and analytical skills. The study of the Jewish people, its culture and customs creates a rich, textured school experience. Moreover, small class sizes and a team approach allow us give each student a tremendous amount of individual attention.

Q: Won’t it be more difficult for my child than for other children if I do not speak or read Hebrew?
Most of our parents do not speak or read Hebrew. This is the normal situation in any school that teaches foreign languages just as, when students move on to higher levels of math or science, parents may not always be able to help them. Our teachers assign only homework that students are capable of completing on their own using skills learned in class. Each teacher is available for additional assistance by phone. In addition, parents who are fluent in Hebrew are available by phone for extra help.

Q: Will the environment at Hebrew Day School be more or less religious than our home?
The student body reflects a wide range of families' religious practices. In 2006, for example, 30 of our families came from Beth Israel Conservative congregation and 17 from Temple Beth Emeth Reform congregation, while the remainder come from homes ranging from Orthodox to Reconstructionist to non-affiliated. Practices such as kashrut and daily prayer are observed at school, but students learn that there are many different approaches to Jewish tradition. Students will ultimately decide their own patterns of belief and practice as adults. Our goal is for students to carry with them warm memories, a firm foundation of knowledge and skills on which to build their Jewish identity, and feelings of connectedness with Israel, the Jewish community and religious life.

Q: I am a convert to Judaism. Will I feel comfortable in the school?
A large percentage of our parent body are Jews by choice. Jews by choice feel very comfortable at our school and are some of the most active members of our parent body and PTO.

Q: My child is entering the school in an upper grade and did not previously attend a day school. Will s/he be able to deal with the Hebrew curriculum?Just as we have many Israeli children coming to the school who speak no English, we often have children transferring to the school who have no day school background. These students are able to catch up quickly with the help of our resource teachers.

Q: My child has been identified as gifted. Why should I send her to HDS instead of to a program specifically designed for gifted children? At HDS we reward students for their achievement and their effort. Studies have shown that children who are appropriately challenged and then praised for what they have accomplished rather than for their abilities are better able to focus on the strategies they need to master harder tasks. At HDS, every child learns that s/he has the potential to succeed through his or her own effort. Our students are taught to value challenge and to concentrate on the methodologies and processes they need to overcome obstacles. As a result, we believe our children become more successful and more adaptable across a wide range of talents and subject matter areas. In addition, HDS teachers are trained to challenge every student. Those who are above grade level receive extra enrichment in the classroom or from our resource teachers. And as a result, HDS students succeed. Each year for the past several years our school has scored between the 97th and 99th percentile on nationally normed tests. Almost 50% of our alumni who are high school seniors in 2006-2007 were either National Merit Semi-Finalists or received National Merit Letters of Commendation. And our alumni also succeed in drama, music, and art. In 2006, you will find HDS alumni in Ann Arbor in spots as far-ranging as the concertmistress of the Tappan Orchestra, the leads in high school and other amateur plays across the city, and the winner of the University of Michigan Hopwood Award in creative writing, among many other examples.

Q: How do our standardized test scores compare to other schools?
As stated above, we administer the Iowa Test of Basic Skills beginning in the third grade. Based on national rankings, in the last several years the school has ranked between the 97th and 99th percentile among all elementary schools in areas tested by the Iowa test.

Q: How well do your alumni do academically? A representative alumni class is the class of 1994, which graduated from college in 2005. Students from this class attended Harvard, University of Michigan, Kalamazoo College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, McGill University, Michigan State University, and Eastern Michigan University. Two graduates are now in the Teach for America Program and one has been accepted to the University of Michigan Law School. One worked out of college for an international human rights foundation helping to re-establish Gorongoza National Park in Mozambique; one was editor of his college newspaper; one won a prize for best undergraduate essay written in a Slavic language; one was valedictorian of his class at Greenhills School; and one mentors Latino youth. Several have been actively involved in founding groups to promote Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. Although the majority of our graduates choose the Ann Arbor public school system for middle school, a substantial proportion of each graduating class in the last few years has applied to and been admitted to Emerson School or Greenhills School.

Q: How much homework will my child get? Our philosophy is that children have many areas and talents to explore other than those taught at school. Teachers in all areas of the curriculum work to coordinate homework assignments. There is no homework in the Gan. In first grade there are occasional homework assignments that should take no more than 15 minutes. The second and third graders have about half an hour of homework several times a week. The fourth and fifth graders have 30 minutes to an hour of homework several times a week. In addition, long-term research and other projects are assigned. There are no new assignments given for any weekend.

Q: When can we apply?
Applications are available in early September, one year prior to starting school, and are due February 1st. For more details on the admissions process, look here. Kindergartners must be five years old by December 1 of the year in which they start kindergarten.