Jewish day schools are a great way to give your child an education rooted in Jewish values and culture. But picking the right school is important for your family.
We all know there’s more than one Jewish school in Toronto, so you should do some research before deciding which one to send your kids to.
Tuition Information at a Glance
These are the tuition fees for the Jewish schools in Toronto listed in this article (as of 2022):
Jewish Schools in Toronto | Tuition Fees |
Bialik Hebrew Day School | $15,950, plus a capital levy of $1,375 |
Netivot Hatorah Day School | $7,680- $16,485 |
Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto | $17,645 – $18,735 |
Montessori Jewish Day School | $9,000 – $18,750 |
Torah High | $649 – $1,800 |
The Toronto Herschel School | $14,800 – $18,500 |
Beth Jacob Private School | N/A |
The Bnei Akiva Schools of Toronto | $24,700 |
Jewish Hebrew School Toronto | $25 – $900 |
The Leo Baeck Day School | $16,225 |
Yeshiva Yesodei Hatorah | $12,500 |
Joe Dwek Ohr Haemet Sephardic School | $14,000 |
Robbins Hebrew Academy | $13,650 – $17,990 |
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Here are 13 popular Jewish schools in Toronto that you should consider during your search:
Bialik Hebrew Day School
Bialik Hebrew Day School is a JK to Grade 8 Jewish day school in Toronto, Ontario.
The school was founded by a group of parents who wanted to provide their children with both a strong academic education and an appreciation for their heritage and culture.
Bialik Hebrew Day School provides a rigorous and richly rewarding educational experience that combines traditional values with an emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and innovation.
The school is named after the great poet Hayyim Nahman Bialik (1873-1934), a native of Odessa. As one of the pioneers of modern Hebrew literature, he helped create the literary style known as sabra poetry.
Bialik Hebrew School is widely regarded as the best Jewish school in Toronto due to its strong academic curriculum taught with modern technology, and renovated facilities. Parents whose children attend this school admitted that the teachers welcome feedback from the parents, which makes them feel inclusive.
Bialik School is the definition of a modern Jewish day school in a beautiful city like Toronto.
Netivot Hatorah Day School
Netivot Hatorah Day School is a Jewish day school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The school is located on Bathurst Street in the Bathurst Manor neighborhood of North York.
The school offers a range of programs including an early-learning center for children aged 2 to 4 years old; an elementary program for students in grades 1 through 5; a middle school program for students in Junior Kindergarten grades 6 through 8; and high school programs that culminate with either a diploma or an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
Netivot has a student population of 600 students; hence, the a small number of students in each class. The school is affiliated with Mercaz, the educational pillar of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto
Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto is a Jewish day school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a pluralistic Jewish day school serving students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 and operates under the auspices of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
The school was founded by members of the Young Men’s Hebrew Association who created an elementary religious preparatory school for boys.
Today, it serves over 600 students annually from more than 30 countries including Israel and has been recognized as one of Canada’s most prestigious schools with an emphasis on community service and social justice advocacy.
Associated Hebrew Schools offers an enriched secular curriculum combined with Jewish studies that prepare students for success at both secondary schools and universities.
With a rich history dating back to 1913, Associated Hebrew Schools boasts many alumni who have gone on to become leaders in their respective fields both within Canada as well as around the world.
But despite how great the school is, parents still complain that the Judaic studies are not taken seriously – which might pose a serious question to parents who want their kids to learn Judaism in a formal environment.
Montessori Jewish Day School
Montessori Jewish Day School is a Montessori school in Toronto with a student body of about 200 students, from preschool to grade 5. The student-to-teacher ratio is about 8:1.
The school offers both junior kindergarten and senior kindergarten classes. Kindergarteners at MJDS are taught in small groups of about 10 students, with two teachers and one assistant per class school has a full-time Montessori teacher on staff to help with student discipline and education.
The school also offers after-school tutoring, as well as summer camp programs. It grooms its children to become leaders who are independent, self-motivated, curious, and respectful.
Leo Baeck Day School
Leo Baeck Day School is a private school in Toronto. It’s a secular Jewish day school with about 700 students on its campus at Bathurst Street. Founded in 1955, Leo Baeck is considered one of the best Jewish schools in Canada, according to several rankings websites.
The school is located in the heart of Toronto, but it has a strong Jewish identity and a diverse student body.
The school offers an excellent reputation with parents due to its dedication to providing high-quality educational experiences and an innovative curriculum that promotes critical thinking skills.
Leo Baeck Day School is an inclusive community that promotes Jewish values, culture, and traditions. The school offers a unique curriculum that includes both Hebrew and Arabic language studies as well as Jewish history and culture.
The school also provides students with opportunities to participate in music programs as well as sports teams.
Torah High
Torah High School is a Jewish day school located in Toronto, Canada. The school was founded in 1981 and has been operating continuously since then. Torah High is a member of the Toronto Region Board of Education as well as the Canadian Jewish Congress.
The school offers programs for grades JK-8 as well as an after-school program called Judaic Studies (grades 6-8) and Advanced Judaic Studies (grades 9-12).
Students at Torah High have the opportunity to take part in sports teams, intramural sports teams, drama productions, science fairs, and music concerts throughout their time there.
The Toronto Heschel School
The Toronto Heschel School is a co-educational, Jewish day school located in the heart of Toronto’s Forest Hill neighborhood. Founded in 1996, it has an average annual student enrollment of 300 students. The student population consists of students from all over the Greater Toronto Area – from Bayview and Thornhill to North York and Mississauga.
The school provides a dual curriculum with religious studies and general studies integrated into each grade level.
Students study Hebrew language skills as well as world languages such as French and Spanish during their time at The Toronto Herschel School. There are many opportunities for extracurricular activities including music lessons, sports teams (including basketball), chess club, and yearbooks.
Beth Jacob Private School
Beth Jacob Private School is a Jewish day school in Toronto, Ontario. It was founded in 1962 and has over 500 students. The school is located in the Bathurst and Lawrence area of the city.
Jacob is a pluralistic Jewish day school, with programs from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. The school offers a full range of academic courses, including Hebrew and Jewish studies, as well as electives such as art and technology.
The Bnei Akiva Schools of Toronto
The Bnei Akiva Schools of Toronto are located on Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue. The school offers programs for students from junior kindergarten to grade 8.
BAST includes the following schools incorporated into its system:
- Ulpanat Orot Girls School, which is a modern Jewish orthodox school for girls in Toronto, and
- Yeshivat Or Chaim Boys School, which is a boys’ Jewish school in Toronto.
Students at these schools are encouraged to develop their talents, interests, and passions by following their own path toward a Jewish education that is right for them.
The Bnei Akiva Schools of Toronto is affiliated with the Sephardic Community in Thornhill; however, it has no other religious affiliations.
Jewish Hebrew School Toronto (or Ahavat Yisrael Jewish School)
Jewish Hebrew School Toronto is a private Jewish day school in Toronto, Canada. It provides Jewish education for children from preschool to grade 8. The curriculum consists of Judaic studies, general studies, and Hebrew language.
This school is relatively unknown (compared to other schools on this list), but it is a fast-growing school with approvals from many parents whose kids attend the school.
Yeshiva Yesodei Hatorah
Yeshiva Yesodei Hatorah is a private Jewish day school located in North York, which primarily offers the Grades 1–8 curriculum. With an enrollment of approximately 700 students and 25 teachers, it’s one of the largest Jewish schools in Toronto.
The school’s curriculum includes general studies like English language arts and math, as well as Judaic studies covering Judaism’s core texts such as Torah and Talmud. The latter make up most of Yeshiva’s academic focus, but there’s still an option for electives.
Yeshiva holds a strong emphasis on community-building through extracurricular activities like sports teams (youth soccer), drama productions (plays), social justice initiatives (raising money for Syrian refugees), and community service events (visits to nursing homes).
Students also get involved with informal peer-to-peer learning opportunities during recess or afternoons when they’re not busy with lessons at home or school.
Joe Dwek Ohr Haemet Sephardic School
Joe Dwek Ohr Haemet Sephardic School is a private school located in Toronto, Ontario. The school has approximately 100 students.
The school focuses on the Sephardic Jewish tradition and culture. The curriculum includes Judaic studies, Hebrew language, and history, as well as secular subjects including English, French, math, and science.
The school has four campuses in Toronto and one in Thornhill. The schools are located in the Thorncliffe Park area, Bathurst Manor and Lawrence Heights.
The school offers a variety of programs to meet the needs of students with different learning styles. These include:
- The Learning Support Program (LSP) for students with special education needs;
- Homeschooling program; and
- French as a Second Language (FSL) program.
Robbins Hebrew Academy
Robbins Hebrew Academy (RHA) is a Jewish day school in Toronto. It has a very diverse student body, and it is known for having high numbers of students who go on to university.
Students at RHA have access to many extracurricular activities, including athletics, music, and drama programs.
RHA is located in the Forest Hill neighborhood of Toronto, and it has a student population of about 100. The school is affiliated with the Centre for Jewish Education (CJE), which runs Hebrew Academy (HA) and Bialik High School.
The school also has a strong connection to the Jewish community in Toronto. It has two campuses: one in Forest Hill and another in Bathurst Manor.
Are Jewish Schools in Toronto Good?
There are many different types of Jewish schools in Toronto. Some are affiliated with a synagogue, while others are independent.
Depending on what you are looking for, you can select any of the Jewish schools in Toronto on our list. Jewish schools are great for children who come from a Jewish home, so they can receive formal education that is deeply rooted in the principles of the Jewish tradition while away from home.
What Are the Best Jewish Schools in Toronto?
The best school for your child depends on his or her academic needs, personality and interests. If you’re looking to enroll your child in an all-girls or all-boys school, then one of our top picks for girls’ schools is Ulpanat Orot.
If you’d rather have them attend an elementary school that prepares them for high school life, then Bialik Hebrew Day School has excellent programs that will help students feel comfortable transitioning from junior kindergarten to Grade 8.
In addition to having an amazing faculty and staff, BHDS also offers various extracurricular activities including sports teams and clubs that foster collaborative learning.
How Many Jewish Schools Are There in Toronto?
There are about 20 Jewish schools in Toronto. Some of the schools not listed in this article include:
- Paul Penna Jewish Day School
- Tiferes Bais Yaakov
- The Anne & Max Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto
- Meadow Green Academy
- Aleph Champ Hebrew School
- Morris Winchevsky School
- SholomLearning Hebrew School
These other schools are not as popular as the 13 we have listed; however, they are still decent Jewish schools in Toronto for parents to explore their options.
Also Read: Catholic Schools in Toronto
Wrapping It Up
Our list of 13 best Jewish schools in Toronto is comprehensive, with options for every age group (elementary, middle, or high school).
Whether you’re looking for an orthodox or secular school, one that offers religious instruction throughout the day, or one with a strong emphasis on STEM education and technology, there are many great options available in this list.