The academic year at Stamford’s Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy of Connecticut (BCHA) is off to a great start, sparked by an increase in enrollment of 16% since last year.
Enrollment growth (from 319 to 370) is fueling the excitement, not just because of the absolute numbers, but because of what the demographics say about how the school is trending. At the youngest age (pre-k), the grade has doubled in size to four sections and has established a waiting list for the first time, due to space limitations. In the upper school, enrollment in the ninth and 10th grades are almost doubled of our 11th and 12th graders, no doubt aided by the growing reputation of the STEM program, the exceptional number of awards won in engineering, math and humanities competitions and, most recently, recognition as a gold member of the AP School Honor Roll for students’ success in AP tests.
BCHA offers a superior secular education in an environment that is infused with Jewish learning where teaching includes an emphasis on Jewish ethics, morals and spirituality.
“Our children are happy to come to and be in school which makes all the difference to their success in learning,” said Rabbi Tzvi Bernstein, head of school. “This school is big enough to offer a large array of educational options, with warm, talented and dedicated teachers who know every child as an individual. They work extremely hard to make our program fun, challenging, and accessible to all.”
There is a dark side to the growth in Jewish day school enrollment, however. The rise in antisemitism and the increase in hate crimes directed at the Jewish community all over the country are motivating many Jewish families to take their children out of the public school system. Some families who send their children to public schools, unfortunately, learn that their children are being singled out because they are Jewish. That, coupled with the unrelenting hostility to Israel at school creates a learning environment that is neither healthy or safe for their children.
Contrast that to BCHA’s mission statement, which confirms “a deep and enduring commitment to Israel” and provides comfort in the knowledge that their children are free from such hardship at BCHA. More and more, families are sending their children to BCHA because of its uncompromising, non-negotiable support for the Jewish homeland and its unqualified commitment to Jewish values and traditions.
To see all the excitement for yourself and to learn more about BCHA and our commitment to help cultivate happy, confident, successful students, join us for the BCHA Open House. The upper school Open House takes place on Oct. 22 at 10 a.m., and the lower school Open House takes place on Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. To register, please visit bcha-ct.org/openhouse.
