FAQs
What grades does the school serve?
Kehillah Schechter Academy is a co-educational Kindergarten through grade 8 Jewish day school.
How many students are in the school and where is it located?
KSA was founded in 1989 as South Area Solomon Schechter Day School with 23 students and was located Stoughton, MA. The student body has since grown to more than 150 children and we have a permanent home in Norwood, MA.
At what age may a child enter Kindergarten?
We recommend that a child be 5 years of age by September 1 in order to enroll in the regular KSA kindergarten program (Gan Bet). The appropriate placement is determined by the application, screening process and readiness of each individual child.
Is there a program at KSA for younger pre-K students?
Yes -- Gan Aleph is a full day program for children who will turn 5 years of age between September 1 and December 31.
What is the class size and approach to learning?
The optimal class size for K-5th grades is 15, with 2 classes per grade. KSA strives to meet the individual needs of each student through differentiated education. Students are engaged with a challenging curriculum in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Do KSA students take the MCAS standardized tests?
KSA students take the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) standardized tests in grades 3, 5, and 7. Their scores reflect their success in the areas tested, as compared to other private school students.
What are the school hours?
Students in kindergarten through grade 5 attend school from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Middle School (grades 6 – 8) hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. There is a 2:00 PM, early dismisal for all students on Fridays during winter months.
Is there transportation to and from KSA?
KSA offers fee-based transportation for students who live in many of the communities in which KSA families reside. Currently, service is provided to the metro west area of Boston with stops in Chestnut Hill, Newton and Needham; south of Norwood and Rhode Island. Please check with us to determine the stop most convenient for your family.
What are the communities in which KSA families reside?
KSA students live in a very wide range of communities. Approximately 50% of our families live in surrounding towns, 20% reside in the metro west suburbs of Boston including Brookline, Chestnut Hill and Newton, 10% commute from Rhode Island and the remaining 20% are scattered across many other towns.
What schools do KSA graduates attend?
Students graduate from KSA prepared to excel at the high school of their choice. Examples of schools our graduates attend include: Boston University Academy, Gann Academy, Maimonides School, Milton Academy, and Moses Brown High School, along with public schools in the towns in which they reside.
KSA alumni who have graduated from high school have gone on to programs in Israel and at the following representative schools:
Kehillah Schechter Academy is a co-educational Kindergarten through grade 8 Jewish day school.
How many students are in the school and where is it located?
KSA was founded in 1989 as South Area Solomon Schechter Day School with 23 students and was located Stoughton, MA. The student body has since grown to more than 150 children and we have a permanent home in Norwood, MA.
At what age may a child enter Kindergarten?
We recommend that a child be 5 years of age by September 1 in order to enroll in the regular KSA kindergarten program (Gan Bet). The appropriate placement is determined by the application, screening process and readiness of each individual child.
Is there a program at KSA for younger pre-K students?
Yes -- Gan Aleph is a full day program for children who will turn 5 years of age between September 1 and December 31.
What is the class size and approach to learning?
The optimal class size for K-5th grades is 15, with 2 classes per grade. KSA strives to meet the individual needs of each student through differentiated education. Students are engaged with a challenging curriculum in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Do KSA students take the MCAS standardized tests?
KSA students take the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) standardized tests in grades 3, 5, and 7. Their scores reflect their success in the areas tested, as compared to other private school students.
What are the school hours?
Students in kindergarten through grade 5 attend school from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Middle School (grades 6 – 8) hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. There is a 2:00 PM, early dismisal for all students on Fridays during winter months.
Is there transportation to and from KSA?
KSA offers fee-based transportation for students who live in many of the communities in which KSA families reside. Currently, service is provided to the metro west area of Boston with stops in Chestnut Hill, Newton and Needham; south of Norwood and Rhode Island. Please check with us to determine the stop most convenient for your family.
What are the communities in which KSA families reside?
KSA students live in a very wide range of communities. Approximately 50% of our families live in surrounding towns, 20% reside in the metro west suburbs of Boston including Brookline, Chestnut Hill and Newton, 10% commute from Rhode Island and the remaining 20% are scattered across many other towns.
What schools do KSA graduates attend?
Students graduate from KSA prepared to excel at the high school of their choice. Examples of schools our graduates attend include: Boston University Academy, Gann Academy, Maimonides School, Milton Academy, and Moses Brown High School, along with public schools in the towns in which they reside.
KSA alumni who have graduated from high school have gone on to programs in Israel and at the following representative schools:
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Art Institute of Boston
Boston College Brandeis University Brown University Case Western Reserve Cornell University George Washington University Harvard University Ithaca College Maine College of Art Massachusetts Institute of Technology New York University Northeastern UniversityRhode Island School of Design |
SUNY Binghamton
Syracuse University Tufts University University of Arizona University of Chicago University of Connecticut University of Massachusetts University of Pennsylvania University of Rhode Island University of Rochester University of Vermont Wentworth Institute of Technology Roger Williams College Wesleyan University |
Is there a before and after school program?
KSA offers before school care with a qualified staff person starting at 7:45 AM at no charge. We also have an extensive afterschool program for children of all grades called FastTrack that offers a variety of innovative and fun programs across the breadth of academic, art, music, nature and physical fitness facilities at our school. Activities are scheduled from 3:15 through 5:30. Extended day is another option to provide students an opportunity to relax and socialize after a busy day of classes in a supervised environment. Homework Club is an initiative within the Extended Day program supervised by qualified teachers and staff. Participants in the Homework Club may transition to and from the Extended Day program on any given day. Please click here to visit our Enrichment page for specific information.
With what organizations is KSA affiliated?
KSA is accredited by Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) and is a member of the Solomon Schechter Day School Network. The school is a beneficiary agency of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJP).
Will we feel comfortable at our level of observance at KSA?
Although we are grounded in the tenets and traditions of Conservative Judaism, Kehillah Schechter attracts families from across the entire spectrum of Jewish observance and practice. In fact, 34% of our families identify themselves as Conservative, 10% as Reform, 18% as Orthodox, 26% belong to a Minyan, Havurah, or Independent congregation, and 12% are unaffiliated.
KSA offers before school care with a qualified staff person starting at 7:45 AM at no charge. We also have an extensive afterschool program for children of all grades called FastTrack that offers a variety of innovative and fun programs across the breadth of academic, art, music, nature and physical fitness facilities at our school. Activities are scheduled from 3:15 through 5:30. Extended day is another option to provide students an opportunity to relax and socialize after a busy day of classes in a supervised environment. Homework Club is an initiative within the Extended Day program supervised by qualified teachers and staff. Participants in the Homework Club may transition to and from the Extended Day program on any given day. Please click here to visit our Enrichment page for specific information.
With what organizations is KSA affiliated?
KSA is accredited by Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) and is a member of the Solomon Schechter Day School Network. The school is a beneficiary agency of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJP).
Will we feel comfortable at our level of observance at KSA?
Although we are grounded in the tenets and traditions of Conservative Judaism, Kehillah Schechter attracts families from across the entire spectrum of Jewish observance and practice. In fact, 34% of our families identify themselves as Conservative, 10% as Reform, 18% as Orthodox, 26% belong to a Minyan, Havurah, or Independent congregation, and 12% are unaffiliated.
