Introduction

When families in Chicago and its northern suburbs search for a Jewish Day School In Chicago, they often seek a place that balances strong academic performance, authentic Jewish identity, and a nurturing community culture. Solomon Schechter Day School offers exactly that. For more than six decades, we have been a center for Jewish learning, communal life, and academic excellence, committed to educating the “whole child” — intellectually, spiritually, and ethically.

Our Mission & Identity
Mission Statement

At Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago, our mission is to ignite our students’ Jewish souls, educate them to their highest potential, and empower them to use their knowledge, skills, and creativity to enrich our world.

We strive to cultivate engaged Jewish citizens who live lives of purpose and meaning. Our goal is not simply to impart information, but to nurture curiosity, critical thinking, and moral sensitivity.

Jewish Identity & Values

As a Jewish Day School in Chicago, our identity is woven into every facet of school life. We live by a set of core values and principles that guide us:

Dual curriculum: Seamless integration of General Studies and Judaic Studies, giving students depth both in secular knowledge and Jewish heritage.

Inclusiveness, dignity, and respect: We value the uniqueness and worth of every individual in our community.

Lifelong learning and journey (Masa / מסע): Education is a continuous process of exploration, growth, and reflection.

Modeling (Dugma / דוגמה): Our expectation is that students, faculty, and community all serve as role models in how we live Jewishly and ethically.

Community commitment: We see the school as part of a broader Jewish and civic ecosystem; students are encouraged to contribute, give back, and lead.

History & Evolution

The roots of Solomon Schechter Day School in Chicago stretch back to a group of dedicated Jewish lay leaders in the Midwest, who believed that a strong Jewish day school would help safeguard the future of Jewish life in the region.
Originally launched in Wilmette, Illinois (in partnership with Beth Hillel), the school began modestly with kindergarten and first grade. Over the years, the school expanded and evolved into its current configuration, now serving early childhood through grade 8 with a vibrant, modern campus in Northbrook, Illinois.

While we often speak of ourselves as a “Jewish Day School in Chicago,” it’s accurate to say we serve Chicago and its northern suburbs — families travel from multiple communities because of the distinct value we offer.

Today, Solomon Schechter is known not just as a school, but as a multigenerational community. Many alumni become parents or grandparents of current students, sustaining a strong continuity of values and relationships.

Academic Program
Dual Curriculum & Integration

One of the hallmarks of a high-quality Jewish day school is the dual curriculum: students receive rigorous instruction in secular subjects (math, science, language arts, social studies, arts, technology, etc.) and in Judaic subjects (Hebrew, Jewish history, Torah, Talmud, Jewish ethics, ritual, and holidays). At Solomon Schechter, we emphasize integration—not siloing these areas but creating space for cross-disciplinary connections.

For example:

A science project might be tied to themes in Jewish tradition (e.g. ecological stewardship, tikkun olam).

Hebrew skills support both Jewish literacy and language development more broadly.

Social studies can include exploration of Jewish communities globally, then local civic engagement.

Our faculty collaborate across disciplines to ensure that students see the coherence between their secular and Jewish learning.

Early Childhood Through Grade 8

We serve from Ginsburg Early Childhood Center through Sager Solomon Schechter (K-8). In early years, children engage in play-based, developmentally appropriate learning that builds foundations in language, math, social development, and Jewish identity.

In the upper grades, students tackle more advanced coursework, independent projects, critical thinking, and leadership opportunities. We offer enrichment programs, arts, music, physical education, community service, and more.

Faculty Excellence & Student Support

Our faculty are not just content experts—they are committed Jewish educators who mentor, model, and care deeply about student growth.

Additionally, we maintain favorable student-teacher ratios to allow for differentiation, small group work, and personalized attention. According to public sources, the school has approximately 442 students, and the student-teacher ratio is about 7:1 (though that may vary year to year).

Support services—such as learning specialists, enrichment, and counseling—help ensure that students with diverse needs can thrive.

Campus, Facilities & Innovation

Our campus in Northbrook is designed to support active, curious, and experiential learning. The facilities include classrooms equipped for modern pedagogy, makerspaces or labs, art and music studios, outdoor learning spaces, and gathering areas for community and worship.

We emphasize innovation and forward thinking. For example, we have explored curriculum that embraces:

Project-based learning

Technology integration

STEAM initiatives

Outdoor and place-based education

Jewish innovation labs or design thinking within Jewish themes

By marrying tradition with cutting-edge pedagogy, we aim to prepare students not just for the next grade, but for roles of leadership and creativity in a changing world.

Community, Culture & Connection

A Jewish day school is more than academics—it’s about community life, relationships, rituals, belonging, and identity.

Jewish Life & Ritual

From daily davening, tefillah, holiday celebrations, Shabbat experiences, to Jewish text study, students live Judaism every day. These moments anchor students emotionally, socially, and spiritually in Jewish civilization.

Parent & Alumni Engagement

Our school is deeply interwoven with parent involvement. Parents are partners in the educational journey—through committees, volunteering, family programming, and adult education.

Likewise, alumni maintain ties to the institution, often coming back to support, mentor, and inspire current students.

Israel & Global Jewish Connections

We include programming that fosters connection to Israel—cultural, historical, and emotional. In some cases, we support Israeli students seeking refuge or stability in our school community.

Global Jewish networks, partnerships with other day schools, and cross-cultural exchanges help deepen students’ sense of belonging to the global Jewish family.

Tuition & Affordability

Recognizing that cost can be a barrier, Solomon Schechter has created a Tuition Affordability Model intended to balance transparency, predictability, and fairness.

Key features include:

AGI-based tuition caps: Families’ adjusted gross income (AGI) is used as a basis to set caps, for example 12% or 14% of AGI in certain brackets.

A Flexible Tuition Program administered via third-party tools like FACTS.

The TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) Fund as a first point of support.

The goal is to ensure that a Jewish Day School in Chicago remains accessible to families of varying financial capacities.

Because affordability is integral to our mission, we continuously reevaluate and adjust to meet families’ needs while sustaining a robust educational program.

Why Choose Solomon Schechter as Your Jewish Day School in Chicago?

Holistic integration of Jewish and academic life
Unlike programs that treat Jewish learning as an add-on, we weave it into the fabric of schooling.

Experienced, dedicated faculty
Teachers are more than instructors—they are mentors, role models, and guides in Jewish growth.

Strong community and continuity
From alumni relations to multi-generational families, our community endures.

Forward-thinking academics
We don’t rest on tradition alone; we innovate, use contemporary pedagogy, and evolve.

Commitment to accessibility
Our transparency in tuition and generous aid programs helps ensure more families can participate.

Leadership and character development
Beyond grades, students are shaped as ethical, curious, courageous Jews and citizens.

If you are searching for a Jewish Day School in Chicago (or in the northern suburbs), Solomon Schechter Day School offers a distinctive, compelling home for Jewish education.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Solomon Schechter Day School located in Chicago?

Not exactly. Our campus is located in Northbrook, Illinois, serving Chicago and its northern suburbs. Families from diverse communities around Chicago travel to attend because of our reputation and offerings.

2. What grades do you serve?

We run from early childhood (pre-K) through 8th grade via the Ginsburg Early Childhood Center and Sager Solomon Schechter program.

3. How competitive is admission?

While competition varies year to year, we welcome applications from families seeking a robust Jewish and academic education. The admissions process looks at academic readiness, family fit, and commitment to Jewish life. (For details, contact our Admissions Office.)

4. What is your student-teacher ratio?

According to public data, we have a ratio around 7:1, though ratios vary across grades and classes.

5. How do you balance Jewish and secular studies?

Through an integrated curriculum: Judaic and general studies are intentionally coordinated. Faculty collaborate to design cross-curricular units. Students do not experience one as an afterthought but as complementary lenses on learning.

6. What kind of support is available for different learners?

We offer differentiated instruction, small group support, enrichment, and learning specialists. Our goal is that every student—regardless of their learning style—can flourish.

7. How does tuition and financial aid work?

We use a Tuition Affordability Model with AGI-based caps. Families apply through FACTS and the TAP fund. Our aim is equitable access.

8. What happens after 8th grade?

Many of our graduates go on to top Jewish high schools in the Chicago region, including Rochelle Zell Jewish High School, which counts Schechter as a feeder school.

9. Do you have a strong connection to Israel?

Yes. We incorporate Israel education, celebrate Israeli culture, and welcome Israeli families. We also provide tuition support in some cases for families in need.

10. How can a family visit or apply?

Visit our website (schechter.org), reach out to the Admissions Office for tours or open houses, or request application materials. We encourage families to visit, meet faculty, and experience school life firsthand.

Conclusion

In the rich landscape of Jewish education, selecting the right school is one of the most significant decisions a family makes. A Jewish Day School in Chicago should not only deliver academic rigor, but also nurture Jewish identity, community, and moral purpose. Solomon Schechter Day School embodies all these qualities and more.

If your family is seeking a place where Jewish life and academic excellence meet, where students are known deeply and encouraged broadly, and where tradition and innovation walk hand in hand—then Solomon Schechter Day School may be the right choice.