LGA Schechter At-A-Glance

Total Enrollment '09-'10: 94
Number of Families: 64
Boys/Girls: 41/53
Average class size: 13
Affiliated families: 48
Unaffiliated families: 16
Interfaith families: 17
LGBT families: 10
Financial aid families: 23

Core subjects: Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Modern Hebrew, Judaic Studies. For more information see the LGA Educational Philosophy, Subjects, & Resources.

Specialty classes: Art, Music, Physical Education

Performing Arts: Plays, Monday Morning Sing, Biography and Medieval Fairs, Science and Geography Fairs, cross-grade poetry readings, the PTO Talent Show, public performances, and holiday rituals provide opportunites for all students to practice and perform publicly, to participate in the writing and creating of plays, and to practice audience etiquette. A typical performance calendar by grade is: K - Little Red Hen, 1st - Marionette Show/Fables, 2nd - Tall Tale Play, 3rd - Colonial History Play, 4th - Greek Play, 5th - All Hebrew Hanukkah Play, 6th - student authored Purim Play.

Faculty & Staff: Full time - 15, Part time - 9, Advanced degrees - 13. Visit Staff Biographies.

Families come from: Florence, Northampton, Amherst, Holyoke, Belchertown, Leeds, Westhampton, Easthampton, East Longmeadow, Hadley, Hatfield, Haydenville, Huntington, Montague, South Hadley, West Brookfield, West Chesterfield, Whately

Alumni middle schools: The Williston Northampton School, Pioneer Valley School of Performing Arts Charter Public School, JFK Middle School, Amherst Regional Middle School, Four Rivers Charter Public School, The Academy at Charlemont, The MacDuffie School, The Hartsbrook School, Eaglebrook School, Bement School, Greenfield Center School, Stoneleigh-Burnham School

Alumni high schools: Northampton High School, The Williston Northampton School, Pioneer Valley School of Performing Arts Charter Public School, Deerfield Academy, Amherst Regional High School, Hampshire Regional High School, The Academy at Charlemont

Alumni colleges: Emory University, Brandeis University, University of Vermont, Tufts University, Bard College, Carleton College, New York University, Wesleyan University, Bowdoin College, gap-year at Kibbutz Yagur

After School Options: The After School Program runs 3:15-5:30pm, Monday-Thursday, and is staffed by an after school counselor. A healthy snack is provided and students have the opportunity to be outside, do homework, play quiet games, or just read a book. The After School Elective Program runs classes once a week each, in 6 week sessions, from 3:15-4:30pm. Classes offered have included Mad Science, TaeKwon Do, guitar class, chorus, ultimate Frisbee, art, and violin lessons.

Sports: In the fall, students in grades 3-6 can sign up to play ultimate Frisbee as an elective. In the spring, the team - made up of alumni and students in 4th-6th grade - compete against a variety of upper elementary and middle school teams throughout the Pioneer Valley.   

Transportation: Van service is arranged through a licensed transportation service for Amherst area families. Please call (413)584-6622 or email the school for more information, or to inquire about transportation from other areas.

Tuition Assistance: The Harold Grinspoon Foundation offers the following non-need based grants to all eligible applicants. These grants are intended to encourage enrollment in Jewish preschools and day schools, and further the development of excellence in Jewish schools in our region.

• Tuition Incentive (TIP): Any family paying full tuition is eligible to receive $2500 for each child entering K-6th grade.
• Preschool Incentive (PIP): Any family whose child attended a Jewish preschool for a minimum of 1 year is eligible to receive $1,000 for each year of K and 1st grade.

Financial aid is also available to qualified families. The deadline for application is February 16. Please call or email the school for more information. Tuition information can also be found here.