About Our Academics

At Hillel Academy of Greater Dayton, we take pride in our commitment to providing an exceptional and personalized educational experience. With an average enrollment of 40 students, we intentionally maintain an intimate learning environment, ensuring a maximum of 12 students per classroom. This deliberate choice is not just a matter of numbers; it's a fundamental aspect of our educational philosophy designed to enhance the academic and social development of each child.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum addresses content knowledge and skill development (state standards) as well as the habits of mind needed to succeed in school, work, and life. These habits include skills such as persisting, managing impulsivity, listening with understanding and empathy, striving for accuracy, and applying past knowledge to novel situations. 

With the rapid increase of knowledge, new technologies, and globalization, our children will inherit a world that demands creative, collaborative, and flexible thinking. Developing children’s habits of mind that support life long learning is central to our work.

Our Practices

Hillel Academy uses integrative instructional practices to enhance children’s learning of both content and procedural skills. Primarily, teachers unite core academic subjects, interdisciplinary themes, and essential skills to deepen children’s understanding of content and increase their ability to apply that understanding to real world challenges. 

We look outside our school walls to seek ideas, resources, and expertise. This engagement with the broader community helps children become confident in their ability to understand complex issues and respond to them in concert with others.

Our Approach

At Hillel Academy, we embrace a unique educational model that combines grades within our classrooms—a distinctive feature that sets us apart. This intentional approach serves a dual purpose: fostering leadership skills and encouraging collaboration among our students.

By limiting enrollment to just 12 students per combined-grade class, we ensure that each child receives the individualized attention they need to thrive. Our dedicated educators tailor their teaching to the unique needs of each student, creating an environment where personal growth, peer interaction, and academic excellence are at the forefront.

Small class sizes are more than just a statistic at Hillel Academy; they are a cornerstone of our commitment to building a close-knit, supportive community. In our classrooms, students receive quality instruction while actively engaging in a collaborative learning environment that prepares them for future challenges.

Our individualized approach ensures that every child has ample opportunity to participate, ask questions, and contribute to the vibrant exchange of ideas within the classroom. The intentional limitation on class size fosters meaningful connections between students and teachers, cultivating a supportive atmosphere where each child feels valued and empowered to excel.

At Hillel Academy, our approach to class size is a fundamental part of our mission to develop well-rounded individuals who are not only academically proficient but also equipped with the leadership and collaboration skills necessary for success in an ever-evolving world.

Supporting Students with Special Needs

At Hillel Academy of Greater Dayton, we are dedicated to creating a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for all students. While we are committed to accommodating a wide range of needs, we want to be transparent about our current resources and facilities, which may not be fully equipped to address the specific requirements of students with special needs.

We encourage prospective parents of children who may require specialized support to engage in an open dialogue with our admissions team. This conversation will help us understand your child’s unique needs, explore possible accommodations, and provide guidance on whether our school can meet those requirements effectively.

Our commitment to every student’s well-being and success is steadfast. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to working together to ensure the best possible educational experience for your child.

Military Family Support

Hillel Academy is happy to welcome Jewish families who are stationed at or affiliated with Wright Patterson AFB. Our school has a long history of serving students from military families. We are happy to help in any way that will make the transition to Dayton and Hillel Academy easier for you. If your move occurs during the school year, we will work with you to integrate your student(s) into our school community. Hillel maintains small class sizes and low student to teacher ratios, providing us with the ability to flex curriculum to meet our students' individual needs.  Please reach out to us with any questions about Hillel or the Dayton Jewish and greater communities.

Hillel's military family liaison is  Dr. Anna Smith, principal. She can be reached at asmith@daytonhillel.org or 937-277-8966 x2.

Here are some resources that might be useful to help your child transition to a new school.

“Having been at Hillel since kindergarten, our eldest son successfully transitioned to public middle school. Hillel taught him leadership skills and nurtured his love of the arts. Through hands-on projects, accelerated math and reading, conversational Hebrew, and Torah study he is a confident, engaged student. We expect our daughter to make a similar, smooth transition to public school this fall. It’s also a joy to see our younger son happily thriving at Hillel where he is individually cared for and given precious attention. We couldn’t be happier.”

Rachel & Heath Gilbert

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