CESJDS
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersRockville, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
CESJDS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CESJDS
- Legal name
- Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
- Website
- https://cesjds.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CESJDS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent K-12 Jewish Day School Education
- NAICS
- Other Schools and Instruction (6116)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG), Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)
Keywords
Where CESJDS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rockville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CESJDS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Domestic and International Student Tuition: Primary recurring revenue stream: annual tuition by grade band (Gurim-Grade 1: $38,130; Grades 2-5: $39,380; Grades 6-8: $45,570; Grades 9-11: $49,410; Grade 12: $26,470). International student tuition ranges from $41,100 to $43,000 and includes transportation. Tuition is charged annually per enrolled student.
- Annual Fund / Philanthropic Giving: Annual giving campaign covers the gap between tuition and the full cost of a CESJDS education. Generously supported by the Ruth and Samuel Salzberg Family Foundation (Alumni Program) and a broad base of donors.
- Special Fees and Ancillary Programs: Textbooks/Supplies Fees ($85–$250), Student Tablet/Technology Fees ($150–$200 by grade), Parent Association Dues ($40), ESOL ($3,900), Israeli Center ($1,900), Senior Capstone Israel Trip (~$17,980), and Sulam@JDS program fee ($17,045 on top of tuition).
- Planned Giving, Endowments, and Sponsorships: Long-term sustainability revenue from endowment funds, planned/legacy giving, and corporate sponsorships that support school programs, events, and the 60th anniversary initiatives.
- Retail / Merchandise Sales: The Mane Course (café/food service) and CESJDS Merch Store generate ancillary retail revenue from the school community.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Domestic student annual tuition tiered by grade band (Gurim-Grade 1 through Grade 12) |
| Subscription | Annual | International student annual tuition (includes transportation) |
| Other | Annual | Annual ancillary program and special fees |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
CESJDS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CESJDS is an independent, nonprofit JK-12 pluralistic Jewish day school delivering an integrated general studies and Judaic studies curriculum across three academic divisions — Lower School (JK-5, including the Gurim Junior Kindergarten), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and High School (Grades 9-12) — to more than 850 students annually from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It supplements the core academic program with an inclusive learning track (Sulam@JDS), athletics and arts, and senior capstone international study.
Product overview
CESJDS (Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School) is a JK-12 pluralistic Jewish day school in Rockville, Maryland, operating as a single unified school organized around three core academic divisions — the Lower School (JK-5, including the Gurim Junior Kindergarten program), the Middle School (Grades 6-8), and the High School (Grades 9-12) — that together deliver an integrated general and Judaic studies education. On top of this core academic platform, CESJDS offers a layered set of specialized modules and programs: the Sulam@JDS inclusive education track for students with learning differences, the Center for STEM in Jewish Education (CSJE), the Center for Excellence and Engagement in Jewish History, the Sharon and Jacob (z"l) Benus Social Entrepreneurship Program, the Parenting Resource Center, the B'Yachad Diversity & Belonging initiative, and the Irene and Daniel Simpkins Senior Capstone Israel Trip. Co-curricular life is served by the Athletics Program and the Arts Program (theater, music, visual arts, dance, Arts Chai Lights), and student services are supported by The Mane Course food service. Digital touchpoints include the myJDS Portal for community access and the CESJDS Admission and Enrollment Portal (powered by Finalsite Enrollment/SchoolAdmin), with tuition assistance handled through Clarity and bus management through SchoolPass.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sulam@JDS: Inclusive education program at CESJDS for students with learning differences, operated in partnership with Sulam.
- The Mane Course
- The Lion's Den
Products and services
- Lower School (JK-5), including Gurim Junior Kindergarten CESJDS's lower school division serving Gurim (Junior Kindergarten, age 4) through Grade 5, delivering an integrated general and Judaic studies curriculum with an average class size of 13 students. Gurim serves 4-year-olds with a joyful introduction to the pluralistic community.
- Middle School (Grades 6-8) CESJDS's middle school division offering core academic subjects (English, math, science, social studies, Spanish, humanities), Hebrew, Jewish Text, STEM, arts, health and exercise science, advisory, and civic leadership, with dedicated middle school merit scholarship pathways.
- High School (Grades 9-12) CESJDS's high school division with an average SAT score of 1375 for the Class of 2025. Offers English, math, science, history (including Jewish History), Jewish Text, Hebrew, STEM, arts, journalism, world languages, Zman Kodesh, health and exercise science, advisory, and dedicated college counseling.
- Sulam@JDS Inclusive Education Program A separately enrolled inclusive education program for students in Grades K-5 with documented mild-to-moderate learning differences (Specific Learning Differences, ADHD, Twice-Exceptional, Anxiety, Social Skills Deficits, Language Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder), grounded in the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and delivered in partnership with Sulam. Carries an additional fee on top of regular tuition.
- Center for STEM in Jewish Education (CSJE) A CESJDS academic center integrating STEM learning with Jewish education, providing distinct program offerings across the school.
- Center for Excellence and Engagement in Jewish History A CESJDS academic center focused on Jewish history education, including Israel Education and Engagement and Holocaust (Shoah) Education.
- Sharon and Jacob (z"l) Benus Social Entrepreneurship Program A CESJDS program that teaches social entrepreneurship as a modern expression of tikkun olam (repairing the world), coordinated at the middle school level.
- CESJDS Athletics Program Athletics program offering 17 varsity sports and competitive teams including volleyball, soccer, tennis, cross country, basketball, swimming, wrestling, dance, baseball, softball, track and field, and indoor track, with 64% middle/high school participation.
- CESJDS Arts Program Arts program spanning theater, music, visual arts, dance, and experiential learning, including semi-private music lessons and the Arts Chai Lights program.
- Irene and Daniel Simpkins Senior Capstone Israel Trip End-of-high-school international travel and study experience to Israel and Eastern Europe for CESJDS seniors, operated in partnership with AMHSI; separately priced at approximately $17,980 and paid directly to AMHSI.
- The Mane Course (School Café/Food Service) CESJDS's on-campus food service and café offering an expanded menu of savory and sweet items, available as ancillary retail revenue.
- CESJDS Merch Store CESJDS-branded online merchandise store (cesjds.schoolmerch.shop) operated via SchoolMerch white-label e-commerce, selling branded apparel and accessories to the school community.
- CESJDS Admission and Enrollment Portal (Finalsite Enrollment) Online admissions portal (cesjds.fsenrollment.com) where prospective families submit inquiries, complete applications, request teacher recommendations, upload supplemental materials, and schedule visits for 2026-2027 admission.
Quantifiable outcome
- 13 students average class size enabling personalized instruction
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use CESJDS
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CESJDS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature4 records
CESJDS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- The Jewish Federation of Greater WashingtonflagshipThe Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is co-branded across the CESJDS website footer and admission landing pages, signaling a deep institutional/affiliation relationship. Federation-of-Greater-Washington Taskforce on Antisemitism is chaired by a CESJDS board member (Rob Granader).
- Sulam (sulam.org)flagshipCo-delivers the Sulam@JDS inclusive education program, in which students with learning differences receive specialized support inside CESJDS classrooms. Sulam brings proven expertise in inclusion within a Jewish day school setting; CESJDS contributes the academic/Judaic program. Sulam@JDS serves K-5 students and operates under a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework.
- AMHSI (Alexander Muss High School in Israel)coreOperates the Irene and Daniel Simpkins Senior Capstone Israel Trip (and Eastern Europe) for CESJDS seniors. Trip cost (~$17,980 estimated for 2026) is set by and payable directly to AMHSI each fall.
- Association of Independent Schools of Maryland and DC (AIMS)coreAccrediting body for CESJDS. The school is fully accredited by AIMS and approved by the State of Maryland Department of Education.
- Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day SchoolsminorCESJDS is a member of Prizmah, the national center for Jewish day schools. Prizmah provides professional development, networking, and field-building resources for member schools.
- Clarity (clarityapp.com / clarityschools.com)coreClarity Application is the platform CESJDS uses for tuition assistance applications, supported by Clarity Family Application Guide and Quick Reference Guide documentation.
- SchoolPass (cesjds.school-pass.net)coreSchoolPass is the transportation and dismissal management platform used by CESJDS families and the school transportation team.
- Finalsite / FS EnrollmentcoreFinalsite powers the cesjds.org website, the FS Enrollment online admissions/enrollment portal, and the SchoolAdmin Online application system (used for Sulam@JDS). The school is 'Powered by Finalsite'.
- DRG TalentflagshipExecutive search firm that led the international search for the 7th Head of School. Dara Klarfeld and Tani Weissman of DRG led the engagement, including community surveys, town halls, candidate interviews, and the appointment of Dr. Jonathan Levy (effective July 1, 2026).
- SchoolMerch (cesjds.schoolmerch.shop)minorOperates the CESJDS-branded online merchandise store as a white-label e-commerce partner.
Scale indicators11 records
CESJDS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT): Toronto-based pluralistic Jewish day school serving Grades 9-12. Direct peer because incoming CESJDS Head of School Dr. Jonathan Levy has led CHAT since 2017; comparable size, pluralistic philosophy, and integrated general-Jewish curriculum.
- SAR Academy: Modern Orthodox, co-educational Jewish day school in Riverdale, NY serving nursery through 12th grade. Direct peer in the North American Jewish day school segment with comparable integrated dual-curriculum model, college-prep outcomes, and tuition scale.
- Ramaz School: Modern Orthodox Jewish day school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan serving nursery through 12th grade. Direct peer with comparable academic rigor, integrated Judaic and general studies, and similar tuition pricing tier in a major U.S. Jewish population center.
- Milken Community School: Large pluralistic Jewish day school in Los Angeles serving Grades 7-12. Direct peer with similarly integrated dual-curriculum, pluralistic community, robust athletics/arts programs, and comparable tuition pricing tier — one of the largest Jewish day schools in North America.
- Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy: Formerly Akiba Hebrew Academy, pluralistic Jewish day school serving Grades 6-12 in the Philadelphia suburbs. Direct peer with comparable pluralistic philosophy, integrated curriculum, and DC-area-adjacent mid-Atlantic positioning.
- Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy: Mid-sized pluralistic Jewish day school in Overland Park, Kansas serving infant through 12th grade. Direct peer with similar integrated curriculum, tuition scale, and middle-American Jewish community focus.
Broad incumbents
- Sidwell Friends School: Elite independent PK-12 school in Washington, D.C. with Quaker heritage. Broad incumbent peer — comparable academic outcomes (top-tier college placement), similar tuition scale, and overlapping DC-metro feeder families, but secular rather than Judaic.
- Georgetown Day School: Independent, progressive PK-12 school in Washington, D.C. with explicit commitment to pluralism and diversity. Broad incumbent peer with overlapping DC-metro secular independent school market, comparable inclusive philosophy, and similar tuition pricing tier.
- Bullis School: Independent K-12 school in Potomac, Maryland, just minutes from CESJDS's Rockville campuses. Broad incumbent peer competing for the same affluent DC-metro families, comparable tuition scale, and similar college-prep outcomes.
- Maret School: Independent K-12 school in Washington, D.C. with progressive, pluralistic mission. Broad incumbent peer with overlapping DC-metro secular independent school market, comparable tuition tier, and similar emphasis on small class sizes and individualized instruction.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CESJDS social profiles
Digital presenceCESJDS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
CESJDS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CESJDS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CESJDS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CESJDS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CESJDS
What does CESJDS do?
CESJDS is an independent, nonprofit JK-12 pluralistic Jewish day school delivering an integrated general studies and Judaic studies curriculum across three academic divisions — Lower School (JK-5, including the Gurim Junior Kindergarten), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and High School (Grades 9-12) — to more than 850 students annually from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It supplements the core academic program with an inclusive learning track (Sulam@JDS), athletics and arts, and senior capstone international study.
Is CESJDS a public or private company?
CESJDS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CESJDS founded?
CESJDS was founded in 1965. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CESJDS based?
CESJDS is headquartered in Rockville, United States, in the North America region.
How does CESJDS make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Domestic and International Student Tuition is the primary driver. The others are annual Fund / Philanthropic Giving, special Fees and Ancillary Programs, planned Giving, Endowments, and Sponsorships and retail / Merchandise Sales.
Who are CESJDS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT), SAR Academy, Ramaz School, Milken Community School, Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy and Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. Broad incumbents are Sidwell Friends School, Georgetown Day School, Bullis School and Maret School.
Does CESJDS have an API?
No public API is recorded for CESJDS.
What industry is CESJDS in?
CESJDS's product category is Independent K-12 Jewish Day School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAC, Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools, with a secondary code of EDAJABAG, International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.). Its NAICS code is 6116 and its SIC code is 8200.