Milwaukee Jewish Day School

What Milwaukee Jewish Day School does

Milwaukee Jewish Day School (MJDS) is an independent, nonprofit, pluralistic Jewish day school located in the North Shore of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving students from 3-year-old kindergarten through 8th grade. Founded in 1981 by Doris Shneidman with eleven students and two teachers, MJDS has grown into Wisconsin's only pluralistic Jewish day school, structured around three divisions: Early Childhood (3K-SK), Lower School (grades 1-4), and Upper School (grades 5-8). The curriculum integrates Hebrew language instruction, Jewish studies, STEAM, and academic rigor with a documented student-to-teacher ratio of no greater than 9:1 in Early Childhood, and uses a student-owned learning pedagogy supported by the Daniel M. Soref Innovation Hub. Specialized programs include the Repairing Together cross-cultural social-action initiative, the Omanut arts program, athletics, and weekly Shabbat Sing music.

MJDS generates revenue primarily through tuition administered via the Affordable Customized Tuition (ACT) program on the FACTS platform, with supplementary income from an annual fundraising campaign, the MJDS Gala, endowment gifts and planned giving (with a $50,000 minimum for new named endowments), hot lunch, and aftercare services. Admissions and student information are managed through FACTS (RenWeb), classroom tools include iPads, and the school is accredited by ISACS and affiliated with the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Prizmah, and EARCOS. The go-to-market motion is sales-led, relying on admissions tours, open houses, online inquiry forms, synagogue and Jewish Federation referrals, and a robust parent and alumni referral network in which 25% of current families are alum families and 15% of current staff are MJDS alums. The school is led by Head of School Rabbi Joshua Herman, with a management team covering admissions, business services, philanthropy, Jewish life and learning, teaching and learning, athletics, and the Repairing Together program.

Name

Milwaukee Jewish Day School

Legal name

Milwaukee Jewish Day School

Website

https://mjds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Milwaukee Jewish Day School is an independent nonprofit pluralistic Jewish day school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 1981, serving students from 3K through 8th grade through integrated academics, Hebrew and Jewish studies, and cross-cultural programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Jewish Day School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF), General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

Keywords

• Jewish day school
• Private K-8 education
• Pluralistic Jewish education
• Hebrew language instruction
• STEAM curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: MJDS is a private school whose primary revenue is tuition. The school offers an Affordable Customized Tuition (ACT) program based on family financial need, with a range of tuition tiers determined through the FACTS application process. No published tuition amount is listed on the website.
2. Annual Fundraising Campaign: Annual campaign supporting tuition assistance, professional development, curriculum expansion, and community initiatives. The school also conducts an annual gala (MJDS Gala) with ticket sales and sponsorship packages ranging from $750 to $18,000.
3. Endowment Gifts and Planned Giving: The school receives endowed gifts and planned giving contributions, including new endowments starting at $50,000, special use funds at any giving level, and planned gifts (wills, trusts, retirement assets, securities, real estate).
4. Hot Lunch Program: Optional daily hot lunch program sold on a monthly or annual basis as an additional cost to families.
5. Aftercare Services: Aftercare program available Monday through Thursday until 6 p.m. for an additional cost, beyond the standard school day ending at 3:30 p.m.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Milwaukee Jewish Day School is a private, nonprofit Jewish day school serving children from three-year kindergarten through eighth grade. The school delivers a pluralistic Jewish education that integrates rigorous general academics (reading/writing workshop, mathematics, STEAM) with daily Hebrew language instruction, Jewish studies, and Jewish values (empathy, wonder, tikkun olam). The offering is structured across three divisions—Early Childhood (3K-SK), Lower School (grades 1-4), and Upper School (grades 5-8)—with complementary programs in athletics, arts (Omanut), music/Tefillah, and the Repairing Together cross-cultural social action initiative.

Product overview

Milwaukee Jewish Day School offers a comprehensive K3-8 educational program structured as Early Childhood (3K-Senior Kindergarten), Lower School (grades 1-4), and Upper School (grades 5-8). The core academic program is complemented by specialized offerings including the Repairing Together cross-cultural outreach program, athletics (cross country, basketball, volleyball, track, tennis), Omanut arts program, and Jewish music/tefillah. The school provides the Affordable Customized Tuition (ACT) program for financial assistance and maintains partnerships through its Repairing Together initiative with local diverse schools. The school was founded in 1981 and serves as a pluralistic Jewish community day school.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Repairing Together: A program of MJDS started in August 2016 that connects students from different cultural backgrounds in K-8 schools in the Milwaukee area through thematic social and environmental action programming. It is a cross-cultural outreach initiative that partners with local schools including Indian Community School, Bruce Guadalupe Community School, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School.

Products and services

• Early Childhood Program Three-year kindergarten journey (3K, JK, SK) for children ages 3-5 focusing on exploration, curiosity, and Jewish values through play-based learning with technology integration via iPads. Features early drop-off from 7:15 a.m., flexible scheduling including 4-day weeks, and a student-to-teacher ratio no greater than 9:1.
• Lower School Program First through fourth grade program where students master grade-level skills, engage in student-owned learning, and explore passions through STEAM, Hebrew, and Jewish studies. Includes portfolio development and preparation for Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
• Upper School Program Fifth through eighth grade program offering rigorous academics, ETC (Exploring the Core) enrichment classes (robotics, psychology, theater, etc.), Omanut arts program, 8th grade trip abroad, and preparation for high school leadership.
• Repairing Together Program Cross-cultural social action program connecting K-8 students from diverse Milwaukee schools (Indian Community School, Bruce Guadalupe Community School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School) through thematic social and environmental justice programming, with documented empathy pre/post surveys.
• Athletics Program After-school sports program including cross country, flag football, basketball, volleyball, track, and tennis with participation open to all upper school students.
• Omanut Arts Program Comprehensive arts program including ceramics, cooking, sewing, theater, dance, and woodworking, with Milwaukee Art Museum Junior Docent collaboration.
• Jewish Music and Tefillah Program Weekly Shabbat Sing tradition and Jewish music education program led by designated Shabbat Sing leaders, with recorded music available on Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes.
• Affordable Customized Tuition (ACT) Program Financial assistance program providing confidential, need-based tuition support to families to ensure accessibility to MJDS education. Tuition tiers are determined through the FACTS application process with installment payment plans available.
• Hot Lunch Program Optional daily hot lunch program sold on a monthly or annual basis as an additional cost to families.
• Aftercare Services Aftercare program available Monday through Thursday until 6 p.m. for an additional cost, beyond the standard school day ending at 3:30 p.m.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22% of MJDS alums attended an Ivy League school over the last four years; 20% attended UW-Madison
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Indian Community SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2016Partner school in the Repairing Together program, connecting MJDS K-8 students with Native American students for cross-cultural social and environmental action programming. The Indian Community School cultivates cultural identity and critical thinking through indigenous teachings focused on Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, and Truth.
• Bruce Guadalupe Community SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2016Partner school in the Repairing Together program. BGCS is a non-sectarian, nonprofit charter school dedicated to high expectations, language and cultural identity, and effective communication skills for all students.
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2016Partner school in the Repairing Together program. MLK Elementary offers an African-American Immersion program focused on history and culture, with parental and community involvement as essential curriculum components.
• Urban Ecology CenterminorOthersCommunity programming partner for Repairing Together. Provides joint field trip experiences for 1st-3rd grade students as part of the cross-cultural programming.
• Hunger Task Force FarmminorOthersCommunity programming partner for Repairing Together. MJDS students visit the Hunger Task Force Farm on joint field trips with partner schools as part of social justice education.
• Arts@LargeminorOthersArts education community partner contributing to Repairing Together's programming with creative and artistic experiences for students across partner schools.
• Betty Brinn Children's MuseumminorOthersCommunity partner providing programming for Repairing Together students and families.
• First Stage MilwaukeeminorOthersTheater arts partner contributing programming to the Repairing Together collaborative experiences.
• Serve2UniteminorOthersCommunity organization partnering with Repairing Together to support social justice education and youth leadership development.
• Hours Against HateminorOthersCommunity organization partnering with Repairing Together to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue and action against hate.
• Milwaukee Jewish FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMJDS is a partner agency of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. The Federation provides donor-advised funds supporting the Repairing Together program and serves as the primary institutional connector between MJDS and the broader Milwaukee Jewish community.
• PrizmahminorOthersPrizmah is a national network supporting Jewish day schools. MJDS is listed as a member school, and staff attend the annual Prizmah Conference for professional development.
• ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States)minorOthersMJDS holds accreditation through ISACS, the regional accreditation body for independent schools in the Central United States.
• East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS)minorOthersMJDS is listed as a member of EARCOS, an organization of international and American schools in Asia.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy: Midwest-based Jewish day school in the Kansas City area serving early childhood through high school; comparable model integrating rigorous academics with Jewish values and offering need-based tuition assistance in a similarly sized community.
• Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School: Chicago-area Jewish day school serving early childhood through 8th grade with a comparable pluralistic ethos, small class sizes, and integrated Jewish/general studies curriculum — operates in a similar urban-Midwest Jewish community context as MJDS.
• Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community Day School: Large Jewish day school in Baltimore serving early childhood through high school with comparable dual-curriculum model, athletics, arts, and pluralistic admissions; relevant as a peer for tuition structure and program breadth comparison.
• Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago: Jewish day school network serving K-8 with a Conservative Jewish orientation; comparable in mission of combining rigorous secular academics with Jewish studies in a similar-sized institutional footprint.
• Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School: Large pluralistic Jewish day school (Lower School and Upper School) in the Washington, DC area; comparable in offering a pluralistic K-12 Jewish education with rigorous academics, arts, athletics, and Hebrew language instruction.
• Golda Och Academy: Conservative Jewish day school in New Jersey serving early childhood through 12th grade; comparable in mission to combine general studies with Jewish learning and in operating tuition assistance programs.
• Kellman Brown Academy: Small pluralistic Jewish day school in southern New Jersey serving early childhood through 8th grade; comparable in size and operating model to MJDS as a small community-rooted Jewish day school.

Regional players

• University School of Milwaukee: Independent secular PK-12 day school in Milwaukee's North Shore area; competes for the same tuition-paying North Shore Milwaukee families as MJDS but without the Jewish curriculum component.
• Milwaukee Montessori School: Independent preschool through middle school in Milwaukee serving similar tuition-paying families; competes in early childhood and elementary space where MJDS also operates, including play-based and individualized learning approaches.

Others

• Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools: National network supporting Jewish day schools; MJDS is an active member. Relevant as a peer in the sense that Prizmah aggregates best practices, advocacy, and professional development resources that shape how MJDS and comparable schools operate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCS8uanFQH0SR-0ycgmMeVwg
• Facebookfacebook.com/MilwaukeeJewishDaySchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/milwaukeejds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/milwaukee-jewish-day-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Milwaukee Jewish Day School