Jewish Community High School

“Deep Learning · Universal Wisdom · Jewish Values”

AKA: JCHSWestern AdditionJewish

Jewish Community High School of the Bay

“Deep Learning · Universal Wisdom · Jewish Values”

AKA: JCHSWestern AdditionJewish

Students: ~180
Ratio: 5:1
Tuition: $65k

Base tuition as published for 2025–26.

Admissions

Applications open: Late August
Application due: January 5, 2027
Decisions released: March 12, 2027

admissions@jchsofthebay.org

Visit admissions site

Enrollment: ~180
Student:teacher: 5:1
Base tuition: $64,950; 2025–26 school year
Real cost: $65k–$71k

What makes this school special

The Bay Area's pluralistic Jewish high school, with students from across the Jewish spectrum and from all over the Bay
The whole school eats lunch together daily, cooked in-house from fresh, local ingredients
Mornings start with 30 minutes of reflection, with options ranging from traditional tefillah to art, journaling, and yoga

Academics

Curriculum

AP and honors; chevruta (partner-study) approach

World languages

Spanish, Hebrew

Schedule

Rotating block (70-minute periods)

Signature programs

Jewish Studies (Tanach, Talmud, Jewish history)
Journeys experiential trips (incl. Israel in 11th grade)
Senior Keystone capstone
Service learning (52 hours)

College matriculation

Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Emory, Harvard, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Stanford, Tufts, Tulane, UC Berkeley, University of Michigan, USC, Yale

See the full list

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · Bay Counties League (BCL Central) / CIF NCS

BaseballBasketballCross CountryRock ClimbingSoccerSwimmingTennisVolleyball

Arts

Visual ArtPhotographyFilmDigital DesignMusicVocal EnsembleTheater

Clubs & activities · 27+

A CappellaBook ClubChessCoding ClubDebateCultural ExchangeDungeons & DragonsEnvironmental ClubGSALiterary MagazineSF History ClubYoung EntrepreneursBrotherly VoicesTutoring ClubHorror Club

See all clubs

Life there

Tuition includes

Textbooks
Athletic uniforms
Equipment

Food

Optional kosher lunch (for purchase)

Learning support

Learning Support — onsite learning specialists, with The Study workspace

Notable alumni

Benjamin Sosnick (MLB draftee)

Admissions

Applications open: Late August
Application due: January 5, 2027
Decisions released: March 12, 2027

admissions@jchsofthebay.org

Visit admissions site

The application

JCHS admits on its own application via Ravenna — no standardized scores are accepted. It asks for transcripts, three recommendations (counselor, English, and math teachers), a student essay, and a student interview, alongside a parent application; the application is due in early January.

Application requirements

Application via Ravenna ($90 fee, waivers available)
Transcripts (current and prior year)
Three recommendations (principal/counselor, English teacher, math teacher)
Student essay
Student interview and parent application
Test-free (no standardized scores accepted)

Testing

Test-free

Getting there

1835 Ellis Street

Transit

24 Divisadero
5 Fulton, 22 Fillmore

Transit directions

Often on the same list

Drew School

Independent

The Urban School of San Francisco

Independent

Lick-Wilmerding High School

Independent

Lowell High School

Public

The Bay School of San Francisco

Independent

University High School

Independent

Sources

JCHS — Home — identity, motto, address
How to Apply — deadline, requirements, test policy, email
Affording JCHS — tuition, fees, what's included, food, device
School Profile 2023-24 — enrollment, schedule, AP, languages, Journeys/Israel, diversity
Curriculum — academic model, signature programs
Athletics — sports, league
Arts — arts disciplines
Clubs — clubs
NCES Private School Survey — enrollment, ratio, diversity
Wikipedia — Jewish Community High School of the Bay — founding, league, notable alumni

Last reviewed July 2026