Upper School

Like building a collage, we seek to gain several “snapshots” of your child during the application process. A number of steps designed to understand each prospective student and family help us develop the most complete picture possible, and determine whether HMJDS is a good match.

Meeting and Tour—Seeing Our School Community First Hand

We invite you to attend one of our Prospective Parent Open Houses, or to schedule a private meeting and tour to learn more about our program and see our teaching and learning come to life. You will witness engaging, integrated lessons and experiential learning in a safe and nurturing environment, designed to support the your fifth – eighth grader’s emerging Jewish adult identity, critical thinking skills, and self confidence.

Application—Getting Started

To obtain an application, please contact Admissions & Outreach Director Abbe Payton at 952.381.3566 or apayton@hmjds.org, or click here. Receipt of your completed application form (signed by all parents/legal guardians) and $200 non-refundable application fee starts the formal admissions process. We will contact you to schedule your admissions appointments. (Please see Admissions Timeline below for important dates.)

Individual Interview—Getting To Know Your Child As An Individual and Learner

All prospective grade 5-8 students meet one-on-one one member of the Upper School Administration.  This time provides the school with a first-hand view of your child’s interpersonal skills and social-emotional development. It is also an important time for your child to ask questions and become increasingly comfortable with his or her new prospective school and the adults in our community. In some cases we also administer tests to determine where your child is academically in language arts, math, and/or Hebrew. This process will take approximately 30 minutes (interview only) or 1 hour 30 minutes (interview and testing). During the entire appointment, one parent/guardian must stay our waiting area.

School Visit—An Opportunity To Learn and Share More Information

We ask that your child spend a day at our school in his or her current grade. This visit will give your child an opportunity to experience a “taste of HMJDS” as well as enable our teachers to observe your child formally in a classroom setting.

Previous School Records—This Important Documentation Is Necessary

We will provide you with a Request For Records Form for you to fill out and give to your current school so it can forward your child’s complete file directly to HMJDS. This information that provides our Admissions Team with important information is due to the Day School in advance of the parent-only follow-up meeting.

“My children entered HMJDS into Kindergarten, 5th and 7th grade. They made easy transitions and are all thrilled and thankful to be at this school!” – HMJDS Parent

Follow-Up Meeting—The Partnering Process Begins

After the Individual Screening and Preview Day, you will be invited back for a parent-only follow-up meeting with our Upper School Director. At this meeting we will share what we have learned about your child. We hope the information provided at this meeting will give you valuable insights about your child’s emerging learning profile. This is also a time for you to share any information about your child that you do not feel was communicated on your application form. As part of our ongoing partnership with families, we hope that both parents in dual-parent households can attend this meeting.

Final Review—The Admissions Team At Work

Our Admissions Team meets to review each applicant’s file. Admissions criteria used to determine whether or not the Day School is an appropriate learning program and environment for your child include: information from the application; Individual Screening; Preview Day; and current school records; and any other information provided in writing by parents. Sometimes our Admissions Team will request additional information before making a decision about admission. (Please see Additional Information below.)

Admission—A Thoughtful Decision

A letter of acceptance, along with an enrollment contract, fee schedule, and Parent Covenant, will be mailed to your home, in accordance with the Admissions Timeline listed below. Please review, sign and return to HMJDS the enrollment form and $600 deposit (applied to tuition), by the date indicated on the contract, to hold your child’s place in the coming year’s class. Enrollment forms received after the date requested will be considered on a first-come/first-served basis, pending space availability.

Admissions Timeline

  • Families whose application forms and fees are received by mid-December, and who have completed the other necessary steps in a timely manner, will receive early admissions notification near President’s Day.
  • Families whose application forms and fees are received by mid-February, and who have completed the other necessary steps in a timely manner, will receive admissions notification in early April.
  • All other applications will be entertained and accepted pending space availability.

Financial Assistance—Available To Families Who Qualify

The Day School is committed to socioeconomic diversity. If you are considering applying for financial assistance, please be sure to check this box on your application. A financial assistance information package will be mailed to your home early in the calendar year.

If you are unsure whether you want to apply for financial assistance, or want more information about what type of documentation is required to show “demonstrated need,” please contact Business Director Steve Richardson at 952.381.3510 or srichardson@hmjds.org. He can speak with you confidentially and provide you with a ballpark idea of your family’s expected tuition contribution.

Please carefully read all financial assistance information, including submission deadlines and instructions, as there are a number of specific procedures required.

More than 1/3 of our families receive some degree of financial assistance. The Day School does not offer any full scholarships.

Additional Information

Partnering between school and home is key to a successful experience. Please provide us with any/all outside testing or evaluations done by OT, PT, IEP, speech/language, medical, psychological, or other professionals. The more information we have about your child, the more successful we will be in meeting your family’s needs!

Sometimes it is helpful to observe a child in their current school environment, and/or secure releases to communicate on the phone or in writing with health care providers. If we are in need of this type of information we will let you know.

Hebrew Language Learning—Preparing Your Child For A Dual-Language Program

Across our program we are committed to providing a variety of flexible Hebrew groupings, to accommodate many learning styles and paces. This allows us to welcome students mid-program with little or no Hebrew language experience. Regardless of the grade your child enters HMJDS we will support his or her Hebrew learning during the defined school day through small-group work and differentiated instruction.

  • Students entering second grade or above will be asked to engage during the summer preceding their enrollment in private summer Hebrew tutoring.
  • We will provide families with the names of Hebrew tutors familiar with teaching our curriculum.
  • Tutoring is usually two times per week.
  • Compensation for these tutors will be the family’s responsibility.
  • We may recommend some less-intensive tutoring during the school year.

    • Admissions-Related Questions?

    • Regarding all your initial questions or scheduling tour, please contact Abbe Payton, Admissions & Outreach Director, at 952.381.3566 or apayton@hmjds.org
    • Regarding scheduling admissions appointments, please contact Ethan Tarshish, Admissions Assistant, at 952.381.3506 or . etarshish@hmjds.org
    • Regarding financial assistance and/or payments, please contact Steve Richardson, Business Director, at 952.381.3510 or srichardson@hmjds.org
    • Regarding our Upper School program or any other questions/concerns regarding your child, please contact Yoni Binus, Upper School Director, at 952.381.3500 or ybinus@hmjds.org.
    • Regarding any other questions or concerns regarding your child, including those related to family stress,please contact Gay Rosenthal, School Psychologist, at 952.381.3500 or grosenthal@hmjds.org or Skylar Werde, Upper School Counselor, at 952.381.3500 orswerede@hmjds.org

    Click here for Upper School parent education offerings offered throughout the year.

    Non-Discrimination

    The Amos and Celia Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School admits students of any sex, race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school, and it does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, or: national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, or any other school-administered programs.