"Calgary Jewish Academy is a modern Jewish day school offering both the Alberta curriculum and Judaic studies. Rooted in Calgary’s Jewish community, CJA combines purposeful learning and academic growth with a close-knit, welcoming culture where students are known, supported, and challenged through clear expectations and strong relationships. From Nursery to Grade 9, students develop skills and understanding with increasing depth across the grades, while growing in confidence, responsibility, and Jewish identity."
CJA differentiates itself through the intentional integration of academic learning, Jewish identity, and student support. Our dual curriculum is designed so students engage deeply with both Alberta academics and Jewish learning without compromise, building skills and understanding progressively over time. Small class sizes allow teachers to maintain clear academic expectations while tailoring instruction to how students learn. Dedicated educational assistants, counselling support, and social-emotional learning structures are embedded to help students meet expectations with confidence. Jewish identity is not taught in isolation, but lived through curriculum, community, and daily school life. The outcome is capable, confident students who know who they are and how to navigate complexity with clarity and purpose.
CJA has made deliberate choices about what kind of school it aims to be. Rather than expanding program offerings, the school prioritizes depth of learning, continuity of relationships, and coherence across the grades. This means investing time and resources in curriculum alignment, Jewish identity, student well-being, and support systems, even when those investments are less immediately visible than facilities or extensive programming. CJA balances tradition and innovation thoughtfully, choosing integration and meaning over rapid change. In an uncertain world, the school has placed particular emphasis on safety, preparedness, and emotional security as foundational to learning. These choices shape a school experience focused on academic growth, confidence, character, and belonging.
Calgary Jewish Academy was founded in 1987 through the amalgamation of Calgary’s first Jewish day schools: the Calgary Hebrew School (1912) and the I.L. Peretz School (1927). This unification brought together strong academic traditions and a shared commitment to Jewish learning, identity, and community. These roots established a foundation of educational excellence and communal responsibility that continues to shape CJA today. Over time, the school has evolved to meet the changing needs of families while remaining grounded in its values and purpose.
Students who thrive at CJA are curious, engaged learners who respond well to clear expectations, structure, and strong relationships. Families who value both academic growth and Jewish identity find strong alignment with our approach. CJA is well suited for students who want to learn, grow, and connect to Jewish values, traditions, and Hebrew language alongside peers in a close-knit community. Families seeking personalized attention, inclusive support for diverse learners, and an environment that fosters confidence, responsibility, belonging, and shared identity will find CJA a strong fit.
CJA may not be the best fit for families seeking a highly competitive or anonymous school environment, or those who prefer a single-focus academic model without integrated values or identity-based learning. Families looking for large class sizes, minimal structure, or limited community engagement may find CJA’s close-knit, values-driven approach less aligned with their expectations. Our emphasis on clear expectations, shared responsibility, and Jewish life shapes the learning experience at CJA.
Families choose CJA for its ability to combine purposeful academics with Jewish identity in a deeply supportive and caring community. Parents value small classes, personalized attention, and a school culture where students are known, protected, and supported from the Early Years onward. Families also appreciate the clarity and consistency of CJA’s academic program, where skills and understanding build intentionally from year to year. Many families point to the confidence, character, and sense of belonging their children develop, as well as CJA’s emphasis on community participation and preparing students to navigate real-world complexity with resilience and purpose.
CJA is widely recognized as a welcoming, values-driven Jewish day school with a strong sense of community. It is known for offering a structured learning environment that balances academic expectations with care for student well-being, and for providing a safe, supportive setting where Jewish identity is affirmed. The school’s long-standing presence in Calgary’s Jewish community contributes to its reputation for stability, trust, and educational quality.
Families sometimes underestimate how intentionally CJA’s culture of care supports learning. Beyond small classes, students benefit from counsellors, educational assistants, and social-emotional learning supports embedded throughout the school. Clear expectations, consistent relationships, and proactive safety practices create the conditions for focus, engagement, and academic growth. This foundation allows students to build character, resilience, and trust in themselves and their learning over time.
Many families are surprised by how early students begin developing confidence and self-advocacy at CJA. Starting in Nursery, children are encouraged to express themselves, build independence, and understand expectations within a supportive environment. Over time, parents notice strong communication skills, self-awareness, and a growing sense of responsibility that continues to develop through the grades. This continuity, supported by consistent relationships and emotional care, often results in students who are more resilient and self-assured than families initially expect.
In recent years, CJA has focused on strengthening leadership, clarity, and consistency across the school. This has included refining the dual curriculum, strengthening curriculum alignment, expanding social-emotional learning and counselling supports, and deepening inclusive teaching practices. A renewed emphasis on collaboration, communication, and shared expectations has helped create greater stability and coherence, ensuring students are well supported academically, emotionally, and socially.
Over the next five years, CJA will continue strengthening the coherence of its academic program while deepening its integrated approach to Jewish learning and student well-being. Curriculum alignment and instructional practices will further support learning that builds with increasing depth across the grades. Students will have more opportunities for experiential learning, leadership, and meaningful community engagement. Continued investment in student support services and inclusive teaching practices will ensure students are prepared to navigate academic challenges and real-world complexity with confidence, identity, and purpose.
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