About our school

  • DJCS has given us the opportunity to pass on a Jewish identity to our kids that we otherwise would not have been able to do. It does this in a relaxed and inclusive environment that doesn’t judge us on our level of “Jewishness”. The staff is energetic and committed, and the attending families all want to be there. Being at Bloor and Spadina doesn’t hurt either!

    Stephen, DJCS parent

  • We have been parents at DJCS since 1999. Both of our children have enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) their experiences there. My eleven-year old son actually doesn’t mind getting up on Sunday morning to attend his classes! Over the years we’ve had some truly wonderful teachers. Joan, the principal, has consistently tried to populate her staff with warm, caring and engaging individuals...

    Lori MD, FRCP(C), DJCS parent

  • “DJCS taught me to take a pluralistic, open minded, enthusiastic approach to Jewish life and tradition.”

    Rabbi Rachel, DJCS graduate

  • A good-sized group of kids went to DJCS from Palmerston School every Wednesday. We must have looked as if we were going to have fun because I remember one non-Jewish friend saying to his mom “I want to go to the Jewish school too!” My time at DJCS definitely enhanced my Jewish identity.

    Eli, DJCS graduate

  • I have been moved by the DJCS’s uniquely honest and unpretentious approach to providing Jewish education to a very diverse population of children and their families.

    Ruth, DJCS teacher

  • At our PD day in November, as I was enjoying the company of my co-workers, it occurred to me what a special group of teachers our Executive Director, Joan, had cultivated. Besides feeling myself in the company of capable, experienced, and professional staff, I recognized how caring and full of midot the group around me was – truly a superlative group of role models for the next generations. The diversity of the families reflects the school’s philosophy — that there are many ways of being Jewish.

    Tally, DJCS teacher

About our school

The Downtown Jewish Community School is an independent school affiliated with The Centre for Jewish Education of UJA Federation of Toronto.

For a class schedule, click here.

For over thirty years, the DJCS has been providing a high quality Jewish education to children downtown. The school is egalitarian and pluralistic in both vision and practice, valuing community over ideology. The DJCS employs a high quality, well-qualified and professional staff and provides an enriched curriculum for its students. Many hundreds of students have graduated from our school. Alumni are doing interesting things in Toronto and all over the world.

As an incorporated charitable institution, the DJCS is primarily funded through tuition. We also receive modest annual grants from the UJA Federation. Since the elimination of provincial Heritage Language funding about 15 years ago, basic funding no longer covers our costs.  The school now depends on fundraising to continue providing enriched programming to all children who enroll, regardless of their ability to pay full tuition.  We welcome your involvement!