School Profile

Class of 2011

Ida Crown Jewish Academy, founded in 1942, is a co-educational high school, grades 9-12, offering a comprehensive dual program in General and Judaic Studies. The General Studies curriculum is designed to develop broad knowledge in the Humanities and Sciences and to prepare students to take full advantage of a university education. The Judaic Studies curriculum aims to foster a deep appreciation of Jewish learning, history, and tradition. The Academy is accredited by AdvancEd.

Student Body and Faculty

The present enrollment of the Academy is 281 students, mostly from Illinois. There are currently 55 faculty members: 45% have a B.A., 43% have an M.A. or Rabbinic Ordination, and 11% have a Ph.D.

Daily Schedule

Ida Crown Jewish Academy
Schedule of Classes
	Beginning of School Day							8:00 a.m.
	Tefillah							8:05 a.m.
Regular Schedule							Friday Schedule		(Pesach-Sukkot)
Judaic Studies		(Mon & Thurs)					Judaic Studies
First Bell		9:12	a.m.				First Bell	9:02	a.m.
Period 1		9:15	-	9:52			Period 1	9:05	-	9:43
Period 2		9:55	-	10:32			Period 2	9:46	-	10:24
Period 3		10:35	-	11:12			Period 3	10:27	-	11:05
Break							Break
Period 4		11:17	-	11:54			Period 4	11:10	-	11:48
Period 5		11:57	-	12:33	p.m.		Period 5	11:51	-	12:29	p.m.
Period 6		12:36	-	1:12			Period 6	12:32	-	1:10
Judaic Studies		(Tues & Wed)					General Studies
First Bell		9:02	a.m.				Period 7 (10)	1:13	-	1:58
Period 1		9:05	-	9:43			Period 8 (11)	2:01	-	2:46
Period 2		9:46	-	10:24			Period 9 (12)	2:49	-	3:34
Period 3		10:27	-	11:05
Break							Friday Schedule		(Sukkot-Pesach)
Period 4		11:10	-	11:48			Judaic Studies
Period 5		11:51	-	12:29	p.m.		First Bell	9:02	a.m.
Period 6		12:32	-	1:10			Session 1	9:05	-	9:35
General Studies							Session 2	9:38	-	10:08
Period 7		1:17	-	1:56			Session 3	10:11	-	10:41
Period 8		1:59	-	2:38			Period 5	10:44	-	11:14
Period 9		2:41	-	3:20			Period 6	11:17	-	11:47
Mincha		3:23	-	3:33
Period 10		3:36	-	4:15			General Studies
Period 11		4:18	-	4:57			Period 7 (10)	11:52	-	12:32	p.m.
Period 12		5:00	-	5:39			Period 8 (11)	12:35	-	1:15
							Period 9 (12)	1:18	-	1:58

 

 

 

The Academy’s formal schedule is intense and challenging. The school day begins at 8:05 a.m. and continues to 5:39 p.m., including a lunch period of 40 minutes. Most extra-curricular activities take place after the conclusion of classes at 5:39 p.m.

Judaic Studies Program

All students spend four years studying traditional Jewish texts in the original Hebrew and Aramaic, including Bible and Talmud. In the sophomore through senior years, girls select a specialty of concentration – either Jewish Law/Thought or Talmud while boys concentrate exclusively upon Talmud. The study of Judaic texts, apart from its intrinsic value, affords the students an intellectual exercise demanding analytical skills. This type of study  akes the form of the familiar teacher-student discourse. In addition, students are required to engage in intensive independent study, in class and outside school. Instruction is individualized, and qualified students are encouraged to do advanced work. In Talmud, Jewish Law/Thought, and Bible there are both Regular and Honors levels. A major component of the program at Ida Crown is the Yeshiva University Torah MiTzion Kollel of Chicago – a post-graduate Judaic fellowship program based on campus. In addition to their own academic programs, these Jewish scholars from America and Israel study with our students, staff, and parents, creating additional opportunities for academic enrichment.

General Studies Program

• Four years of English are required. Regular and Honors level are offered in freshman and sophomore levels, and Regular, Honors and Advanced Placement are offered in the junior and senior levels. An enriched weekly English Seminar is offered to accelerated English students during sophomore, junior and senior years.
• All students take four years of Hebrew Language and are expected to become competent in reading, writing, and speaking. In Hebrew Language, there are both Regular and Honors levels.
  
• Three years of Mathematics are required; however, most students choose to take four years. Mathematics is offered at four levels of increasing depth and sophistication: Concepts, Regular, Honors, and Accelerated. The curriculum includes Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and A.P. Calculus, AB and BC.
• Three years of Science are required, although most students take four. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, A.P. Biology, A.P. Physics, and A.P. Chemistry are offered. Chemistry may be taken at a Regular or Honors level, and Physics may be taken at Honors and Accelerated levels. A.P. courses are offered based on student enrollment and therefore, not every A.P. class cited may be offered on a yearly basis.
• Three-and-one-half years of History are required. Freshmen study Western Civilization, a survey of history and philosophy; sophomores study Jewish History; juniors study U.S. History or A.P. U.S. History; and seniors study
• Modern Jewish History and may enroll in A.P. European History.
• Electives include A.P. Psychology, Psychology, Spanish, Band, Advanced Art, Film, Economics, and Business Law.
• Four years of Physical Education are required as is one year of Fine Arts and a Driver’s Education course.

In the past three years, nearly all Academy graduates have continued their education in 4-year colleges. A selection of schools they have attended includes: Barnard College, Binghamton University, SUNY, Boston University, Brandeis University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Urbana, Columbia University, Cornell University, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Maryland, McGill University, University of Michigan, New York University, Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Stern College, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Yale University and Yeshiva University.

Grade Point Averages

The G.P.A. is calculated on semester grades; plus (+) and minus (-) designations have no effect on G.P.A. calculations. G.P.A. is based on a 4.0 scale.

Ida Crown does not rank students because of the small class size. Many of the top students’ G.P.A.s differ by one-tenth of a percent or less. Honors courses include Mathematics, English, and Science, as well as
Spanish when taken as a fifth major.

Accelerated courses include Mathematics, they also include A.P. classes and Jerusalem Examination (Hebrew) classes provided the student takes the appropriate A.P. or Jerusalem Examination. Otherwise these courses count as Honors courses. For grade point purposes, there is no distinction between Honors, Accelerated and A.P.

Community Service

Twenty hours of community service per year are required for graduation. Students volunteer their services at social service agencies, hospitals, and programs for the disabled in the evenings and on Sundays.

Ida Crown Jewish Academy Quintile Distribution of GPAs:

1st 4.75 — 4.50
2nd 4.47 — 4.08
3rd 4.05 — 3.64
4th 3.62 — 3.16
Type of Course: 5th 3.12 — 2.32

Grade: Regular Honors Accelerated

A 4 5 5
B 3 4 4
C 2 3 3
D 1 2 2

Ida Crown Jewish Academy Guidance Department
Director of Guidance – Rabbi Louis Fliegelman (773-973-1450 x 125);
College Consultant – Dr. Vernon Hein (773-973-1450 x141)
ACT/SAT High School Code: 140-725

Auspices: Associated Talmud Torahs – A beneficiary of the Jewish Federation of Chicago

Mordechai David Weinfeld z”l Torah Society

Torah study is the centerpiece of Jewish living. The Mordechai David Weinfeld Torah Society was established to
encourage Torah study beyond the required classes and times offered at the Academy. Students who engage in
significant voluntary study during each of their four years in the Academy are inducted into the Torah Society
upon graduation.

Deborah L. Katzin z”l Chesed Society

Through a generous endowment, the Academy has established a unique program of Chesed (vounteer service),
involving intense community service and review. Students who perform at least 200 hours of community service
are inducted into the society upon graduation.

Student Activities

The heavy time demands made by the dual curriculum limit the range of extra-curricular activities, but students
take advantage of a wide range of school activities, either during school hours, after school, or on Sundays. Listed
below are some of the school activities.

Boys’ Sports: Interscholastic Basketball, Interscholastic Wrestling, Interscholastic Baseball, Intramural Floor Hockey, Intramural Basketball, Intramural Softball, Intramural Cross-Country,

Girls’ Sports: Interscholastic Basketball, Interscholastic Soccer, Intramural Softball, Cross Country

Co-Curricular Activities: Student Council, National Honor Society, Community Service Club, School Retreats, School Spirit/Religious Committee, Ham Radio Club, Senior Leaders, Yearbook, Library Assistants, Video, Debate Club, Model United States Programs, Service Points Committee, Science Club, “Crown Prints” Student Newspaper, “Panim El Panim” Political Awareness, Intramural Sports, Charlotte’s Web, Literary Magazine

Students may take the initiative of forming new committees and clubs by satisfying two criteria:
(1) arranging an faculty sponsor, and
(2) forming a group of a minimum of ten students
The administration encourages and promotes such student initiative.

Out-of-Town Students

Mr. Phil Zbaraz, Director of Student Social Services, acts as an informal liaison between out-of-town parents of
students who wish to board in Chicago, and members of the local community who have expressed an interest in
having a student board with them.