See What It’s Like Here

They come from Skokie, West Rogers Park, Northshore suburbs and even from out of state. They are athletes, musicians, scholars, artists and computer techies. They come from diverse families and backgrounds.

ICJA students are as diverse as they are numerous. Their shared commitment to growth, reinforced by a staff that supports each student as an individual, is what unites them. The warmth and care that is found in the building, the relationships between faculty and students, the opportunities to perform chesed, the willingness to allow students to grow, and the commitment to each individual student is what enables each Academy student to reach his or her potential. Teachers and faculty at the Academy are devoted to the entire Jewish personality of each student in the school.

More than 30 percent of students participate in sports, everyone does chesed and many do various extracurricular activities. Those that don’t find the perfect fit, create their own club.

During all hours of the day, Academy students can be found in friendly locales such as Mr. Zbaraz’s office and the Learning Resource Center, discussing everything from homework to car troubles, from school parking stickers to fulfilling gym requirements.

The majority of applicants enter in ninth grade, although applications to the tenth and eleventh grades are considered. Positions in the twelfth grade are not available.

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A Message From Our Alumni, to learn more about the Academy.

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What Our Students Have to Say...

"Because the school is fairly small, each class provides a special opportunity to form a relationship with the teacher. Each teacher has an invested interest in each student and works to ensure each student's success. For example, not only do my teachers encourage me to call them at home if I have any questions, but I have gone to multiple teachers’ houses for review sessions and end-of-the-year celebrations. So, not only do you have friends to help out, but teachers are always there for you." Shira Redlich, senior. Read more...

"I can honestly never remember a time that I felt lonely in this school because someone is always willing to forgo their homework during a free period and rally me until I feel better. High school can be tough, especially in terms of academics, but ICJA stresses the importance of finding a balance between extracurricular activities, school work, and—of course—having some sort of social life." Ronit Goldberg, senior. Read more...

"The Academy is a school based on balance, striving to create a balance socially, educationally, extracurricularly and religiously." Adir Pinchot, senior. Read more...




"Some students are also not the first of their family to attend the Ida Crown Jewish Academy. Many siblings will attend the Academy at the same time, which leads to a whole section of the yearbook being dedicated to the familial connections at the Academy. Many students are also second or third generation Academy students. The Academy’s foundation is held up by the many alumni that send their children to high school in the familiar familial atmosphere that they themselves experienced during high school." Efrat Chez, senior. Read more...