Weizmann Day School

I have 2 kids at WDS, and all of us are so happy with the school. We chose WDS because it has high academic standards and excellent teachers, and children who learn the values of inclusiveness and tikkun olam («repairing the world»). The school welcomes students from a wide variety of backgrounds and identities – religious, cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, gender, etc. The teachers get to know each student well and put extra time toward providing enrichment or help. Students of all ages read to each other, play with other, and help each other. Our children are happy, secure, and love learning.

My son loves Weizmann, as do we! We chose this school because of its very successful combination of high academic standards and high emphasis on community values. At Weizmann, you also see a true interdisciplinary curriculum where math, art, science, music, language, and other subjects are well crafted in a whole piece that exposes our children to learning in a very unique way. This is also one of a very small number of schools I’ve found where the kids receive daily foreign language instruction from kindergarten up. Hebrew is additionally woven throughout the curriculum and daily life of the school, so it feels more like a «second language» than a «foreign» one. The student body is quite diverse, with quite a few interfaith families and ones with no Jewish background at all; in this it reminds me of good Episcopalian or Catholic parochial schools which attract kids from all faiths.
And I’m especially thankful for the middle school, which provided an almost seamless transition. Lots of mixed-​grade individuated instruction, continuing daily Hebrew instruction — I’m so amazed with my son’s level of speaking and writing fluency after 2 years, particularly when my husband and I are not native speakers. And the kids participate in a weekly off-​site learning «expedition» that is actually tailored to their current studies. I’m not sure where the teachers come up with so many relevant enrichment activities!
Weizmann’s facilities don’t compare with those of some other neighborhood private or parochial schools. But its community and «heart» are stronger than others we researched. Children at Weizmann are motivated and eager to learn; the teachers are dedicated and caring. This is truly the «little school that could», a hidden gem in Pasadena.

I can’t say enough good things about Weizmann Day School. The teachers are truly exceptional — in talent and dedication — and really get to know each child. (It was her Kg teacher that suggested our daughter take violin lessons based on the interest she observed in school — and it is now a big part of our daughter’s life!) The curriculum has the perfect balance of general academics, Jewish studies and Hebrew language and also important lessons in Jewish values and ethics and how to behave as part of a caring community and practice tikkun olam (making the world a better place). The school practices what they preach by being an accepting, positive and supportive atmosphere for a diverse set of kids and families, not just cookie cutter. The whole school community seems well grounded and down to earth and the kids are wonderful. And the Middle School takes advantage of its small size by offering weekly educational outings (to museums, courthouse, plays, cultural venues, food banks etc) that bring classroom learning to life. We love this school so much!