Gain exclusive insight into life at The Calgary Jewish Academy from our carefully curated video and written reviews that deliver in-depth insider info from parents, alumni and students.
Our Perspective on The Calgary Jewish Academy
The Calgary Jewish Academy (CJA) is a central part of Calgary’s Jewish community. It offers an exceptional foundation in both academic excellence and Jewish identity. Guided by its purpose to help students grow into capable, caring citizens, CJA blends rigorous academics with deep-rooted values such as courage, justice, gratitude, respect, community, and loving kindness. Established in 1987 through the merger of the city’s earliest Jewish schools, dating back to 1912, the CJA continues a proud century-long tradition of Jewish education and leadership. Students experience a vibrant school life enriched by athletics, creative exploration, and meaningful engagement with Jewish traditions. Daily routines, such as singing Hatikvah and celebrating Kabbalat Shabbat, nurture a shared sense of belonging. Through local and travel-based learning experiences, students develop curiosity, empathy, and a lifelong connection to their faith, heritage, and broader community—living out the school’s vision to educate both the mind and the heart.
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Get crucial behind-the-scenes information about The Calgary Jewish Academy from video interviews with probing questions that we recorded live with parents, current students, and recent alumni.
JK to Gr. 3, JK to Gr. 7 (current) — Watch our parent interview with Michelle Jacobson to get the inside scoop on what it’s like to have a child attend The Calgary Jewish Academy.
OUR KIDS verifies every review by confirming the reviewer’s identity and their firsthand experience with the school. Learn more
Dive deeply into the real culture of The Calgary Jewish Academy with reviews we’ve structured to highlight only the most valuable insights and opinions submitted by parents, students, and alumni.
K (current) — Our son recently joined CJA, and our experience so far has been incredibly positive. Our child ...
In our experience, the school leadership and staff create a very positive and supportive environment for both students and parents. Communication with parents has been very strong, which we really appreciate. Our child’s tea...
One thing that really stands out in the teaching at CJA is the respectful way the teachers interact with the children. They speak to them calmly, patiently, and with genuine respect. Even when guiding behaviour or helping a ch...
We have been very impressed with the academic approach at CJA. Even at a young age, there is a clear emphasis on building strong foundations for learning while still keeping the experience engaging and age-appropriate. The pro...
We appreciate that CJA gives children opportunities to experience a variety of activities beyond the classroom. Our child is exposed to different kinds of experiences and learning opportunities that we would not necessarily be...
One thing that stands out to us about the student environment at CJA is the strong emphasis on teaching children how to treat one another with respect. It feels like the school places real importance on helping students learn ...
Our child truly enjoys going to CJA. On school holidays, he is sometimes genuinely disappointed that there is no school, which says a lot about how positive his experience has been. He really enjoys the daily activities, the l...
One thing we really appreciate about the community at CJA is how much the school involves parents in school life. There are many opportunities throughout the year for parents to come and watch the children or take part in spec...
The school is located in a quiet neighbourhood, which creates a calm and safe environment for the children. Security is clearly taken seriously, which gives us peace of mind as parents. The school also has playground areas for...
Our experience with the admissions process at CJA was very positive. The process itself was not complicated and felt clear and well-organized. What stood out to us was the personal communication with the school staff throughou...
We chose CJA because we were looking for a school that offers both strong education and a warm, supportive environment. It was important for us to find a place where our child could learn about Jewish values and heritage while...
CJA has aligned very well with our expectations. We were hoping to find a school with a strong sense of community, a caring environment, and a place where Jewish values and heritage are part of everyday learning. CJA has truly...
