Admissions

תנאי קבלה

Jewish leadership begins here.

Admission to JLA is based on the combination of a student’s demonstrated academic ability and interest, as well as their character and potential for leadership.

While every JLA student must be able to thrive in an academically rigorous educational environment, success at JLA is predicated on far more than a student’s test taking ability. Therefore, the admissions process features multiple components designed to help us know each unique applicant deeply and holistically.

These include an optional portfolio to demonstrate a student’s talents and passions, a character assessment tool, and onsite collaborative activities, in addition to more standard measurement tools such as grades, standardized testing, and letters of recommendation.

Admissions Timeline

September

Applications Open Sept. 5th, 2023

  • Personal Statement
  • Teacher Recommendations
  • Portfolio
  • Transcript
  • Character Skills Snapshot (CSS)

Oct- Feb

Visit 1 to campus:

  • MAP Testing*                10/29, 11/12, 12/03, 1/7, 2/4

*Applicants will attend one of the  available dates.

Visit 2 to campus:

  • Parent and Student Interviews
  • Writing Sample
  • Collaborative Challenge

Jan & Feb

Application Deadlines

First Round – Jan 15th, 2024

Second Round – Feb 19th, 2024

March

First Round Decisions Announced


Application Process

We are now accepting applications for remaining spots on a  rolling basis based on space availability. Apply here. 

September
Complete and submit a new student application online, including the following documents*:

  • Personal Statement
  • Teacher Recommendations
  • Transcript
  • Portfolio (optional)
  • Copy of your child’s birth certificate
  • Character Skills Snapshot Test (CSS)**

*Applicants will only be considered for admission once all of the above documents have been completed. 

** Click here to learn more and sign up for the CSS Test

October – February
Applicants who have submitted a complete application, including supporting documentation, will be invited to participate in the following steps:

Visit to JLA Offices for:

  • Parent Interview
  • Student Interview
  • Collaborative Challenge
  • Writing Sample
  • MAP Testing

March
First Round of Admission Decisions Announced

Questions? Contact JLA’s Admissions Office at 305-306-2660 or email us: admissions@jlamiami.org

Don’t think you can afford JLA? Think again.

If applying for Indexed Tuition

  • Submit your indexed tuition application through our online portal, including all required tax forms and supporting documents by January 26, 2024.
  • If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact JLA’s Business  Office at 305-306-2660 or email us at jsharp@jlamiami.org

Application Process

01. Create an Account in Our Portal

Visit the JLA admissions portal and create an account. 

02. Begin Application & Schedule MAP Test

Start your application in our portal, complete your family profile, sign up for MAP testing (select one of the available dates in the portal), and submit the application fee. The MAP test is an adaptive assessment tool meant to evaluate a students’ individual level of reading, language usage and mathematics.

Please email admissions@jlamiami.org to request an application fee waiver.

03. Complete Application

Submit all required checklist items, including teacher recommendation forms, education history form, release of records and official transcripts.

Prospective students can also can upload an optional portfolio that demonstrates their talents and passions.

*Applicants will only be considered for admission once all of the above documents have been completed.

**International students must take the TOEFL test to demonstrate English proficiency. All international transcripts must be translated and evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation service. 

 

04. Campus Day

By Invitation Only. * Visit the JLA campus for parent and student interviews.

Applicants will participate in a collaborative challenge, provide a writing sample and tour our campus. Parents have an interview with the Head of School.

*Only candidates whose files meet JLA’s admission criteria will be invited for an interview.

05. Application Deadline

Application deadlines for the 2025-2026 school year:

  • Round 1 – January 13, 2025
  • Round 2 – March 7, 2025

06. Admissions Decisions

Admissions decisions for the 2025-2026 school year will be announced:

  • Round 1 – February 6, 2025
  • Round 2 – March 26, 2025

Admissions FAQs

Our middle school is capped at 45 students per grade and our upper school is capped at 50 students per grade, with an average class size of 15 students.

The online application checklist  goes live on September 3rd, 2025.

In order to be considered for Round 1, all checklist items must be submitted by  January 13th, 2025. Round 1 admission decisions will be announced on February 6, 2025.

In order to be considered for Round 2, all checklist items must be submitted by March 7th, 2025. Round 2 admission decisions will be announced on March 26, 2025.

We have purposely provided a long application period in order to allow families enough time to complete the application. If you missed the deadline, please contact admissions@jlamiami.org, however we cannot guarantee that your application will be considered.

There is a $100 non-refundable application fee per applicant, which can be paid online when you submit your application.

By contacting admissions@jlamiami.org.

A JLA student will possess exemplary character traits, high academic ability, a genuine interest in learning, and a passion for knowledge. In addition, they will demonstrate the potential for leadership and a genuine desire to grow Jewishly. Moreover, the family of a JLA student must be supportive of the school’s mission and excited to join the JLA community as positive, contributing members.

Your child should apply. Every child has strengths and weaknesses and we fully understand that at JLA. 

Absolutely. These evaluations can be very helpful to the JLA admissions team and provide us with pertinent information required to assist your child and determine their learning needs.

Please contact our school registrar at:  registrar@jlamiami.org.

We want to know as much as we can about all of our prospective applicants. The portfolio, though not required, is an opportunity for a student to showcase their talents and passions. Students can be creative with their portfolio, but they must be able to submit it to us digitally.

We welcome anecdotal reports, mastery, and competency based progress reports. Please ask the school to send us whatever progress report they use to measure student growth.

Yes, we can only accept transcripts in English.

All international transcripts must be translated and evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation service. 

The MAP assessment is an adaptive standardized test which will automatically adjust the questions to a student’s ability so as to provide a more accurate representation of their current level and ability. Applicants will be assessed in Math, Language and Reading Comprehension.  The test is not timed but generally students take between 1 and 1.5 hrs. to complete it.

The MAP test is a crucial component of our admissions process, as it ensures an even playing field amongst all applicants. It is therefore mandatory.

We want to see your child’s most current results. As such,  every applicant must be tested during the application process at the JLA campus.

The Character Skills Snapshot is an assessment tool developed by the makers of the SSAT to measure critical qualities such as empathy, integrity, agreeableness and grit. For more information please visit https://www.admission.org/services/character-skills-snapshot.

There is no preparation required for any of the assessments we will be conducting. Our best advice is to encourage your child to relax, be themselves, and have fun.

No. Admission to JLA is based on a holistic assessment of every student and the school’s assessment of their likelihood to succeed in our program. Academically, JLA is looking for students who demonstrate that they can succeed in honors level courses across all disciplines.

Many academically able and ambitious students have proven that they can succeed in an Honors level English Course even if English is their second language. 

International students must take the TOEFL test to demonstrate English proficiency.

JLA accepts the Florida State Universal School Choice Vouchers as well as  FTC, FES-EO and FES-UA scholarships, administered through Step Up for Students. Please visit https://teachcoalition.org/fl-scholarship for more information, or contact the business office at 305-306-2660 ext. 102 or jsharp@jlamiami.org.

No. JLA is committed to accepting mission appropriate students who seek to grow in their understanding of and appreciation for Judaism, irrespective of any prior experience with Jewish learning and irrespective of their or their family’s personal level of observance. Students whose mother is Jewish or who have had an Orthodox conversion, regardless of current affiliation, observance or prior knowledge are welcome at JLA. For the purposes of kashrut, tefillah, and other areas of Jewish law, JLA operates in accordance with a Modern Orthodox approach.

Prior knowledge of Hebrew is not a prerequisite for acceptance. Conversational Hebrew is a mandatory class for all JLA students and an assessment will be conducted to place the student in the appropriate level.

Yes, while JLA welcomes Jewish students from all backgrounds irrespective of their observance level or background knowledge, students must have been born to a Jewish mother as defined by Orthodox Judaism, or must have converted with a reputable Orthodox Beit Din.

We consider each student individually regardless of sibling acceptance. It is critical to the success of our program that all students accepted to JLA be mission appropriate.

JLA follows Florida’s Immunization requirements in order to protect the community from potentially harmful and even fatal, vaccine-preventable diseases in accordance with Florida Statutes. As a Jewish Day School, religious exemptions are not accepted. 

To maintain the health and well-being of our students, JLA requires all students, entering any grade, to submit the DS680 immunization form as proof of vaccination, in accordance with Florida statute. The form must be completed by a state-authorized health care provider. JLA does not accept religious exemptions.

Interested in applying? Want to learn more?

Reach out and let us know.

We are now accepting applications for the ’25-’26 school year.

Visit Our Award Winning Campus

Click below to register for our upcoming Open House on September 29th.