ROCHELLE ZELL JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL
PROFILE 2023-24
CEEB CODE 143-009
MISSION
Rochelle Zell Jewish High School creates a culture of academic excellence that inspires and prepares our students to think critically, achieve their full potential, and live Judaism as responsible and involved citizens in the modern world.
LEADERSHIP
Tony Frank, Head of School tfrank@rzjhs.org
Jason Loeb, Academic Dean jloeb@rzjhs.org
Ellen Grindel, Co-Director of College Counseling egrindel1@rzjhs.org
Jessica Rosenberg, Co-Director of College Counseling jrosenberg1@rzjhs.org
GENERAL INFORMATION
Rochelle Zell Jewish High School (RZJHS), located 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, is a private, full-day, co-educational high school for students in grades nine through twelve. Rochelle Zell opened its doors in 2001 to 26 students. In the fall of 2007, Rochelle Zell moved to a permanent, state-of-the-art campus located on 7.3 acres in Deerfield. In November 2015, Chicagoland Jewish High School changed its name to Rochelle Zell Jewish High School. For the 2023-2024 school year, enrollment is 153 students drawn from over 20 communities throughout Chicago and its suburbs. Roughly three-quarters of our students advance to Rochelle Zell from Jewish day schools. The remaining students attended local public and private schools before Rochelle Zell.
GRADE-POINT AVERAGES
Rochelle Zell Jewish High School does not compute class rank or weighted grade-point averages. Arts & Elective courses and Physical Education/Health are not computed in the grade-point average.
Based on unweighted grade point averages, semesters 1-6, for the Class of 2024 (43 students):
• Top Quarter: 3.96 – 4.0
• Mean: 3.7
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Students at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School take a robust dual curriculum which includes both General Studies and Jewish Studies. Due to these requirements, students taking the highest level of rigor will not be able to take more than 1 AP class prior to senior year unless they are ahead in the math track. Junior year Honors American Literature is taught with the AP curriculum, and 86% of the students take the AP exam, with 91% of students scoring 3 or above.
The academic core curriculum at RZJHS is comprised of:
• English (4 years)
• Social Science (4 years)
• Mathematics (3 years min)
• Science (3 years min)
• Hebrew (4 years)
• Jewish Studies - Bible (3.5 years)
• Jewish Studies - Talmud (3.5 years)
• Jewish Thought (1 year)
• Arts and Electives (3 years)
• Physical Education/Health* (4 years)
*Students who participate in a team sport are exempt from Physical Education for that year.
COVID impact: class of 2024 was hybrid during their freshman year (2020-2021). Starting fall of 2021, entire school was back to in person instruction.
NATIONAL MERIT
Two members of the Class of 2023 were named finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Four members of the Class of 2024 qualify for entry into the National Merit Scholarship competition.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
In 2023, we had 57 Students take 118 AP exams with the following results:
• 27% of scores were 5
• 34% of scores were 4
• 88% of scores were 3 or higher
1095 Lake Cook Road | Deerfield, IL 60015 847.470.6700 | tigers@rzjhs.org | www.rzjhs.org
STANDARDIZED TESTING
90% of the class of 2024 took either the SAT or ACT. From 2020-2023:
• Average ACT composite score: 29.2
• Middle 50%: 26-33
• Mean: 29.2
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW AND OFFERINGS
SUBJECT 9TH
ENGLISH Lit and Comp I
SOCIAL SCIENCE Global Studies 1-2
Global Studies 1-2 (H)
MATHEMATICS Algebra I
Geometry
Geometry (H)
Albebra II
Algebra II/Trig (H)
SCIENCE Biology
1st semester: Civics
Civics (H)
2nd semester:
Jewish History
Jewish History (H)
Pre Calculus
Pre Calculus (H)
Algebra II/Trig
Algebra II/Trig (H)
Algebra II
Geometry
Geometry (H)
United States History
AP United States History
1st semester: History of Israel
2nd semester: Psychology
AP Psychology
AP Macroeconomics
Chemistry Chemistry (H)
Trigonometry/Statistics
Calculus/Statistics
Pre Calculus
Pre Calculus (H)
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
1st semester:
Multivariable Calculus
2nd semester:
Linear Algebra
Physics Physics (H)
Engineering Physics
AP Chemistry
AP Biology
Trigonometry/Statistics
Pre Calculus
Pre Calculus (H)
Calculus/Statistics
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
AP Biology Physics (H)
AP Physics
Anatomy and Physiology
HEBREW Four consecutive years of Hebrew are required from time of enrollment. We have 9 levels of Hebrew available, none of which are offered at an Honors or AP level
JEWISH STUDIES
Rabbinics Seminar
Modern Jewish Thought
1st semester:
Bible 12
WORLD LANGUAGE
ELECTIVE Spanish I Spanish II
ARTS & ELECTIVES Model UN
STEAM
Broadcast-Media Seminar
Performing Arts
Studio Art
Debate
Computer Science (Introduction
1-2, Introduction to Java, and AP Computer Science)
Model UN
STEAM
Broadcast-Media Seminar
Performing Arts
Studio Art
Debate
Computer Science (Introduction
1-2, Introduction to Java, and AP Computer Science)
Spanish III
Model UN
STEAM
Journalism & Publications
Performing Arts
Studio Art Debate
Computer Science (Introduction
1-2, Introduction to Java, and AP Computer Science)
Spanish IV
AP Spanish Language & Culture
Model UN
STEAM
Journalism & Publications
Performing Arts
Studio Art
Debate
Computer Science (Introduction
1-2, Introduction to Java, and AP Computer Science)
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