JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL
PROFILE 2025-26
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 2025-2026 school year, enrollment is 135 students drawn from over 20 communities throughout Chicago and its suburbs. Roughly 80% of our students advance to Rochelle Zell from Jewish day schools. The remaining students attended local public and private schools before Rochelle Zell.
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES 2021- 2025 (bold denotes matriculation)
American University
Bates College
Beloit College
Binghamton University
Boston University
Bradley University
Brandeis University
Brown University
Bryn Mawr College
Butler University
University of California-Irvine
University of California-San Diego
University of California-Santa Barbara
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
University of Central Florida
Chapman University
College of Charleston
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati
Clark University
Colgate University
University of Colorado Boulder
Colorado School of Mines
Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University and Tel Aviv University Dual Degree Program
University of Connecticut
Dartmouth College
University of Delaware
Denison University
University of Denver
DePaul University
Drexel University
Duke University
Elmira College
Elon University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Emerson College
Emory University
FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Florida State University
University of Florida
University of Georgia
Grinnell College
Harvard University
High Point University
Hofstra University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois State University
Indiana University
University of Iowa
Ithaca College
Johns Hopkins University
Johnson & Wales University
University of Kansas
Knox College
Lake Forest College
Lawrence University
Lehigh University
Lewis & Clark College
Loyola University Chicago
Macalester College
Marquette University
University of Maryland-College Park
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
McGill University
Miami University-Oxford
University of Miami
Michigan State University
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Minnesota
University of Missouri
Mount Holyoke College
Muhlenberg College
New York University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
University of Notre Dame
Oberlin College
Ohio Wesleyan University
Pennsylvania State University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Puget Sound
Purdue University
Reed College
Reichman University (IDC Herzliya)
Rice University
University of Richmond
Rochester Institute of Technology
University of Rochester
Rutgers University
San Diego State University
Santa Clara University
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Skidmore College
Smith College
University of South Carolina
University of South Florida
University of Southern California
Stanford University
Syracuse University
The University of Tampa
The University of Tennessee
The University of Texas at Austin
The George Washington University
The New School
The Ohio State University
Touro College
Trinity College
Tufts University
Tulane University of Louisiana
United States Military Academy West Point
University of Oregon
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
Wake Forest University
Washington University in St Louis
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Whitman College
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Yale University
Yeshiva University
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 2 AP classes prior to senior year unless they are ahead in the math track. 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)
*Students who participate in a team sport are exempt from Physical Education for that year.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW AND OFFERINGS
ENGLISH Lit and Comp I
Lit and Comp I (H)
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Global Studies
Global Studies (H)
MATHEMATICS
Algebra I
Geometry
Geometry (H)
Albebra II
Algebra II/Trig (H)
SCIENCE Biology
Lit and Comp II
Lit and Comp II (H)
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)
Chemistry Chemistry (H)
American Literature
• Physical Education/Health* (4 years)
AP English Language and Composition
United States History
AP United States History
Trigonometry/Statistics
Calculus/Statistics
Pre Calculus
Pre Calculus (H)
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
Physics Physics (H)
Engineering Physics
World Literature
AP English Literature and Composition
1st semester: History of Israel
2nd semester:
Psychology
AP Psychology AP Microeconomics
Trigonometry/Statistics
Pre Calculus
Pre Calculus (H)
Calculus/Statistics
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
Finite Math
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
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
WORLD LANGUAGE
ELECTIVE
ARTS & ELECTIVES
Bible 9 Talmud 9
Spanish I
Model UN STEAM
Performing Arts
Studio Art
Debate
Computer Science (Introduction 1-2, Introduction to Java, and AP Computer Science)
GRADE-POINT AVERAGES
Bible 10 Talmud 10
Spanish II
Model UN STEAM
Performing Arts
Studio Art
Debate
Computer Science (Introduction 1-2, Introduction to Java, and AP Computer Science)
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 2026 (40 students):
• Top Quarter: 3.96 – 4.0
• Average: 3.68
• Range: 3.02- 4.0
Bible 11 Talmud 11
Spanish III
Model UN Newspaper Yearbook
Theater Arts
Studio Art
Debate
Culinary Arts
Creative Expression
Computer Science (Introduction 1-2, Introduction to Java, and AP Computer Science)
NATIONAL MERIT
Bible 12/Rabbinics Seminar
Modern Jewish Thought
Modern Jewish Thought (H)
Spanish IV
AP Spanish Language & Culture
Model UN
Culinary Arts
Newspaper Yearbook
Theater Arts
Studio Art
Debate
Creative Expression
Computer Science
(Introduction 1-2, Introduction to Java, and AP Computer Science)
One member of the Class of 2025 received the National Merit Scholarship.
Two members of the Class of 2026 will be considered for National Merit.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
In 2025, we had 55 students take 117 AP exams across 13 subject areas:
• 36% of scores were 5
• 38% of scores were 4
• 93% of scores were 3 or higher