Giving Back by Growing Forward: Expanding Einstein into Middle School
Rachel Blumenfeld, Head of School
At Albert Einstein Academy, we believe that education is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children—and one of the most powerful ways we can give back to our community. For more than 50 years, Einstein has nurtured young learners in Delaware’s Jewish community, helping them grow into confident, compassionate leaders grounded in Jewish values. Today, we are proud to give back in a new way: by expanding to include a middle school, beginning with sixth grade in the 2026–2027 school year.
Giving Back to Families Who Believe in Us
The families in our community have long expressed the desire for a Jewish middle school option that combines strong academics with a nurturing environment and a deep sense of identity. They also want their children to continue learning in a place where they are already known, loved, and challenged. Our expansion into middle school allows us to give back to our families by offering continuity—a seamless path that keeps children rooted in Jewish learning and thriving academically during their most formative years.
Giving Back to the Jewish Future
The decision to grow isn’t just about local demand—it’s grounded in ample research that shows that staying in a Jewish day school longer correlates with greater Jewish connection as adults.
- A large, national study (National Jewish Population Survey) finds that attending a Jewish day school for one to six years created measurable positive effects, but that attending for seven to 12 years resulted in students who were significantly more likely, even controlling for family background, to consider Judaism “very important” in their lives and to maintain ritual practice.
- The Jewish People Policy Institute meta-analysis concludes that “not giving one’s children any Jewish education whatsoever—especially in the pre–bar/bat mitzvah years (ages 10 to 13)—is associated with alienation from things Jewish.” This meta-analysis also confirms that each additional year of Jewish day school increases the likelihood of adult engagement in Jewish community, leadership, and lifelong friendships rooted in Jewish identity.
- Research from Prizmah and other Jewish agencies shows that day school graduates consistently report deeper Jewish friendships, stronger connections to Jewish institutions, and higher levels of engagement with Jewish community life as adults.
By opening a middle school, we are giving back not only to today’s students, but to tomorrow’s Jewish community.
Giving Back Through Excellence and Opportunity
The middle school will build on Einstein’s proven foundation of personalized, hands-on learning. Our middle school students will continue to experience rigorous instruction in math, science, humanities, and the arts, enhanced by innovative STEM opportunities, project-based learning, and critical-thinking challenges. They will also continue to develop fluency in the Hebrew language and to forge a strong connection to Judaism, ensuring that their education is both academically enriching and deeply rooted in Jewish tradition.
Giving Back to Community Life
Einstein’s expansion is more than a school initiative—it is an investment in the vitality of Jewish life across the Brandywine Valley. By extending our Jewish day school into the middle school years, we are building the foundation for a vibrant, connected, and enduring Jewish future.
Looking Ahead
Our Board of Directors’ unanimous vote to expand reflects a shared commitment: to give back to our children, our families, and our community by creating the opportunities they need and deserve. We know this growth will require investment—of energy, resources, and partnership—but we are inspired by the belief that our children deserve a Jewish day school that will guide them through these critical years.
The theme this year at Albert Einstein Academy is “adventure awaits.” Our middle school expansion is sure to be an adventure of giving back—for our students who are ready for the next challenge, for our families who have placed their trust in us, and for the Jewish future we are honored to help shape.
