History and Campus

JCHS began as a powerful dream imagined by visionaries Nancy Zimmerman Pechner and Noah Alper, who were committed to creating a vibrant, challenging, and nurturing place for their teens to learn.

History

Our school opened in the fall of 2001 on the grounds of Congregation Kol Shofar in Tiburon, California, with a freshman class of 21 students. 

In the fall of 2002, we moved into our current, permanent home in San Francisco. The site was purchased and renovated through the generosity of Keren Keshet – The Rainbow Foundation, a New York-based foundation dedicated to Jewish education.

We have thrived thanks to the encouragement and resources provided by Mem Dryan Bernstein, Arthur Fried, and Keren Keshet – The Rainbow Foundation. In the coming years, we are committed to drawing upon that encouragement and leadership to educate the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Hear about the earliest days of JCHS from our founders and earliest board members

The JCHS Campus

The JCHS campus features 19 classrooms, including three science laboratories. A spacious outdoor courtyard, terrace, organic garden and basketball court, performing arts theater, art studio, music studio, dance and yoga studio, and library complete the campus.

Security

JCHS is a gated campus designed to provide a safe environment for students, parents, faculty, and visitors. Equipped with 18 cameras strategically located around the property, our school is monitored 24 hours a day and has a security guard on site whenever the building is open.

JCHS has a closed campus policy. Students are not permitted to leave campus during the school day without parental permission.

Use of Facility

JCHS rents space to a variety of Jewish non-profits as well as neighborhood community groups, and offers a range of meeting spaces accommodating 10 to 400 people. Please contact David Joseph at 415.345.9777 x172 or email djoseph@jchsofthebay.org for more information.