Beren boasting strong academic numbers
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At Houston’s Robert M. Beren Academy, having a dual curriculum of general studies and Judaics is a recipe for academic success.
The modern Orthodox day school is tied for fourth best among Houston-area schools in ACT composite scores for 2014.
Beren’s lower school scores equally as strong. This past year, for example, eighth-graders at the school ranked in the top 10 percent nationwide in standardized testing in the areas of verbal reasoning and mathematics. Similarly, 75 percent of fifth-graders at Beren scored equally as high in the same areas, including in quantitative reasoning.
According to school leaders, the strong numbers are consistent, year to year.
Beren’s academic prowess perhaps is the best-kept secret at a school better known for its Judaics program, strong connection to the State of Israel and its exploits on the basketball court.
“Having a dual curriculum at the school is the secret to our students’ academic success,” said Beren head of school, Rabbi Aharoni Carmel.
The quality of education at Beren has translated to an impressive college acceptance record. Beren graduates currently are matriculated at Harvard, Penn, NYU, Sterns Honors College, Emory University, Yeshiva University, UT Austin, Texas A&M and others.
Rabbi Carmel and his front office staff said that academics and Judaics at Beren enjoy a symbiotic relationship.
“The dual curriculum encourages high-level, critical thinking,” said Leigh Levine, director of development and marketing at the school and a parent of a Beren student. “You might think that having to split your time between curricula would be a hindrance but, in fact, it encourages our students to strive to do better.”
Gavi Roisman, the school’s director of admissions and a Beren parent, added, “It teaches our students to develop a strong work ethic.
“A lot of graduates come back and say that college is easier than high school,” she said.
Torah literacy begets literacy in language, math, science and the arts – and vice-versa, according to Beren educators and students alike.
College prep
Beren’s ACT numbers last year came in just behind those of Kinkaid, St. John’s and The Woodland’s John Cooper School. Beren tied with fellow Jewish day school, Emery/Weiner, for fourth and beat out schools like Episcopal, St. Stephen’s and the best from HISD, including Carnegie Vanguard, which came in a full two points behind Beren.
Beren graduates are unique in that more than 70 percent, on average, enroll in a gap-year program in Israel between high school graduation and college. This year, the number is nearly 90 percent.
During the fall semester of their senior year, Beren students spend two weeks in Israel. They use that opportunity to check out study-abroad programs and yeshivot and to conduct one-on-one interviews.
Students said they return from their Israel experiences more mature and ready to succeed in college and career. Some students decide to stay in Israel, either to make aliyah, to serve in the IDF or both.
Growth spurt
Beren boasts the most comprehensive Jewish day school program in Greater Houston, beginning with pre-K (15-months) and running through to 12th grade. And yet, it maintains a comparatively low student-to-teacher ratio of 7:1.
The school is enjoying its highest-ever retention rate among students, from grade to grade, at more than 90 percent. As a result, for the first time in nearly a decade, student enrollment is set to break 300.
The growth spurt partially can be attributed to a recent rise in the number of Orthodox families moving to Houston. Younger grades at the school reflect that trend. However, the overall student body remains diverse, with some classes comprised of as many students from non-Orthodox families as those who are.
Beren also has benefited from the growing number of Israeli families who’ve recently moved to Houston, Beren’s head of school, included. In fact, the school now is home to so many international students that, for the first time in its history, Beren qualifies for state funding for an English Language Learners program through its resource center.
‘Best-fit approach’
Beren was among the first Jewish day schools in the country to offer Montessori classes in elementary grades.
But, what makes its program truly unique is that it offers families a choice between Montessori and traditional tracks for first through fifth grades.
“In our lower school, we offer a best-fit academic approach,” Roisman said.
“All the data show that kids in both programs [Montessori and traditional] score equally as well,” she added.
Participation in school sports, clubs and extracurricular activities has remained strong among Beren high school students. In recent years, administrators have worked to offer similar opportunities to students in the lower school, as well. Beren now offers a basketball clinic for elementary grades and is home to a young chess club. Last month, the school hosted a chess competition with Beth Yeshurun Day School.
Having the right faculty is crucial to fostering a healthy learning environment, according to Rabbi Carmel.
The school recently overhauled its teacher evaluation system and exponentially grew the number of classroom evaluations its principals conduct each month.
“There’s no way to improve unless you get constant feedback,” Rabbi Carmel said. “Success in the classroom hinges on three things: Teachers, teachers and teachers.”
The modern Orthodox day school is tied for fourth best among Houston-area schools in ACT composite scores for 2014.
Beren’s lower school scores equally as strong. This past year, for example, eighth-graders at the school ranked in the top 10 percent nationwide in standardized testing in the areas of verbal reasoning and mathematics. Similarly, 75 percent of fifth-graders at Beren scored equally as high in the same areas, including in quantitative reasoning.
According to school leaders, the strong numbers are consistent, year to year.
Beren’s academic prowess perhaps is the best-kept secret at a school better known for its Judaics program, strong connection to the State of Israel and its exploits on the basketball court.
“Having a dual curriculum at the school is the secret to our students’ academic success,” said Beren head of school, Rabbi Aharoni Carmel.
The quality of education at Beren has translated to an impressive college acceptance record. Beren graduates currently are matriculated at Harvard, Penn, NYU, Sterns Honors College, Emory University, Yeshiva University, UT Austin, Texas A&M and others.
Rabbi Carmel and his front office staff said that academics and Judaics at Beren enjoy a symbiotic relationship.
“The dual curriculum encourages high-level, critical thinking,” said Leigh Levine, director of development and marketing at the school and a parent of a Beren student. “You might think that having to split your time between curricula would be a hindrance but, in fact, it encourages our students to strive to do better.”
Gavi Roisman, the school’s director of admissions and a Beren parent, added, “It teaches our students to develop a strong work ethic.
“A lot of graduates come back and say that college is easier than high school,” she said.
Torah literacy begets literacy in language, math, science and the arts – and vice-versa, according to Beren educators and students alike.
College prep
Beren’s ACT numbers last year came in just behind those of Kinkaid, St. John’s and The Woodland’s John Cooper School. Beren tied with fellow Jewish day school, Emery/Weiner, for fourth and beat out schools like Episcopal, St. Stephen’s and the best from HISD, including Carnegie Vanguard, which came in a full two points behind Beren.
Beren graduates are unique in that more than 70 percent, on average, enroll in a gap-year program in Israel between high school graduation and college. This year, the number is nearly 90 percent.
During the fall semester of their senior year, Beren students spend two weeks in Israel. They use that opportunity to check out study-abroad programs and yeshivot and to conduct one-on-one interviews.
Students said they return from their Israel experiences more mature and ready to succeed in college and career. Some students decide to stay in Israel, either to make aliyah, to serve in the IDF or both.
Growth spurt
Beren boasts the most comprehensive Jewish day school program in Greater Houston, beginning with pre-K (15-months) and running through to 12th grade. And yet, it maintains a comparatively low student-to-teacher ratio of 7:1.
The school is enjoying its highest-ever retention rate among students, from grade to grade, at more than 90 percent. As a result, for the first time in nearly a decade, student enrollment is set to break 300.
The growth spurt partially can be attributed to a recent rise in the number of Orthodox families moving to Houston. Younger grades at the school reflect that trend. However, the overall student body remains diverse, with some classes comprised of as many students from non-Orthodox families as those who are.
Beren also has benefited from the growing number of Israeli families who’ve recently moved to Houston, Beren’s head of school, included. In fact, the school now is home to so many international students that, for the first time in its history, Beren qualifies for state funding for an English Language Learners program through its resource center.
‘Best-fit approach’
Beren was among the first Jewish day schools in the country to offer Montessori classes in elementary grades.
But, what makes its program truly unique is that it offers families a choice between Montessori and traditional tracks for first through fifth grades.
“In our lower school, we offer a best-fit academic approach,” Roisman said.
“All the data show that kids in both programs [Montessori and traditional] score equally as well,” she added.
Participation in school sports, clubs and extracurricular activities has remained strong among Beren high school students. In recent years, administrators have worked to offer similar opportunities to students in the lower school, as well. Beren now offers a basketball clinic for elementary grades and is home to a young chess club. Last month, the school hosted a chess competition with Beth Yeshurun Day School.
Having the right faculty is crucial to fostering a healthy learning environment, according to Rabbi Carmel.
The school recently overhauled its teacher evaluation system and exponentially grew the number of classroom evaluations its principals conduct each month.
“There’s no way to improve unless you get constant feedback,” Rabbi Carmel said. “Success in the classroom hinges on three things: Teachers, teachers and teachers.”