Robert M. Beren Academy

Robert M. Beren Academy is a private Modern Orthodox Jewish primary and secondary school at 11333 Cliffwood Drive in Houston, Texas, United States.

Main entrance

Robert M. Beren Academy is located near the Willow Meadows and Willowbend neighborhoods. The school covers preschool through grade 12 and includes an elementary Montessori program.

The school, previously named Hebrew Academy, is an independent Jewish school. Roselyn Bell, author of the "Houston" entry in The Jewish Traveler: Hadassah Magazine's Guide to the World's Jewish Communities and Sights, wrote that the Hebrew Academy has "Orthodox leanings".[1]

It is affiliated with Yeshiva University in New York City.[2]

History

Robert M. Beren Academy was founded in 1969 as the South Texas Hebrew Academy; the original campus was located at South Braeswood at Chimney Rock. In 1980, the school was renamed Hebrew Academy. In 1988, the school was again renamed to Robert M. Beren Academy after the Israel Henry Beren Foundation donated to the school.[3]

After a six million-dollar capital campaign, the school moved into its 54,000-square-foot (5,000 m2) campus at 11333 Cliffwood in 1999.[3]

In 2007 Robert M. Beren, whom the school was named after, donated $1 million to the school. Other individuals donated another $1 million at the same time.[2]

In February 2012, Beren Academy's boys basketball team reached the semifinals of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state tournament, but withdrew from the semifinal game, which had been scheduled for Friday evening during the Jewish Sabbath, after TAPPS refused the school's request to reschedule the game for earlier in the day.[4][5] However, after some of the parents of the team members filed a lawsuit in a Dallas court, TAPPS relented and granted them the opportunity to reschedule the game.[6] Beren won the rescheduled semifinal game, but lost in the state championship.[7]

In Fall 2012, Rabbi Perry Tirschwell assumed the position of Executive Director. Dr. Paul Oberman is the current head of school.

Student body and operations

As of 2006 it had 270 students;[3] As of 2008 the school had 325 students. Annual tuition in 2008 ranged from $11,000 to $15,000. In 2017, annual high school tuition was $30,000. Most students are on financial aid.[8] Though the school is an Orthodox Jewish institution, about 40% of families do not self-identify as Orthodox. The Orthodox families live in a very tight-knit community, all within walking distance to the Synagogue. There is a strong emphasis placed on family and community. 70% of RMBA graduates choose to spend a gap year continuing their Judaic studies in Israel before beginning college. 10% of RMBA graduates attend Ivy League universities. The high school faculty consists of 23 educators, 17 of whom hold advanced degrees.

Curriculum and academic achievement

The students have standard curricula, Hebrew language courses, and Judaic studies.[3]

As of 2006 the percentage of students who achieved National Merit Scholar status was 15%, and the school's average SAT score was 1279.[3]

In 2005 the school's board installed a Montessori program. One year late, 16 students in grades 1-3 participated in it.[3]

Programs

In January 2009 Beren was scheduled to start a pilot program, Yad B'Yad ("Hand in Hand"), in which students with disabilities are mainstreamed into the student body by attending classes every week, with 90 minutes per week.[8]

Notable Alumni

Mindy Finn

Rabbi Shlomo Brody

See also

References
  • Bell, Roselyn. "Houston." In: Tigay, Alan M. (editor) The Jewish Traveler: Hadassah Magazine's Guide to the World's Jewish Communities and Sights. Rowman & Littlefield, January 1, 1994. p. 215-220. ISBN 1568210787, 9781568210780.
    • Content also in: Tigay, Alan M. Jewish Travel-Prem. Broadway Books, January 18, 1987. ISBN 0385241984, 9780385241984.

Notes
  1. Bell, p. 218.
  2. "Beren Academy receives $2 million in donations." Houston Chronicle. Wednesday August 22, 2007. Retrieved on April 11, 2016.
  3. Arlene Nisson Lassin, "Beren Academy marks 35 years", Houston Chronicle, September 14, 2006.
  4. Mary Pilon, "Jewish Team Refuses to Play During Sabbath, Loses Trip to Semifinals", The New York Times, February 27, 2012.
  5. Angel Verdejo, "Sabbath puts end to Beren Academy's promising season", Houston Chronicle, February 27, 2012.
  6. Randy Jennings, "Jewish HS granted restraining order", ESPN.com, March 1, 2012.
  7. Randy Jennings, "Beren Academy loses in state finals", ESPN.com, March 4, 2012.
  8. Radcliffe, Jennifer. "Jewish academy expands for students with disabilities." Houston Chronicle. Saturday November 29, 2008. Retrieved on April 11, 2016.

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