Admissions

Tuition & Financial Aid

2025-2026 Tuition

Base Tuition	Per Year	Per Month
Pre-K	$20,000	$1,667
Grades K-5	$30,210	$2,518
Grades 6-8	$33,995	$2,833
Grades 9-11	$39,995	$3,333
Grade 12	$33,995	$2,833

$4.5 million awarded annually for tuition reduction and scholarships

Apply for Admission Now

SmartSwitch Grant/ SmartMove Grant
The Greater MetroWest Day School Initiative will award grants of $1,800 to each family making the Smart Switch from a non-day school (public school, private independent school or home-school environment) to a Greater MetroWest NJ Jewish Day School. Click to learn more.

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Additional Fees

After School Programs

Lower School students can optionally participate in either an aftercare program or an after school enrichment program. Costs vary per day/class.

Athletics
Students who participate in upper school athletic sports will be charged ($150) per sport, annually.

Building Maintenance Fee
Students in Grades 1-12 will be charged a one-time fee of $2,000 (or $1,000 in two payments). Families with more than one child enrolled will only be charged $2,000 (one time) in their lifetime in the school.

Security Fee
Students in Grades PK – 12 will be charged an annual fee of $500, families with three or more children will be capped at $1,200 for this fee.

Grade Level Activity Fees
Grade 5 ($100)
Grade 6 ($475)
Grade 7 ($300)
Grades 8-12 ($700)

Internship (Grade 12)
The cost for Grade 12 students to enroll in the February-May internships is $2,000.

Na'ale (Grade 9)
The cost for Grade 9 students to participate in the 10-day trip to Israel is $3,600. Financial assistance through the Eric F. Ross z'l Grant is available.

Neshama (Grade 12)
The cost for Grade 12 students to enroll in the three-month experience beginning in Poland and ending in Israel is $14,850 (inclusive of laundry and extra baggage fees). Financial assistance through the Eric F. Ross z'l Grant is available.
Bus Transportation

Round Trip
Bergen County $3,500
Essex County* $3,500
Middlesex County $3,500
Morris County $3,500
Passaic County $3,500
Union County $3,500

* West Orange and Livingston residents are eligible for busing provided by the towns. This fee schedule is for residents of other Essex County towns who require private transportation.

Message from the CFO/COO

Choosing a Jewish day school education for your child is an important decision, and we recognize the choice you have made to invest in your child’s Jewish education. The goal of Golda Och Academy's financial aid program is to close the gap between the total cost of a GOA education and what a family can afford. All GOA financial aid is need based.

We think of financial aid as an investment in your family. Like you, we look toward building on our rich community and traditions and endeavor to inspire and educate tomorrow’s leaders – your children. Here at Golda Och Academy, we work in partnership with every family to bring the cost of our incomparable education within reach.

Golda Och Academy is able to invest in the education of future Jewish leaders due to the extraordinary generosity of loyal donors and alumni. We are extremely grateful for the support of Paula and Jerry Gottesman Family Foundation and the Jane and Dan Och Family Foundation for bringing our middle income affordability program to life.

If you have questions, feel free to be in touch!

Jennifer Carlin, CFO/COO

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Jennifer Carlin

Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer

Which option is right for our family?

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Tuition MAX Program
We recommend applying for the Tuition MAX Program if your AGI is between $150,000 and $300,000, and you meet the following criteria:
- You have 90% W-2 income;
- You have less than $500,000 in liquid assets (excluding home equity);
- You do not have schedule C income; and
- You do not have schedule E income.
You can find your Adjusted Growth Income (AGI) on Line 11 of your IRS 1040 Form.

AGI (income plus 4% of assets other than pension and primary residence):

$150,000-199,999: 15%
$200,000-224,999 16%
$225,000-274,999 17%
$275,000-300,000 18%

The Greater MetroWest Jewish Day School Affordability Initiative (“Tuition MAX”) was created to ensure the total cost of tuition does not exceed 18% of a family’s adjusted gross income when they meet the program's requirements. At Golda Och Academy, we are happy to be able to cap tuition at no more than 18% for families at the top of the range and 15-18% for families at the lower end of the range. The Tuition MAX program has a streamlined application and indexes tuition-to-income, enabling you to budget tuition for future years – no matter how many children you have in the school. If your income is in the specified range, the Tuition MAX program calculation is the maximum you will pay for tuition, but you may qualify for a greater reduction through the traditional Financial Aid Program.

Please note that the Tuition MAX Program is a consideration for support and the application for Financial Aid is through the FACTS platform.

We do have limitations as they relate to the financial aid available, and we would encourage you to submit sooner than later.

Click here to apply for financial aid. Families who submit their application by February 10, 2025 will be notified by February 21, 2025.

Click here to download the Tuition Max application form.

Contact financialaid@goldaochacademy.org with questions.
Financial Aid

GOA has a rolling financial aid process for the academic year 2025-26. For new families, financial aid application are due concurrent with your admission application. For existing families, financial aid applications are due on February 10, 2025. Financial aid applications will require the 2024 tax return upon acceptance of a financial aid award.
The 2023 Tax return and the 2024 W-2 data are required in order to support the financial award assessed. The award will be applied when the 2024 tax return is verified.

https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/4MHCF
529 Plan

As of January 1, 2018, families may now use up to $10,000 per year from a 529 plan to pay for tuition expenses at private elementary and secondary schools, such as Golda Och Academy. Please contact your 529 provider for more information on how to acces these funds.
Jewish Communal Professional Discount

Families with at least one parent working as a qualified Jewish Communal Professional will receive an automatic discount of $1,500 (per family, cannot be combined per student). All that is required is to answer the employment questions at the time of enrollment (no application!).

Eligibility: one parent must be working full time as clergy in a synagogue, a director level position in a synagogue or a management level position at a Jewish Federation or Federation affiliated Jewish agency.

Restrictions: while this discount can supplement financial aid, it may not reduce the family’s tuition below the policy minimum.