The North Shore’s only Jewish day school — the Epstein Hillel School here in Marblehead — is facing a financial crisis and it’s not clear whether it will survive.
“After much deliberation, the board has made the difficult decision that starting in the 2026-27 academic year, our school is planning to move to a PreK through fifth-grade model,” the EHS board wrote to families, announcing that it will stop offering grades six through eight.
“Operating a PreK-5 school gives us the strongest chance to achieve long-term sustainability,” the message continued. “We know this news is heartbreaking, especially for the students and families currently in grades five to seven. Our priority in the coming weeks is to provide guidance and resources to impacted families and faculty as they consider their next steps.”
EHS, which opened as Cohen Hillel Academy in 1955 in Lynn, has launched an emergency fundraising campaign running through Dec. 24.
In 2017, Arthur Epstein of Marblehead donated $5 million to keep the school going. Epstein died in 2023.
EHS currently has 84 students. It’s not known whether eliminating grades six to eight will be enough to save the school.
“Opening as a PreK-5 in the 2026-2027 school year is contingent upon securing family commitments and meeting fundraising goals,” the message said.
Those fundraising goals include an initial $750,000 to help close the annual fund and, ultimately, $3 million to “stabilize operations and build a viable future,” according to the school’s website.” “EHS is an essential thread in the fabric of Jewish communal life. Your support does more than sustain EHS’ students and faculty. It’s an act of courage, hope and responsibility for our Jewish future.”
The board said it will provide a “definitive update” about next school year no later than Feb. 13.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
