Thousands of Jewish Students Leave NYC Public Schools Post-Oct. 7
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Thousands of Jewish students have left New York City's public school system for Jewish private schools since October 7, 2023, citing a rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. This trend is supported by enrollment data and surveys, alongside documented incidents of hate and harassment within public schools.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Thousands of Jewish students have left NYC public schools for private Jewish institutions.
- The shift is linked to increased antisemitism and anti-Israel incidents post-Oct. 7.
- Jewish school enrollment has seen a significant increase in recent years.
- Parents cite hostile classroom environments and anti-Israel discourse as reasons for transfer.
- Over 250 antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents were reported in NYC public schools since Oct. 7.
Thousands of Jewish students in New York have transferred from public schools to yeshivas, Jewish schools, and other private educational institutions since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. This shift is attributed to a rise in antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents within the city's school system.
Data from Teach Coalition, based on New York State figures, shows an increase of approximately 3,100 students in Jewish schools for the 2025-2026 academic year, a nearly 2% rise in one year. Between 2022 and 2025, enrollment in Jewish schools grew by about 4.2%, more than double the rate of the preceding period.
A survey by Prizmah, an association of Jewish schools across the U.S., revealed that 60% of participating institutions saw new students from families not previously seeking Jewish education, a change linked to the post-October 7 atmosphere. Additionally, 55% reported an increase in students coming from public and non-Jewish private schools.
Parents cited concerns beyond personal safety, noting a shift in classroom atmosphere and discourse among students and staff. They described increasingly hostile attitudes towards Israel and Jewish people since the war began. Incidents include a Brooklyn public school teacher allegedly writing "Long live Yahya Sinwar" in an anti-Israel group chat, prompting an investigation by the city's Department of Education. Another teacher was found to have posted antisemitic conspiracy theories, leading the New York City Department of Education to determine his remarks violated anti-discrimination policies and to announce disciplinary action.
A report by United Jewish Teachers documented at least 250 antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents in New York public schools from October 7, 2023, to the end of July this year. Nearly two-thirds of these involved verbal harassment, threats, assaults, or hate symbols like swastikas, with Brooklyn recording the highest number of incidents at 91. While not all enrollment increases in Jewish schools are solely due to antisemitism, evidence and surveys suggest the war and the changing public climate have become significant factors for Jewish families choosing educational settings for their children.
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