Why does WYHS carefully choose its students through a thorough admissions process? Doesn't every Jewish child deserve a Jewish education? Shouldn't every child be given a chance?

We believe that all schools are good, and all students are good. The job of an admissions process (for a high school, college, seminary or yeshiva) is to identify which school is good for which child. Every child deserves a school at which he or she can reach his or her academic, athletic, artistic, emotional and spiritual potential.

WYHS is a school for children who want to grow religiously and academically, can handle a college preparatory program, and do not take away from the learning of others. The overwhelming majority of students who apply to WYHS fit that mold. Going into our tenth year, we know with whom we do and do not succeed.

Each applicant to WYHS submits three years of report cards, recommendation forms from English, Judaic and Math teachers, parent and student questionnaires, the SSAT aptitude exam and writing sample, and is interviewed by two WYHS faculty members.

Eight committee members discuss students about whom it has concerns. Sometimes they feel that the issues will be resolved by the passage of time. Sometimes they recommend that the concerns be addressed before the student can enter the school. In a small number of cases, they decide that the child would be better served by another school.

Admissions is the most difficult aspect of our job, but it is the most important. Our school's stability, growth and success are due in no small part to our commitment to attracting mission-appropriate students. May it be G-d's will that WYHS be as successful with the Class of 2011 as it has been with the classes of 2001-2010.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Kasher V'sameach,

Rabbi Perry Tirschwell