Exclusive | Nearly half of Jewish students in private schools across US face antisemitism, alarming ADL report claims

Jewish children enrolled in K-to-12 private schools across the country are exposed to significant antisemitism or hostility, according to an Anti-Defamation League study released Wednesday.About 25% of parents interviewed in a focus group survey said their kids had seen antisemitic symbols such as swastikas in schools after Hamas’ Oct.7, 2023, attack on Israel.Nearly half — 45% — reported that their kids had experienced or witnessed some form of Jew hatred.One-third of respondents said children were exposed to “problematic” or anti-Israel school curricula.“These independent schools are failing to support Jewish families.

By tolerating — or in some cases, propagating — antisemitism in their classrooms, too many independent schools in cities across the country are sending a message that Jewish students are not welcome,” said Jewish ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.“It’s wrong.It’s hateful.

And it must stop,” he added.“ADL is partnering with parents to demand change.Antisemitism in K-12 schools has exploded, with 1,162 antisemitic incidents recorded in 2023 and 860 antisemitic incidents recorded in 2024, according to ADL’s audits on Jew hatred.Since 2020, antisemitic incidents at K-12 schools have spiked by an alarming 434%.Given the results, ADL’s Ratings and Assessments Institute (RAI) and Ronald Birnbaum Center to Combat Antisemitism in Education (CCAE) launched a new initiative to examine antisemitism within non-Jewish K to 12 schools.To kick off the effort, the researchers conducted focus groups and a survey of parents ofJewish children who attend independent K-12 schools, through ADL’s networks, including 25 regional offices.The interviews were conducted with parents of private school children in the New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco regions as well as the Washington, DC/Maryland suburbs.During the focus groups and open-ended surveys, parents voiced widespread concern that non-discrimination and diversity, equit...