Bergman Academy

Since 1977, Bergman Academy has offered Des Moines families a unique option for preschool and K-8 students. Once the Des Moines Jewish Academy, then The Academy, we are now a secular, state-licensed, preschool and accredited K-8 school serving over 280 students and their families – and growing every day.

Academic Highlights
-Accredited by the state of Iowa.
-All-day kindergarten program; full and half-day preschool options.
-Language and culture studies in Hebrew and Spanish
-Combined teaching methods of Montessori, Traditional Teaching Model and Individual Guided Learning.
-16:1 student-to-faculty ratio for grades K-8
-9:1 student-to-faculty ratio for Pre-K
-7:1 student to faculty ratio in the preschool
-Student’s 28-year average ranks in the 99th percentile on the nationally normed Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS).
-Staff is comprised of degreed and/or certified professionals who must past a rigorous background screening.

Extracurricular Highlights
-Parent Lecture Series on family-oriented topics
-Family outings and get-togethers
-Chess Club, Brownies, and other after-school activities
-Student Talent Show, KidStriders, Academic Fair and Olympiad

Our Philosophy
Our teaching philosophy views each child as a unique person with an individual pattern and timing of growth. We utilize the best practices from Montessori, Multiple Intelligence Theory, and Individual Guided Learning methods to create a learning environment that is classically based, yet dynamic in nature.

Our Curriculum
Curriculum and instruction are responsive to individual differences in ability, development and learning styles. Differences are expected, accepted, and used to design curriculum. Throughout Bergman Acacdemy, academic mastery is valued, but more importantly students are nurtured toward becoming self-motivated, confident, young adults ready to become the leaders of tomorrow.