Hebrew Academy of Tidewater to cut sixth grade

VIRGINIA BEACH

Hebrew Academy of Tidewater is ending its sixth-grade program after offering the grade for most of the school's 53-year history.

The private Jewish day school, co-located with the Simon Family Jewish Community Center, serves 100 students from kindergarten to sixth grade. An associated preschool serves another 125.

Head of School Zena Herod said that over the past five years, enrollment in the sixth-grade program has been declining. That's largely because the private and public schools where Hebrew Academy sends its graduates offer sixth grade.

"It was something we did with a heavy heart," Herod said. Current students will be able to finish out the year.