Golda Och Academy Celebrates 60 Years of Educational Excellence and Jewish Values

Golda Och Academy proudly announces the celebration of its 60th anniversary—a remarkable milestone highlighting six decades of academic excellence, Jewish learning, and community impact.

Founded in 1965 as the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union, the school began with just 18 kindergarten and first-grade students at Congregation Beth Shalom in Union, NJ. As one of the first Conservative, co-educational Jewish day schools in the country, its founders took a bold step in creating a school that blended rigorous secular academics with a deep grounding in Jewish tradition and values.

Each subsequent year, a new grade was added, leading to the school’s first graduating high school class in 1977. In 2010, the school was renamed Golda Och Academy in memory of Golda Och z”l, a beloved founding parent, teacher, board president, and longtime business manager. The renaming, made possible through the generosity of the Och family, honors Golda's extraordinary legacy of leadership, dedication, and service to the school. Her unwavering commitment helped shape the institution into the thriving center of Jewish education it is today. Click here to watch a video looking back at the history of SSDSEU/Golda Och Academy.

Currently, Golda Och Academy serves approximately 445 students from Pre-K through 12th grade across two campuses in West Orange, NJ. The school draws families from across New Jersey and remains steadfast in its mission to nurture the next generation of Jewish leaders—academically accomplished, ethically grounded, and passionately connected to their heritage and community.

“Our 60th anniversary is a time to reflect on the incredible journey of our school and to honor the dedication of all those—past and present—who helped shape it,” said Head of School Carrie Zucker Siegel ‘92. “While our physical spaces and student body have grown over the years, our core values have remained unchanged. Golda Och Academy continues to deliver an outstanding Jewish and secular education that prepares our students not only for academic success, but for lives of Jewish pride, meaning, leadership and community engagement.”

The anniversary celebration will continue throughout the year and include a look back at the school’s history, recognition of key milestones and contributors, and a reaffirmation of its vision for the future. As it celebrates six decades of impact, Golda Och Academy remains committed to inspiring students through a strong sense of purpose, Jewish identity and lifelong learning. Building on this legacy, the school is now in the final stretch of its $20M Go Forward campaign, which is investing in faculty excellence, student services, affordability and campus renovations.