Mercaz Academy is an Orthodox,
co-educational, preschool through sixth grade Jewish day school located in Plainview, in the heart of Long Island.
Our Mission
Mercaz Academy is passionately dedicated to academic excellence in Judaic and secular studies, and to inspiring each student to become committed to Torah, Zionism, and American ideals, with an enduring curiosity and determination to understand our world. Our emphasis on personal growth in an intimate and innovative environment cultivates tomorrow’s leaders through building character in an inclusive and warm community atmosphere.
Our Values
Academics and Beyond…
Developing Understanding and Enduring Curiosity
דעה בינה והשכל
Our commitment to academic excellence in Judaic and secular studies is enriched by an experienced, caring faculty, technology integrated at all grade levels, and a variety of extracurricular offerings. We reinforce our dual curriculum by interweaving Judaic and secular studies through engaging cross-curricular lessons and programs. Students are inspired to realize their individual potential by pursuing their curiosity and developing the critical thinking skills necessary for understanding and navigating our modern, complex world.
Individual Growth and Emotional Well-Being
?אם אין אני לי, מי לי
Our small-school environment, with a low student-teacher ratio, enables us to teach, challenge, and support each student according to his or her own learning level and style. Our program focuses on the development of the whole child in a stimulating and warm Jewish environment. We nurture our students’ natural sense of wonder and inquiry in a vibrant and diverse educational experience that fosters their sense of self and an appreciation for the world around them.
Building Character and Leadership
?וכשאני לעצמי מה אני? ואם לא עכשו אימתי
Mercaz Academy infuses the importance of Jewish values, derech eretz (respect for others) and middot tovot (personal character) through formal and informal education. Students at all levels participate in a variety of acts of chesed (kindness) through community engagement. These experiences provide a firm foundation for finding meaning through service to others.
A Community School with an Inclusive Environment
כלנו כאחד באור פניך
We are dedicated to a responsive, community-centric ethic as we educate students from communities across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. We welcome students who reflect the Jewish cultural diversity throughout central Long Island. Our families span a wide spectrum of Jewish affiliations and levels of observance, whether of Ashkenazi or Sephardi heritage, and range from those with extensive or limited religious backgrounds--all are welcome. Each is an integral member in our Mercaz Academy family, as we engage the entire family through learning and cultural activities. At the Mercaz Academy, our teachers and parents forge a community partnership not only to promote an atmosphere of exuberant education but to advance each student’s creativity and self-confidence.
Contributing to Global Jewish Life
אחינו כל בית ישראל
Mercaz Academy establishes a strong and enduring relationship between our students and the expansive Jewish world. At Mercaz Academy, Ahavat Yisrael—love of Israel—encompasses not only the Jewish people, but the land of Israel, the State of Israel, and the Torah of Israel. We foster a close, personal connection to our brothers and sisters in Israel and world-wide through our curriculum, enhanced by speakers, programs, and celebrations, and our strong emphasis on Hebrew language, with an Ivrit (Hebrew) immersion program in all grades. As these relationships deepen, our students become more prepared for mature participation and leadership in the Jewish community.
Contributing Citizens of American and
Global Society
בצלם אלוקים
We imbue our students with a love and appreciation of the United States of America. We instill American values in our students, including a recognition of each individual’s freedoms, liberties, rights and responsibilities. Mercaz Academy graduates students who have gained the foundations of knowledge and understanding not only of our country’s past and present but also of world history and global events, so that they can understand America’s role among nations and contribute meaningfully to the future of American life and society at large.
A Modern, Spacious Learning Environment
ובניתי לך בית נאמן
Our newly renovated campus provides a perfect backdrop for academic achievement and personal growth. Mercaz Academy’s expansive facility offers more than large, fully equipped classrooms, a beit midrash for t’fila (prayer), study, and reflection, an auditorium, advanced and supportive technology, an extensive secular and Judaic library, and spaces dedicated to special studies, with a STEM lab and art room. Together with our outdoor and indoor sports areas, including an impressive gymnasium, an indoor early childhood playscape, two outdoor playgrounds, and a full baseball field, our robust facilities foster our students’ health and development while expanding their horizons and igniting their imaginations.