1.  Overall Nonpublic Enrollment.

In March 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Education released updated enrollment data for Pennsylvania nonpublic schools for the 2025-26 school year.

In the 2025-26 school year, K-12 enrollment in Pennsylvania nonpublic schools reached 214,595 – an increase of 2,114 students (+1.0%) compared with the prior year. As illustrated in Figure 1, this increase continues a modest upward trend that began in the 2023–24 school year, following a decade of sustained enrollment decline.

While total enrollment remains well below its 2010 peak, the recent pattern marks a stabilization from the continuous losses experienced between 2010 and 2020.

2.  Enrollment Trends in Jewish Schools.

Enrollment in Jewish schools increased by 255 students in 2025–26, representing a 6.2% year over year gain. This marks a substantial acceleration from the prior three years when the average annual growth rate was just 1.3%.

3.  2025-26 Jewish Enrollment Change by Region.

Growth in Jewish schools during 2025–26 was concentrated in a small number of counties. The largest increases occurred in the Scranton Area (+181 students, +30%) and (+96, +29.1%), and Lackawanna (+85, +31.7%). Additional gains were recorded in Philadelphia (+51, +8.4%) and Dauphin County (+23, +65.7%).

In contrast, enrollment declined in several counties, most notably Delaware County (–181 students, –32.7%). Smaller declines were observed in Allegheny (–42, –4.9%) and Bucks County (–24, –11.4%). Overall, regional patterns indicate that recent growth was geographically concentrated and partially offset by continued declines in a limited number of areas.

4.  2025-26 Jewish Enrollment Change by Affiliation.

Yeshivish Schools – defined as Orthodox schools where students are gender-segregated – saw the largest enrollment growth with an additional enrollment of 303 students (+12.0%).

Modern Orthodox Schools – defined as Orthodox schools that are coed – saw a substantial decrease of -44 students (-12.0%).

Non-Orthodox Schools had static enrollment, with a negligible decrease of -4 students (-0.3%).

5.  Long-Term Jewish Enrollment Trends by Region.

Growth in Jewish schools since 2022-23 was concentrated in three regions. The largest increases since 2022-23 occurred in the Scranton Area (+356 students, +84.2%), Philadelphia Area (+75, +2.9%), and the Harrisburg Area (+23, +65.7%).

In contrast, enrollment declined since 2022-23 in several regions, including in the Pittsburgh Area (–15, –1.8%), the Allentown Area (–14, –23.3%), and Other Areas (-55 students, –100.0%) within Pennsylvania.

Overall, regional patterns indicate that recent growth was geographically concentrated and partially offset by continued declines in several other areas.

6.  Enrollment Trends by Jewish Affiliation.

Changes in Jewish school enrollment since 2022–23 varied sharply by affiliation.

Yeshivish (Orthodox, single‑gender) schools accounted for the entirety of net growth, with enrollment increasing by 400 students (+16.4%) since 2022–23 and reaching 2,835 students. This represents the largest gain among all affiliation groups and continues a long‑term pattern of sustained expansion in this sector.

In contrast, Non‑Orthodox schools experienced a modest decline, with enrollment decreasing by 41 students (–3.3%) to 1,207. Modern Orthodox (coeducational) schools recorded modest growth, increasing by 11 students (+3.5%) to 323.

Overall, the 2025–26 enrollment increase in Jewish schools was driven entirely by continued growth within the Yeshivish sector, while enrollment in other affiliation groups remained flat or declined slightly, reinforcing an uneven pattern of growth across the Jewish education landscape.