A citywide program in 43 schools to expand the number of high-tech matriculation graduates in Jerusalem
Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is the country’s largest and most diverse city, with over 1 million residents, including 40% Arab, and Jewish residents who are 30% ultra-Orthodox, 13% secular, and 12% national religious. The municipal education system serves close to 300,000 students, of whom roughly 80% are either Arab or ultra-Orthodox. The secondary school system operates 295 schools for 127,000 students.
In 2024, slightly more than 6,000 students from 101 secondary schools sat for the matriculation examinations. The eligibility rate for a full matriculation certificate stood at 51%, compared to a national average of 77%.
With respect to high-tech matriculation (five units in mathematics and English, combined with five units in physics and/or computer science), 546 students from 41 schools completed the track in 2024 (this represents 5.5% of the city’s graduates, compared to a national average of 10.8%), only 30% of whom were female students.
An analysis conducted by the Cities of Excellence Network identified a concrete growth potential of 625 additional students who are only one subject short of completing the high-tech matriculation package. Most of this untapped potential lies among female students who already study five-unit mathematics but do not enroll in physics or computer science.
A deeper examination by the Jerusalem Education Administration found that this potential is concentrated in 43 secondary schools (28 Hebrew-speaking and 15 Arabic-speaking). Accordingly, the municipality has formulated a focused four-year plan targeting these schools, with the goal of reaching a total of 1,000 high-tech matriculation graduates by 2030.
The plan includes opening excellence classes in 26 middle schools, establishing seven new five-unit mathematics classes in high school, and launching seven new tracks in physics or computer science. In parallel, the municipality plans to establish six professional learning communities for 150 mathematics, physics, and computer science teachers from these schools, and provide close pedagogical mentoring in 30 of the schools.
Each participating school will conduct formal orientation sessions for ninth-grade students and their parents prior to track selection. In addition, the plan includes seminars for principals and excellence-track teaching teams, as well as focused matriculation preparation sessions aimed at reducing dropout and supporting persistence through the final examinations.
The Ministry of Education has committed funding of 9,680,000 NIS to expand the program in 16 of the identified schools and for supporting the municipality’s program in all 43 schools. The Jerusalem Municipality will allocate an additional 4,220,000 NIS. Through its educational nonprofit arm, the municipality has sought the foundation’s support for the professional learning communities, pedagogical mentoring, seminars for principals and teaching teams, and partial funding for a citywide high-tech matriculation coordinator.
* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 646