New Jewish high school to open its doors in Chicago in 2027

Dr. Richard Cuenca in Davis Chicago’s 535-seat theater, which will anchor a state-of-the-art performing arts program.

Hearing Dr. Richard Cuenca talk about teaching the next generation of Jews feels like listening to someone describe a beautiful work of art. 

He articulates his vision for the Jewish future with infectious energy, hope, and light. “It’s about lifting our students up and helping them fulfill their life’s purpose,” said Cuenca, a self-described lover of Jewish learning. “Judaism tells us that your neshama—your soul—was brought into the world for a reason. It’s your job to figure out what that is.”  

As one of the most longstanding leaders in community Jewish day schools nationally, Cuenca—who earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership and specialized in reading research—has 30 years of experience in academia. He launched his academic career as a middle school science teacher, then spent more than 20 years helming Jewish day schools in his native Miami. 

For the last 16 years, Cuenca has served as Head of School at Broward County’s Posnack Jewish Day School, the largest Jewish community day school in the country. During his tenure, the student body more than tripled. 

A proud father of four children—now ages 18 to 27, who all attended Posnack—Cuenca has seen firsthand the value of a Jewish education through three points of view: child, parent, and educator.  

Soon, Cuenca will bring his perspective, experience, and energy to the Windy City. In March, he was named Head of School for Davis School Chicago, a new college preparatory pluralistic Jewish high school in downtown Chicago. 

With Chicago home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the country, the school’s founders recognized a critical gap in local Jewish education: Chicago had been the only major U.S. city without a non-Orthodox Jewish high school in its city limits. That will change when Davis School Chicago opens its doors in the fall of 2027. 

A coalition of Chicago Jewish leaders founded the school—a Centennial Campaign project of the Jewish Federation of Chicago—to create an academically excellent Jewish high school that prepares students for the future while grounding them in Jewish learning, values, and identity.  

The school will be in the Lakeshore East neighborhood of Chicago, at 355 E. Wacker Drive, with sweeping views of downtown Chicago, including nearby Navy Pier. Davis will have a 154,000 square foot, 7-story, state-of-the-art building. It will include rooftop athletic facilities, a 500-seat professional-grade theater, a two-story library, and a fully kosher campus with separate meat and dairy kitchens. 

As lead donors, Tony and Laura Davis have given their name to Davis School Chicago, culminating 30 years of Jewish philanthropic involvement. “We are leading with excellence—we want to provide the best college-preparatory education possible to the Jewish leaders of tomorrow,” said Tony, Co-Founder and President of Linden Capital Partners. “This is a terrific opportunity for parents in Chicago who want to raise their children with the twin pillars of core Jewish values and academic achievement.” 

The dream for the school predates the attacks of October 7, and Cuenca said the school will be vigilant and protected by top-notch security. At the same time, Cuenca said the school will spend less time defending against those who hate Jews, and more time “leaning into” the joys of being Jews.  

He hopes the students will view the world through a “Jewish” lens—regardless of their observance level. “I have a philosophy that we do away with all the other labels and just lead with ‘Jewish,’” he said. “So, when a student is praying, they’re praying because they’re Jewish, not religious. When a student is wrapping tefillin, they’re not being Orthodox, but being Jewish.”  

Cuenca has coined a term that he anticipates will set Davis apart. “What I’m most excited for is what Dr. Cuenca refers to as ‘The Davis Difference,’” said Katie Berger, who is a co-founder of the school, along with her husband J.R. Berger. “It’s the feeling you get as a parent when you drop your kid off at school, the feeling your child gets when walking into the doors each morning, the feeling the teachers get when beginning a new lesson. It’s a culture that goes beyond academic excellence— it permeates everything.” 

For more information about supporting Davis School Chicago or The Centennial Campaign, please contact Nadine Sasson Cohen at [email protected].