Karnei Shomron boasts a range of educational institutions for children of all ages. From day care through high school, the younger set has their educational needs met without having to venture too far from home. Schooling is available for both religious and secular sectors in the Karnei Shomron Municipality and its environs. Secular high school students travel to nearby Alfei Menashe or Kfar Saba and some religious teenagers opt to attend schools in Kfar Saba or Raanana or to dorm at yeshivot and ulpanot that are further away.

The following educational facilities exist in Karnei Shomron and its environs

Day Care and Pre-School

Day Care Centers:  Each hill in Karnei Shomron is equipped with its own day-care centers for children from the ages of 3 months to 3 years. The day care center (Maon) is staffed by experienced and professional care givers and is divided into small groups according to the different ages. The hours of day care are from 7 AM-3:45 PM, with the option of a half day program.  Meals are served, including a hot meat lunch. Price reductions are available in accordance with the criteria of the Office of Social affairs and based on parents salaries.

Pre-school:  Each hill in Karnei Shomron has its own set of pre-schools (gan), which are divided according to the children’s ages. There is a separate gan for each of the following age groups: 3-4, 4-5 and 5-6 year olds. There are ganim for both the religious and secular sectors.

Special Education Pre-school:  In Neve Menachem, there is a pre-school for children whose needs require a special environment.  In Ginot Shomron, one of the kindergartens is especially designed for children who have developmental delays, yet can still attend a regular gan. As part of the kindergarten staff, there is an occupational therapist, a psychologist and a special education teacher who offer their services in the gan.

Elementary School

Secular sector education:  The “Rimon School” is the local elementary school (grades 1-6) for children in the secular sector. It is located in Ginot Shomron. Transportation is available from the other hills.  This school offers a special class for children with learning disabilities.

Religious sector education:

Lapidim School:  A religious school for grades 1-3.  There are extra hours both in the Torah subjects as well as in the science/technology curriculum.  The school is for both boys and girls yet they learn in separate classes.

The school has a special education class for children with special learning needs and also offers help to children in the regular classes with learning difficulties.

In addition to equipping children with the essential and basic reading, writing and math skills, the school undertakes to develop the potential of each student and to educate him/her toward a love for Torah and the Land of Israel.

Masuah School: A religious school for grades 4-6. The school is for both boys and girls yet they learn in separate classes. The school seeks to nurture the student’s development as a Torah and Mitzvot loving Jew, while also helping each student to realize his/her potential in the various subjects.

Each year, special projects are implemented both in the Torah and secular subject areas.

Talmud Torah HaShomron (Barka’i):  A religious boys school for grades 1-8. This school teaches according to the “Barka’I” teaching method which was devised by HaRav Be’eri. This method has been instituted in a select number of schools throughout the country.

The Torah studies curriculum is intensive with students completing all five books of the Torah, all of the First Prophets and some of the later Prophets. Emphasis is placed on learning the books of Daniel, Ezra and Nechemia before the onset of studying Gemara, in order to prepare the students for Aramaic in the Gemara. Alongside the intensive limudei kodesh curriculum, all the secular subjects are taught as well.

There are classes in the school for special needs children as well as help available to students learning in regular classes. (For a more detailed description of this method see www.atid.org/journal00/esses).

High School Education

Yeshivat HaShomron: This is the regional high school for boys in grades 7-12 located in Karnei Shomron. It serves all the yishuvim in the area.  It offers the full matriculation program with a choice of majors both in the Humanities and the Exact Sciences. There are classes for special needs in grades 7-8. Most graduates continue to the army after completing some Torani preparation program i.e. Yeshivat Hesder or Mechina.

Yeshivat Halichot Olam: Yeshiva high school with dormitory for boys in grades 9-12, located in Karnei Shomron. Boys from all over the country are accepted into the program. Local students may live at home or dorm.

This yeshiva puts emphasis on “Limudei Kodesh” (Torah studies), which are taught until 4 PM. Secular studies are studied from 4-7 PM. The yeshiva offers a full matriculation program in which minimum requirements are met. The Yeshiva has a stringent acceptance policy.  At the present, there are 4-5 candidates for each available spot.

Ulpanat Lehava:  The regional girls high school for grades 7-12 located in nearby Kedumim. This school offers girls from all the yishuvim in the area a complete matriculation program with a varied choice of majors.

The school places emphasis on Torah education as well as character development. There are many extra-curricular activities. The girls are encouraged to volunteer in many different capacities in all parts of the Shomron. Most graduates perform one or two years of National Service.