Gann Academy

Gann Academy is a coeducational Jewish high school located in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded in 1997 and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It was originally adjacent to Brandeis University. Lehman intended for the school to be a place to foster a sense of community among students from different forms and expressions of Judaism. Casually nicknamed "New Jew," it opened with 48 students in the 9th and 10th grades. In the Fall of 1998, the school moved to the top four floors and basement of the Fleet Bank building (BankBoston at the time) at the intersection of Prospect Street and Main Street in Waltham, seeking larger facilities and a more permanent home. It used the basement of the local Temple Beth Israel for additional classroom space. The school changed its name in 2003 in honor of philanthropist Joseph Gann, who had donated $5,000,000. The land the campus was built on was formerly occupied by the Murphy Army Hospital. The 2005 documentary Hineini focused on the school, and one student's efforts to create a gay–straight alliance there. The school's history program places a heavy emphasis on debate and civics. In 2007, Jonathan Golden, chair of the history department, described the school's approach as "a John Dewey inspired experiment in democratic education." The school has an acapella group called the ShenaniGanns.

The school's Waltham campus was designed by architect Steve Friedlander.