Initially, it functioned as a Sunday school, where members of the Jewish community learned Hebrew, Yiddish, Jewish tradition and Jewish history.
At the start, the school served 14 young people and 33 adults. In later years, it became a secondary school, and in the Heftsiba program was introduced, in cooperation with the Israeli government.
Under this program, Israeli teachers come to the school on an annual basis to teach Hebrew and organise informal educational Jewish activities. An ORT Technology Centre was installed in , providing an up-to-date computer lab, a photography lab and a server room. In a new Gymnasium building in the center of Vilnius was added to the school; it was completely reconstructed and re-equipped at the costs of the state and World ORT.
In addition to teaching the regular state curriculum, the school offers advanced study in two tracks: Jewish education and technology education. Jewish education is a pedagogical priority for the school. All school activities aim to explore and deepen knowledge of Jewish traditions, culture, history and Hebrew.
The achievements of the Gymnasium's students, its modern equipment and progressive values has put the school in place among the best schools of Lithuania. ORT Vilnius Sholom Aleichem Gymnasium School became a subject of interest for the President of Lithuania, who visited as alongside the city Mayor, members of government, and educational authorities. A School Tolerance Centre has been housed in the school for many years, it familiarises children from other schools with Jewish traditions and culture, and gives presentations on tolerance to other schools in the city.
