Zaharis Elementary School

There is no better school out there! You seriously won't find any better! Everyone works together to create an environment unparallelled to anything you've every seen! You have to go see it to believe it!
—Submitted by a parent

Zaharis is an outstanding school that teaches kids to think rather than just memorize. The principal is truly a role model that the kids look up to and love. He is creative, involved, and thinks outside the box, and therefore attracts that kind of teacher. The teachers are there because they love to teach kids and challenge them daily to be better learners, discovers, and people. Academic excellence these days is only measured by test scores, but they cannot measure the intangible skills of real life problem solving, critical thinking and so many other qualities that parents want their kids to learn and embrace. I am blessed that my kids have all attended Zaharis since it opened when my oldest started kindergarten. They have gotten the very best educational experience I could ask for.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school! Really reaches outside the box to teach kids in different ways from the traditional school formats. No desks, make kids comfortable and they are more open to learn.
—Submitted by a parent

Zaharis has an amazing principal who supports his staff and students every way he can. What a positive environment for kids!
—Submitted by a parent

No comment. This school is amazing. Wonderful learning faculty and the teachers it seems work along with the children. My child excels in Orchestra, Math, Social Studies and Reading. I absolutely love this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Zaharis is like a private school disguised as a public elementary. The principal and teachers are so involved in creating a comfortable learning environment. Even if you visit the school unannounced you will see a ton of kids reading or enjoying projects. I also have special needs children and they receive the utmost support at Zaharis. Truly a great school!
—Submitted by a parent

I have been so impressed with Zaharis. What a welcoming environment for children and their families! At this school, kids learn by doing. They are becoming readers, writers, mathemeticians, and scientists. Students and teachers learn alongside one another, and it's evident that they are all actively engaged and having fun! I couldn't imagine a better school to help my children to learn and grow.
—Submitted by a parent

Zaharis is a wonderful place for children. Instead of doing drills and worksheets all day, my children read real books, and get real-life learning experiences. As a result, they love learning, love reading, and love school. The teachers are wonderful. You can tell they put extra time into their teaching and care a lot about the kids. Lots of parents get involved, and there's a real feeling of joy at the school. What a wonderful place to be!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is awesome. Thanks to Mr. Oliver (the principle) and all the teachers who love reading and encourage it, my kids are avid readers and excel in school.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a fantastic school. The teachers and administration work as a team and the children are their primary focus. We couldn't ask for more in a school.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has attended this school for 4 years. I have to do an extra hour of homework with him each night just to get him to the level he is supposed to be at. My child is a bright and inquisitive student that seems to get lost in the shuffle. The test scores are low because there is no standardized curriculum. I will have my son attend a different school next year.
—Submitted by a parent

My kids have attended Zaharis for 3 years and have enjoyed phenomenal teachers each year. They have never said they do not want to go to school. The building itself is beautiful, and the students' work is always displayed around the classrooms as well as in the hallways. Zaharis instills a love of learning rather than just preparing for standardized tests. My kids' math and reading skills are significantly higher than grade level and are also better compared to cousins who go to quality schools in other states. In addition, Zaharis teaches how to research and learn rather than just memorizing facts. The only downside of Zaharis are the class sizes which have crept up recently.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm a student teacher that goes to school in Rexburg, ID. I visited Zaharis back in Aug. 2007 and noticed that students were learning for life and not just for a test. I requested to do my student teaching here and I have to say I love it! I'm learning how to teach students so they can see the importance of what they are learning for life. I hope that I'll be able to find a school just like this one for my children.

I have children at this school, and let me just say that Zaharis is not the same way it use to be. Mr. Oliver is kind but he is not very fair when real discipline needs to be given. Also my kids are doing horrible at this school, and I feel that the teachers do not really take the time to make sure no child is left behind, they just say they need Special Ed and that gets them off their back! I feel this school needs to pick up the slack it's slacking. I have decided my children will not be attending this school next year.
—Submitted by a parent

Zaharis is such a great school! I went to zaharis for 2 years and I loved the school. The principal is so cool and is involved and talks and hangs out with the students! the principal even calls himself principal! He is so cool to get to know!I loved going to that school it was way better and cleaner then my old elementary school! The aids are really nice and hang out and get to know the kids and are friends to the students! The teachers listen and get to know the kids instead of being really mean! They are all really nice!!!
—Submitted by a student

My kids have gone to Zaharis for three years and we have been very impressed. We love the principal. He is very friendly and involved. It is a clean, organized school with lots of parental involvement and opportunities to volunteer. I've been very impressed with all of the teachers my kids have had. I love how you can request teachers. I do agree that the school is a bit overcrowded.
—Submitted by a parent

Each class has a student teacher so that reduces the teacher to student ratio! Emphasis on learning to love books and reading! Caring & great learning environment! My home school is top rated in the area but I'm chosing to take my kids to a school where they will be really valued instead of the teacher s transfering their knolweged to my child
—Submitted by a parent

I am a teacher at another Mesa school, and I agree that Zaharis is a wonderful school.
—Submitted by a teacher

i moved my kids from the school we are zoned for because I had heard so many great things about Zaharis. I was not disappointed. This will be my kids second year there, and they love their school. There are kids that dont behave, but you have that at every school. I like that Mr. Oliver is directly involved with the kids at all levels, he really cares about them. My kids get homework everyday in all subjects based on their grade level. Because of our experience with Zaharis, I am now getting my teaching certification in hopes of one day teaching at Zaharis. Thanks.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school with caring teachers. My kids are excited to go to school every day, and they love to learn.
—Submitted by a parent