Harambee Elementary School

We researched schools for 2 years for my daughter. The local public schools could not meet her needs. Harambee was and is a Godsend. Through good class sizes, enthusiastic, well trained staff and educators who know every child by name and are devoted to making each one succeed - they have exceeded my expectations. Their year round schedule was a draw as well as our students need to catch up to the rest of the world who do not school by an outmoded agricultural calender. Our daughter is an accelerated learner. She is in first grade now reading and doing math at a third grade level loving the additional challenge. At Harambee no learner is stigmatized, no matter where they are on the specturm. From the teachers to the principal they are all easily contacted and respond quickly and effectively to any concerns. Other schools have an anti-bullying curriculum.Harambee and Crosswinds teach, live and breathe true integration: learning about eachother and valuing eachother for our similarities and our differences. It is a wonderful community of parents, staff, teachers and students from various backgrounds.
--Submitted by a parent

While the environmental science focus and year round calendar was initially the attraction, the incredible passion and dedication of the teachers we encountered here sold us. The new principal (2011-2012) is a visionary and her leadership has the staff even more excited about their work. The parent group is vocal, talented, and growing. There are high expectations for student achievement and behavior. Our academically and artistically gifted middle school daughter attended K-5 here and thrived. Our younger son has special needs and is progressing in school because of the incredible classroom and special ed teachers, the year round calendar preventing learning loss, and the consistent, intentional daily message that each student is important and has the choice to succeed. Bullying is not tolerated and both teachers AND students address this. Students are taught to consider others' perspectives, even if they don't personaly agree with them, and that differences are an important part of our world. What a great way to prepare kids for a future global economy (or non-gridlock politics)!
--Submitted by a parent

We are a fairly new family, with my son in Kindergarten. So far I have been incredibly impressed by Principal, teachers, and staff. They are dedicated to the kids and passionate about the school. It is a dual magnet: Community Cultures, and Environmental Science. Because its an integration school, and because of the Community Cultures focus, there is a culture of not just tolerance but acceptance of others and their differences. It has a large lot of land, and because of the year-round calendar and Environmental Science magnet there is a focus on an appreciation of the Earth and the outdoors. Our son is on the higher end from his peers upon entering K, and they are working with him to keep him engaged and moving forward. They communicate very well with parents.
--Submitted by a parent

My son attended this school from K-5 (all the grades they offer). He had a great time, wonderful teachers, a diverse set of friends, and a great education (entered his next school as a 7th grader!). The year-round calendar is the best, giving the family opportunities to travel at off-times of year. Beautiful grounds. Definitely worth a visit, a choice public school for students from 10 school districts. Note, the year-round schedule does play havoc with state standardized testing, Harambee kids have six weeks less class time when the tests come around, partly explaining the poor results there. Not at all indicative of how wonderful this school is.
--Submitted by a parent

This school seemed like a great choice when we chose it, but has not lived up to our expectations. Our child has not found the challenges he needs here. He reports that the teachers are interrupted repeatedly by the same small group of students. He wishes that they spent 'less time cleaning up and more time learning.' Our child who loved preschool has lost his spark and excitement for learning. We are very disappointed and are looking for another option. We will be very sad to leave the music teacher. He has been a bright spot in a not very positive experience.
--Submitted by a parent

Tri District now Harambee is a wonderful school. My oldest daughter has been there since K and is now entering the third grade. My youngest will start this fall. The teachers and the staff are all wonderful and supportive to students and staff. My children even love the year round curriculum as well as the bridges programs they offer between quarters. The students attending this school tend to be very polite and well behaved and excel in school. I would recommend this school first and foremost ahead of them all.
--Submitted by Aimee, a parent

I have had children in this school for the past 5 years. When my oldest started school here, he was behind in reading when entering the 4th grade. By the end of the year, his teacher got him up to the correct reading level and ready for the 5th grade. The other child that I have was doing very well. Regreting my move, this school was helping my 1st grader excell in his classes. Teachers are there for the reinforcement for both the students as well as the parents. This is a wonderful school. Wish I would have had a school like this growing up. This facility made it easier on the life transitions that my children had to face. I would recommend this school to anyone that I meet. The programs that they offer for the child for the before and after school daycare was wonderful to. This was such a pleasant experience with a school and I was proud to have students in the school. Thank you Tri District.
--Submitted by Denise Zuniga, a parent