Zionsville West Middle School

"We moved to Zionsville when our daughter was in fourth grade. She came to ZCS as "an average student" (according to her previous guidance counselor) with an IEP. As parents, we knew her potential was much greater than this. With extraordinary teachers, experiential curriculum, and strong visual and performing arts programs, she flourished. While at Z'West, her love of reading was encouraged, even accelerated, by an amazing program developed by the teachers, the principal and the media specialist. Every morning, the entire school stops to read. Teachers, students, staff...everyone stops the business at hand and reads for fun. What a way to encourage reluctant readers to find their "niche" in literature, and what a great way to start a life-long habit of reading! Starting in eighth grade and that continuing in high school, I am proud to say that she is in her second year of straight A's (with Honors classes), has competed on an academic team that has gone to a Global competition - twice, and is socially more stable than we ever believed possible. The teachers and administrators in Zionsville Community Schools are extraordinary. Yes, our daughter has worked hard for this change and we provided her with an environment at home that I hoped helped her to succeed. If it were not for the caring, individual attention provided by her teachers that challenge her every day, she would not be the caliber of student she has become. As a family, we are thankful for what Z'West provided - a public school than provides a better-than-private-school education."

"We moved to Zionsville when our daughter was in fourth grade. She came to ZCS as "an average student" (according to her previous guidance counselor) with an IEP. As parents, we knew her potential was much greater than this. With extraordinary teachers, experiential curriculum, and strong visual and performing arts programs, she flourished. While at Z'West, her love of reading was encouraged, even accelerated, by an amazing program developed by the teachers, the principal and the media specialist. Every morning, the entire school stops to read. Teachers, students, staff...everyone stops the business at hand and reads for fun. What a way to encourage reluctant readers to find their "niche" in literature, and what a great way to start a life-long habit of reading! Starting in eighth grade and that continuing in high school, I am proud to say that she is in her second year of straight A's (with Honors classes), has competed on an academic team that has gone to a Global competition - twice, and is socially more stable than we ever believed possible. The teachers and administrators in Zionsville Community Schools are extraordinary. Yes, our daughter has worked hard for this change and we provided her with an environment at home that I hoped helped her to succeed. If it were not for the caring, individual attention provided by her teachers that challenge her every day, she would not be the caliber of student she has become. As a family, we are thankful for what Z'West provided - a public school than provides a better-than-private-school education."