Frequently Asked Questions

Everything families ask us about Zagol Academy — and some honest guidance for anyone choosing a school in Addis Ababa. Can’t find your question? Contact us — we answer in English or Amharic.

About Zagol Academy

What is Zagol Academy?

Zagol Academy is a private school in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, teaching Kindergarten through Grade 8. It was founded in 2009 by a group of Ethiopians and Americans who wanted to expand educational opportunities for young students in Ethiopia. Classes are taught in English and Amharic, and the school's mission is to provide affordable, first-rate education in a safe and supportive environment where every child achieves their personal best. Today Zagol serves 400+ students with 50+ teachers and staff across two campuses.

Where is Zagol Academy located?

Zagol Academy is located in Addis Ababa, mid-way between CMC and Ayat (Meri). We have two campuses: our kindergarten compound behind Lidet Pharmacy, and our primary and secondary campus near Gift Real-Estate. You can reach us at +251-116-609371 or admin@zagolacademy.com, and a school bus service covers daily pickup and drop-off.

What grades does Zagol Academy teach?

We teach Kindergarten through Grade 8. For the 2026-2027 school year we are opening a new, dedicated kindergarten campus purpose-built for our youngest learners, and we are accepting new students at all grade levels.

How big is Zagol Academy?

Zagol Academy serves more than 400 students with a team of over 50 teachers and staff, in about 30 classrooms across two campuses. Each grade has a lead teacher with strong teaching experience, and the school runs regular teacher workshops to keep improving instruction.

What is Zagol Academy's academic record?

Zagol Academy was recognized as one of the top-performing private schools in Addis Ababa for the 2024 (2016 E.C.) national exam results, and our Grade 8 classes achieve a 100% pass rate on the national exams year after year. The school was also awarded best primary school at the kebele level among more than 40 schools, and a Zagol third-grader won the international My Bright Smile Global Art Contest.

Admissions & Enrollment

How do I enroll my child at Zagol Academy?

Visit the school and talk with our directors — we accept students throughout the semester as space allows. Bring your child's documents (see the registration checklist), and we will walk you through the rest. You can also call +251-116-609371 or email admin@zagolacademy.com to arrange a visit. Communication is available in English or Amharic.

What documents are required to register?

To register your child, please bring: a birth certificate, a vaccination card, three passport-size photographs of the student, one passport-size photo of each parent or guardian who will pick the student up, and academic records from a recognized school (for KG-2 and older). Students entering grades 7 and 8 also take an entrance exam.

Is there an entrance exam?

Only for grades 7 and 8. Younger students register with their documents and academic records — no exam required.

When does the school year start in Ethiopia?

The Ethiopian school year typically begins in September, after Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year), and runs to June or July. Zagol Academy accepts new students throughout the semester as space allows — contact us for this year's exact dates and availability.

How much are school fees?

Please contact the school directly for current fees — call +251-116-609371 or visit us. Zagol Academy is committed to affordable, first-rate education, and scholarship support is available for promising students through Friends of Zagol Academy, our U.S.-registered non-profit partner.

Academics & Curriculum

What subjects does Zagol Academy teach?

Our bilingual curriculum covers English, Amharic, Afaan Oromoo, Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Civics, Computer Lab and Athletics, from Kindergarten through Grade 8.

What languages are classes taught in?

Classes are taught in English and Amharic, so students grow fluent in both. Students also study Afaan Oromoo. All of our teachers are fluent in English, and the school communicates with families in English or Amharic.

What is Zagol Academy's teaching approach?

We believe every student can succeed given the right opportunity. Our approach combines creative thinking and creative problem solving across subjects, teamwork and group learning, teaching to multiple learning styles (auditory, visual and hands-on), and character education reinforced throughout school life and at home.

What facilities does the school have?

Our primary and secondary campus has ten classrooms, a computer room, a science laboratory, a pedological center, a library with English books and a large play area. The kindergarten campus has eight classrooms, a play room, a nap room, a playground and a dining area.

What are the Grade 8 national exams in Ethiopia?

In Ethiopia, students sit a ministry examination at the end of Grade 8 — the primary-school leaving exam — which they must pass to continue to secondary school. Zagol Academy prepares students thoroughly for this exam: our Grade 8 classes achieve a 100% pass rate year after year, and Grade 8 students attend additional Saturday classes.

School Life

What are Zagol Academy's school hours?

School runs Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Grade 8 students also attend Saturday sessions from 9 AM to 12 PM in preparation for the national exams.

Is there a school bus service?

Yes. Two dedicated school buses provide daily transportation, picking students up and dropping them off safely every school day.

Do students wear uniforms?

Yes, Zagol Academy students wear school uniforms.

What activities happen outside the classroom?

Students go on educational field trips to historical, cultural and industrial sites in and around Addis Ababa; families join interactive family nights with science experiments, math challenges, invention nights and movie screenings; and the school maintains connections with English-language schools worldwide. The school year is marked by celebrations like graduation day and cultural days with music, dance and traditional dress.

How are parents involved at Zagol?

Closely. Parents attend school meetings and parent-teacher conferences, read and sign documents sent home, support daily homework and 30 minutes of reading, and join family nights. We ask parents to look after their child's health and appearance and to understand the school's policies — because students succeed when school and home work together.

Choosing a School in Addis Ababa

How do I choose a private school in Addis Ababa?

Look at a handful of practical things: whether the school is licensed and recognized, its language of instruction (English, Amharic or bilingual), its national-exam track record, class sizes and teacher experience, distance from home and whether transport is provided, and what the fees do and do not include. Most importantly, visit in person — see the classrooms, meet the directors, and watch how staff interact with students. A good school will welcome the visit.

Are there English-language schools in Addis Ababa?

Yes — Addis Ababa has many private schools that teach in English or bilingually. Zagol Academy teaches in both English and Amharic, which we believe serves children best: students become fluent and confident in English while staying strong in their mother tongue and culture.

What is the school calendar in Ethiopia?

The Ethiopian school year runs from September (after Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year) to June or July. Ethiopia follows its own calendar, roughly seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar — the Gregorian year 2026 is 2018-2019 E.C. The year is punctuated by holidays including Enkutatash, Meskel, Genna (Ethiopian Christmas), Timkat, Adwa Victory Day, Fasika (Ethiopian Easter), Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Supporting Zagol Academy

What is Friends of Zagol Academy?

Friends of Zagol Academy is a registered American non-profit organization dedicated to supporting our school. It provides teaching materials, computers and books, builds sister-school relationships with American schools, assists with teacher training, and brings guest teachers to Zagol. You can reach it at friends@zagolacademy.com.

How can I sponsor a student at Zagol Academy?

You can sponsor a student's tuition only, their supplies and activities (uniforms, textbooks, writing materials and field trips), or provide full support — tuition plus supplies, lunch, shoes and a health checkup. Contact friends@zagolacademy.com for current annual amounts; we work with each sponsor to match their goals and share how their student is doing during the year.