Abu Dhabi, UAE: American Community School of Abu Dhabi: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet

The American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) is a nonprofit American standards-based curriculum school serving approximately 1,200 students in KG1 through grade 12 who represent more than 80 countries. Founded in 1972 and led by our mission, vision and core values, we deliver excellence in our four pillars: academics, the arts, athletics and service. The school year comprises of two semesters extending from late August to December and from January to June. ACS will transition to a new innovative, environmentally sustainable campus, projected to open during the 2023-24 school year.

Organization: The school is governed by a board of trustees, comprised of 11 voting members. Eight members are elected by the ACS Association, which is comprised of staff and parents of children enrolled in the school, and three members are selected by the elected trustees. Elected members serve for terms of two years. Officers of the board are elected by the board of trustees.

Curriculum: The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and offers an American, standards-based curriculum. Instruction is offered in English, and Spanish, French and Arabic are taught as foreign languages. In addition to the core curriculum, the school offers a diverse selection of elective courses, as well as extracurricular opportunities that align with the pillars of arts, athletics and service. In high school, Advanced Placement courses and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program are offered.

Faculty: In the 2023-2024 school year, ACS has 246 total staff including 142 teachers, 80 of whom are U.S. citizens, 0 host-country nationals, and 62 third-country nationals. Our faculty and staff represent 37 countries. More than 85% of our teachers have more than 10 years of teaching experience, and more than 65% of them hold a master’s and/or doctorate advanced degree.

Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, enrollment was 1,227 (PreK-Grade 5: 559; Grades 6-8: 265; Grades 9-12: 403). Of the total, 673 were U.S. citizens, 61 were host-country nationals, and 493 were third-country nationals.

Facilities: After 50 years on its current campus, ACS is planning a bold and innovative move to transition its campus to a new innovative, environmentally sustainable campus, projected to open during the 2023-24 school year. The new facility features design-technology labs focused on robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and virtual reality; a greenhouse in a fully-equipped science wing that will serve as a hands-on classroom for teaching about food security and energy conservation; a 650-seat professional theater; and an expansive indoor-outdoor art studio and gallery. The athletic complex includes two swimming pools, three full-sized indoor basketball courts, a FIFA-sized football pitch, a six-lane running track and a wellness center dedicated to social and emotional health.

Finances: In the 2023-2024 school year, about 99% of the school’s income derives from tuition. Annual tuition rates are as follows: KG1: $13,711; K2–grade 5: $20,537; grades 6-8: $20,769; and grades 9-12: $24,836. A one-time capital fee of $6,267 is levied to every newly enrolled student in KG1 through grade 12. (All fees quoted in U.S. dollars.)

Special Needs: Review the Special Needs Profile for this school to learn more about their capability to support students with exceptionalities.

This Fact Sheet is intended to provide general information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further of A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information. Information and statistics are current as of September 2023 and are provided by the school.