Singapore: Singapore American School: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet

Singapore American School (SAS) is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational day school offering an exemplary American education with an international perspective for students from preschool to grade 12. SAS students learn to think critically and develop the skills necessary to succeed throughout their lives. The school year comprises two semesters extending from August 7 to December 15 and from January 8 to May 31. The school has 456 full-time faculty, over 80 percent of whom have earned master’s degrees or PhDs. The school invests heavily in professional development. Instruction is in English, with a Chinese immersion program or daily language classes in Chinese or Spanish for elementary students and classes in Chinese, French, and Spanish for middle school and high school students. Its extensive advanced studies program, inclusive of 45 Advanced Placement (AP) and advanced topics courses, provides challenging and unique learning opportunities for high school students. SAS students consistently rank higher on academic achievement tests than their peers in U.S. school systems. The school encourages students to find joy in the pursuit of excellence as they discover their interests and passions. Students enjoy varied curricular and extracurricular learning opportunities, including inquiry-based courses, competitive athletics, fine arts classes, performing arts opportunities, and after-school clubs and service organizations. The green and spacious campus includes state-of-the-art facilities for lab work, music recording, video and photography production, robotics, fine and performing arts, and applied technology. Open, tropical walkways and a natural rainforest allow students to connect with nature while developing lifelong learning skills, all in a tight-knit and supportive community.

Organization: The school is governed by a 12-member board elected for three-year terms by the parents of students enrolled at the school.

Curriculum: SAS is driven by its mission to cultivate exceptional thinkers prepared for the future. To accomplish this, the school focuses on helping students develop seven learning aspirations: content knowledge, critical thinking, creativity, cultural competence, character, collaboration, and communication. All staff members are committed to fostering a culture of excellence, possibilities, and extraordinary care. SAS has the largest advanced studies program, inclusive of AP and advanced topics courses, outside of the United States. The school’s testing program includes the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) and College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams. SAS is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in the U.S., and over 80 percent of SAS graduates go on to colleges and universities in the United States.

Faculty: In the 2023-2024 school year, SAS has 797 total staff including 456 teachers, 262 of whom are U.S. citizens, 20 host-country nationals, and 174 third-country nationals. Faculty and staff at SAS represent around 30 countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, China, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Spain. The large majority of SAS teachers have academic qualifications beyond a bachelor’s degree, with 81% holding at least one master’s degree, including 17 with doctorates. All teaching faculty hold a teaching credential, such as state certification or a master’s degree in education.

Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, enrollment was 4,100 (PS-12). Of the total, 2,176 were U.S. citizens, 197 were host-country nationals, and 1,727 were third-country nationals. Enrollment by grades was preschool to pre-kindergarten: 203; kindergarten to grade 2: 769; grade 3 to grade 5: 926; grade 6 to grade 8: 962; grade 9 to 12: 1,240.

Facilities: SAS is located on a 36-acre campus approximately a 25-minute drive from downtown Singapore and is adjacent to a neighborhood of varied housing options that hosts many expatriates. School facilities include three separate divisions for the elementary, middle, and high schools. Each division has its own classrooms, cafeteria, library, nurses’ office, support facilities, offices, and outdoor spaces. Campus facilities include seven air-conditioned gymnasiums; one health and wellness center; ten outdoor play areas; four swimming pools; five dining spaces; ten tennis courts; a track and field with covered stadium seating; baseball, softball, soccer, and rugby fields; three climbing walls; a high ropes course; an eco-garden; and a natural rainforest. Middle school and high school facilities include scientific laboratories, technology help centers, fitness, aerobic, and weight training spaces, and classrooms for robotics, innovation, business/entrepreneurship, engineering science, computer science, and applied technology (3D graphics, animation, etc.). The campus also includes a variety of performing arts facilities, including an 850-seat auditorium; a 350-seat drama theater; a 750-seat elementary school theater; and designated classroom spaces for music, art, and drama. In May 2021, SAS began “SAS Reimagined,” a phased renovation and reconstruction of the current Woodlands campus. The project is scheduled to be completed over five to six years and will significantly increase learning spaces, play spaces, dining spaces, and more.

Finances: Around 95 percent of the school’s income each year derives from enrollment-related charges including application, tuition, and registration fees. Annual tuition rates are generally as follows (in USD): Early Learning Center $25,648; Elementary School $32,206; Middle School $34,748; High School $36,193.

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.