Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Report of what it's like to live there - 07/17/18
Personal Experiences from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
School Name:
American International School -- Riyadh
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent.
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
One child for 6th and 7th grades; the other for 8th and 9th grades.
3. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
U.S. Embassy
4. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
There a few limited options -- the British School (BISR), the Multinational School (MNS), a French school, and a German school. We chose AIS-R because it was a PYP/IB school, which allowed for some continuity for the kids.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
Admissions process was pretty straightforward for our kids. I understand from some other families that SN kids may run into some issues. Friends with kids on IEPs had better luck at other schools.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
Relatively good, but we're also pretty low-maintenance. There was an orientation day for new families and good communication regarding supply lists, etc., before we arrived.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Mostly via email. Almost everything from AIS-R is handled electronically, via email or through their communications app.
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
Every child is required to have either an iPad or a laptop, depending on the grade level. You are responsible for purchasing the required equipment. Additional class trips, sports team trips, club trips were also out of pocket additional expenses.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
There are counselors in the middle school and in the high school grades. Our children were not yet looking at colleges while we were at AIS-R.
2. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
There are some limited after school sports and activities. Kids can only sign up for ONE after school activity each session.
3. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Yes, the library is large with a pretty decent selection.
4. What are the technology requirements for students? Do they need their own laptops/ipads? How is technology integrated into the classroom and homework?
Everything at AIS-R is tech-based. There are NO papers or worksheets, even at the lower grades.
5. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
There is a large gym for the middle and high school students. Oddly, there is no pool.
6. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
IB is available in 11 - 12th grades.
7. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
This is a weakness at AIS-R. My kids' standardized test scores went down between fall and spring each year here. We are a bit concerned about making sure they are appropriately prepared for our next school (in Asia with cut-throat academics). AIS-R is run by Canadians for Saudis. It is not academically challenging at all at least until HS grades when they must meet international accreditation standards. There is a big push at the end of 8th grade to tell the kids they have to get their acts together in HS.
8. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
There is no homework until HS.
9. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
They offer drama, orchestra, choir, and band. The brightest spot for us was the band teacher, who was wonderful and caring.
10. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes. All teachers are native English speakers, with the exception of the Arabic teachers.
11. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None.
12. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
Our children participated in soccer, volleyball, basketball, and track/cross country.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
In our experience, we found there to be some issues with bullying.
Overall Impressions:
1. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
C+
2. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
If I could do it again, I'd spend more effort providing supplemental educational enrichment for our kids while we were there.
