American School Dhahran

What the school is

School history, ISG and the campus move

The academy expanded into separate elementary/middle and high schools before their merger. Published histories date Middle States accreditation to 1981. ISG’s leadership-search material also describes an ongoing US Consulate partnership. These historical and institutional links are separate from the school’s governance and admissions.

ISG’s published recruitment material describes five schools on four sites: ASD, British School Dhahran, Sara Village School, ISG Dammam and ISG Jubail. Group figures of around 3,400 pupils and 70-plus nationalities apply across ISG, not just ASD. A 2023 leadership brief describes a seven-member Board of Trustees and central responsibility for curriculum, finance and government relations. It records Rhonda Norris’s appointment as superintendent from August 2024.

The Aziziyah relocation changes the journey for families accustomed to the former Dhahran address. An education-sector report gives 70,000 m² of floor space for the new campus, which ASD shares with British School Dhahran. Use the current campus address when comparing housing and bus routes rather than relying on the school’s Dhahran name.

Academics in practice

The high school diploma, AP and IB options

ASD’s American curriculum uses Common Core standards for mathematics and English, the C3 Framework for social studies and ACTFL standards for languages. It leads to a US high school diploma, with AP courses, AP Capstone and the IB Diploma among the senior options. Published descriptions list more than 60 college-preparatory courses, including 20 AP courses; which run depends on the year. AP Seminar and AP Research form part of the Capstone programme; families should discuss the full award requirements and how each option fits graduation plans.

Published listings report Middle States and CIS accreditation, alongside separate IB Diploma authorisation. A 2023 ISG leadership brief describes the Dhahran Baccalaureate Center as serving ASD and ISG Jubail students from Grade 11 and British School Dhahran students from Year 12. Ask how that shared provision operates now. ISG’s Learning Report is a useful source to request for recent IB and AP results and university destinations; current outcome figures were not available in the material reviewed.

The school’s teams are known as the Scorpions. Published descriptions list 35 teams and participation in NESAC, SAIKAC and Oasis competitions, including regional travel.

Admissions and cost

Fees, one-time charges and the year-one total

ISG’s published 2026–27 schedule for American School Dhahran lists annual tuition including 15% VAT of SAR 65,895 for KG1–2, SAR 92,000 for Grades 1–5, SAR 96,025 for Grades 6–8 and SAR 105,685 for Grades 9–12; Saudi nationals pay no VAT on tuition. New students also pay a SAR 2,990 application fee and a SAR 12,650 enrolment fee, both including VAT. Tuition plus those charges totals SAR 121,325 for a new Grade 9–12 pupil before other costs.

The same schedule charges SAR 3,450 per family for paying by instalments and SAR 4,025 for the partial-year enrolment plan, both including VAT; instalments are not available with partial-year enrolment. Families with three or more children enrolled at the same time receive a 20% tuition discount from the third child. Any seat deposit is deducted from tuition, so it should not be counted twice in the annual total, and it is non-refundable.

Relocation guides report waiting lists at ISG schools; the position varies by year and grade. Aramco families considering a move from company schools should plan the receiving school’s courses and entry requirements directly; neither employer affiliation nor a previous school guarantees a place.

The family experience

Travel, activities and settling in

Families comparing Al Khobar, Dhahran and Dammam homes should test the journey to the current Aziziyah campus at school times. ISG has separate schools in Dammam and Jubail that may also merit consideration. If a plan involves living across the King Fahd Causeway, include border procedures and variable traffic in the assessment rather than relying on a fixed journey estimate.