GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi

Established in 2007, GEMS American Academy (GAA) is an all-through school located in Khalifa City. GAA delivers the American (US) curriculum as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Offering world-class facilities and a rich academic experience, GEMS American Academy is considered to be one of the best schools in Abu Dhabi. In addition to the thorough curriculum, GAA offers additional learning resources such as an extensive library that contains over 25,000 volumes, Information and Communication Technology that is embedded throughout the campus, classrooms fitted with data projectors and electronic whiteboards and full access to the school’s high bandwidth wireless network. Arts, Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts are other important facets of the curriculum module offered at the school.

GAA aims to impart a holistic education where students partake in expression, self-discovery and perseverance. The active community of the school is built on a foundation of collaborative relationships, open communication and student-centred instruction.

GEMS American Academy is located in Khalifa City, a community in close proximity to Dubai that features affordable villas and apartments. Some of the residential communities close to this area are:

• Saadiyat Island
• Mussafah
• Yas Island

Khalifa City is one of the most popular areas to rent villas in Abu Dhabi. Parents looking to move closer to GEMS American Academy can consider the following housing options:

• Apartments for rent near Gems American Academy
• Villas for rent near Gems American Academy
• Villas for sale near Gems American Academy

From Kindergarten to Grade 12, students of GAA enjoy a range of facilities offered by the school. Some of these include:

• 500-seat Auditorium
• Six Science Laboratories
• Sports Hall (housing six courts)
• Two Swimming Pools
• Four Full-Sized Tennis/Basketball Courts
• Outdoor Sports Pitch
• Black Box Theater
• Recording Studio
• Speciality Classrooms (Science, Technology, Visual Arts, Performing Arts)

GAA aims to provide its students with all the resources necessary to implement inquiry-based and practical learning. Classrooms are equipped with data projectors, electronic whiteboards, Apple TVs, iPads and high-speed internet access. The other science and technology facilities at GAA, including the Planetarium, awards students with an outlet to quench their thirst for learning.

GEMS American Academy (GAA) is located in Khalifa City, which is a sub-community of the larger Khalifa City. Khalifa City is one of the most popular spots in Abu Dhabi and features spacious villas and apartments. Other schools in the vicinity include International School of Choueifat and Al Raha International School.

GEMS American Academy (GAA) delivers the US Common Core State Standards curriculum infused with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years and Diploma Programme from Kindergarten to Grade 12. It is considered to be one of the best American schools in Abu Dhabi. The curriculum incorporates the IB Scope and Sequence, Project AEO (American Education Reaches Out), National Arts Standards and the UAE MoE guidelines. Operating in a co-educational setup, GAA is considered to be one of the best schools in Khalifa City as well as Abu Dhabi. The school’s vision is to Inspire, Challenge, Innovate and Care.

GAA aims to create an international and caring learning community that offers a rigorous and holistic education. The curriculum delivered at the school provides each student with an inquiry-based program that curates internationally-minded citizens that contribute positively to society.

GAA is an IB World School that offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP) and has been accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The school has been rated Very Good by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).

GAA is one among the many GEMS schools in Abu Dhabi. GEMS American Academy is also affiliated with multiple internationally recognised organisations such as:

• International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)
• International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP)
• Middle East International Baccalaureate Association (MEIBA)

Being an inclusive school, GAA implements the GEMS vision for Inclusive Education. Every student attending the school is part of a wider community and feel valued for their individual contributions and development. The school welcomes students of determination and provides additional support and facilities to ensure that their educational needs are met.

Students from over 90 nationalities attend the school, thereby promoting international-mindedness among every student attending the institution. The culture of the school celebrates diversity and openmindedness, bringing together different languages, traditions and ethnicities.

GAA Abu Dhabi is an all-through school that delivers the American (US) and International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

GAA offers one of the best internationally recognized education in Abu Dhabi. The curriculum is a blend of the US curriculum with the IB program. The curriculum employs a multidisciplinary approach that imparts education through different methods and techniques. The student body of GAA is diverse and multicultural, creating an inclusive and caring environment where students can learn and grow.

Kindergarten Curriculum

At the kindergarten level, GAA develops a happy, play-based learning environment. Students follow the Primary Years Programme (PYP) where they learn at their own developmental pace. The school curates an atmosphere that promotes exploration, innovation, respect, creativity and differentiation so that students will become responsible global citizens.

The foundation of the kindergarten curriculum is based on five specific skill sets:

• Self-management
• Social
• Communication
• Thinking
• Research

In addition to the core curriculum subjects, GAA conducts specialist classes including Physical Education (P.E), Kitchen Lab, Performing Arts, Arabic, Islamic, Library and Makerspace. Extracurricular activities include swimming, gymnastics, coding, healthy eating and more.

Elementary School Curriculum

At the Elementary School level (Grade 1 to Grade 5), GAA follows the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). Students begin to inquire into local and global issues and develop an understanding of Science and Social Studies subjects. Language, Mathematics and non-core subjects are also taught at this level. Through the curriculum, students develop the following skills:

• Thinking
• Communication
• Social
• Self-Management
• Research

Specialist subjects frequented by elementary school students include Physical Education, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and more.

Secondary School Curriculum

For Secondary School students (Grade 6 to Grade 12), the American and IB curriculum blend awards students with an opportunity to graduate with US and IB Diplomas. The secondary school program is based on the US Common Core State Standards. The American curriculum is adopted as it offers a range of academic subjects, with the core program intending to build knowledge, skills and understanding of subjects such as Literacy, Numeracy, Creativity and Sustainability. The secondary school program of studies is complemented by additional subjects including development in Visual Arts, Music, Drama, Information Technology, World Languages and Physical Education.

Each student’s program is a combination of:

• Core Academic Subjects/IBDP Subjects
• ADEK Required Subjects
• Elective Subjects

GAA also offers honours classes in English and Mathematics (for Grades 7-10). Placement for these classes is determined through standardised tests, academic achievement, teacher recommendation and approaches to learning.  For Grade 11 and 12 students, GAA offers the opportunity to opt for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

From Grades 6 to 8, course options include:

• English
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies
• French/Spanish
• Arabic
• Arts
• Physical Education

Grade 9 to Grade 12 course options include:

• English
• Math
• Science (Electives include: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health & Nutrition Science, Computer Science
• Social Studies (Electives include: World Studies, IBDP Business, IBDP Psychology, IBDP Economics, US History, Sociology)
• French/Spanish
• Arabic
• Art & Electives (Electives include: Music, Visual Arts, Theatre Arts, Design, Computer Science, Digital Music, Global Politics, Journalism, Creative Writing, Public Speaking)
• P.E

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is a government entity that is responsible for licensing all private education institutes and monitoring their commitment to providing high-quality service in accordance with regulations. Through the Irtiqaa Programme, they carry out periodic evaluations of all schools and are based on six basic criteria as listed below:

1. Quality of students’ achievement.
2. Quality of personal and social development as well as innovation skills of the students.
3. Quality of teaching and assessment.
4. Quality of curriculum.
5. Quality of student safety and wellbeing, as well as the guidance and support provided to them.
6. Quality of school leadership and management.

International evaluators use a scale comprising six quality levels, as shown below:

GEMS American Academy Khalifa City was rated Very Good by the Abu Dhabi Department of Knowledge and Education (ADEK). The school received a Very Good rating for three out of six performance standards stipulated in the report and an Outstanding rating for the remaining three performance standards.

According to ADEK, key areas of strength include:

• Students’ curiosity, creativity and initiative.
• The culture of innovation and the use of technologies to enhance learning.
• The use of assessment to develop students’ independent learning.
• The rich curriculum which prepares students very well as 21st-century global citizens.
• The caring environment that supports students’ accelerated progress.
• Visionary leadership.

However, the school could improve in the following ways:

• Continue to raise attainment in Arabic.
• Build on existing high-quality practice in mathematics and science.

The academic year at GAA is split into three terms. The term dates for the same are as follows:

• First Term begins in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December, followed by a 3-week winter vacation.
• The second term commences in the first week of January and ends in the last week of March, followed by a 2-week spring break.
• The third term starts in the second week of April and concludes in the first week of July, followed by a 2-month summer holiday.

To learn more about the events and activities that take place during the academic year, view the GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi calendar.

GAA is an all-inclusive school that grants admission regardless of nationality, gender or race. The admission process requires academic demonstration, letters of recommendation, school records, assessments in Mathematics and English and an interview.

Every prospective student must undergo admissions testing to determine the student’s eligibility for grade placement. Students must also be at the appropriate academic level in Reading and Math.

The GAA admission process is as follows:

• Step 1: Register online using the GEMS Online Student Registration portal. Ensure that the student meets the Age Requirement for the required grade level before registering for that grade.
• Step 2: Once the online application has been submitted, the parents will receive an enquiry number. This number should be recorded for future reference and correspondence.
• Step 3: Contact the GAA Admissions Office to proceed with the admission process and submit the following documents:
  • One copy of the applicant’s passport
  • One recent passport size photo of the student
  • Two years of school reports (including the most recent report. Reports must be in English).
  • Any learning support documents pertaining to your child’s educational needs.
  • Completed Confidential School Recommendation Form
  • Standardized Tests Results (if available)
  • Nursery Reports (for Early Years, if available)
  • One copy of child’s Birth Certificate (must be in English or Arabic).
  • Child’s and parents’ Emirates ID
  • 1 copy of the child’s Residency Visa
  • Transfer Certificate (TC)
  • Official transcript (Grades 10 through 12)
• Step 4: If the assessments, interview and admissions testings were successful, the school will grant admission to the child and will contact the parents with the offer letter. The admissions office will also notify the parents of the remaining admission formalities.

The Residence Visa, Emirates ID, TC, Official Transcripts and other Admission Forms are required during the time of enrolment, as these documents are mandatory to register the child with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). For more information, contact the registrar at registrar_gaa@gemsedu.com

Nevertheless, parents must ensure that their child meets the following age placement criteria before initiating the admission process.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for the school beginning in September). Source: GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi fees are inclusive of Textbooks, Supplementary Books and School Supplies. The tuition fees do not, however, cover uniforms, lunches or school transport. Annual tuition fees for each grade level at GEMS American Academy are as follows:

For Grade 12 students, the IB Diploma Examinations incur additional charges per examination. Similarly for new admissions, a non-refundable/non-transferable registration fee equivalent to 5% of the annual tuition fee is expected to be paid on confirmation of enrolment. This fee will be adjusted with the first term tuition fee of the ward.

GAA accepts the following methods of payment:

• Cash
• Current-dated cheque (should be made payable to GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi)
• Credit Card
• Wire Transfer

Although the school currently does not offer scholarships, GAA is part of the GEMS Ambassador Programme. Families that introduce a new family or friend to the GEMS Community will earn back 4% of the referred child’s annual tuition fee in the form of GEMS points. These points can then be redeemed against school fees or transportation fees.

GEMS American School Abu Dhabi has a hot-meal service provided by Slices as well as a school cafeteria to serve food and snacks to the students. This is a service that parents may take up (for an additional cost) if they are unable to send packed lunches with their children.

Students from Grades 6 to 12 use the cafeteria to enjoy their meals. The cafeteria is supervised and offers a wide range of selection, including hot meals, drinks, salads and sandwiches. Students of Kindergarten and Grades 1 to 5 eat their lunches from within their classrooms. Parents can also order their child’s lunches online and have them delivered to their classrooms each day.

GAA runs a cashless cafeteria on the premises. Parents register their child online, upon which the student’s School ID Card will act as a “debit” card to be used at the canteen. Parents can top up their child’s account, set daily limits and view the purchase history of the child. Students are refrained from bringing carbonated drinks, candy, nuts and foods with nut oils to the school campus. GAA also has on-campus a Parent Cafe called The Café where adults can purchase hot and cold drinks and a quick snack.

GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi has outsourced its transportation services to Bright Bus Transport– a reputable school bus transportation provider in the emirate. The service consists of qualified drivers and bus conductors functioning in air-conditioned buses designed to promote the safety and comfort of the students.

Students availing the transportation service must pay the two-way price even if they require only one-way service. For more information, contact abdullah@bbt.ae

GAA regularly organises Winter, Summer and Spring camps for the students. These camps are conducted at an additional cost and offer a wide variety of activities and events. Winter Camps cost an average of AED 700 per week, Multi-Activity Camps cost AED 1000 per week and Spring Camp AED 750 per week (AED 150 per day). These camps are organised by an external activities provider ESM and include Dance & Music, Sports, Arts and Crafts.

GAA believes that extra and co-curricular activities are essential to the development of well-rounded individuals. For this reason, the campus houses a variety of sports facilities including:

• Shaded Play Area
• Indoor Courts
• Outdoor Courts
• Fitness Room
• Swimming Pool
• Football Pitch

The school regularly conducts volleyball tournaments, intramural sports competitions, friendly matches, Sports Day and more to promote physical activity and fitness.

GAA offers a wide range of co-scholastic activities– be it in athletics, arts, music or drama. GAA Athletics is an important component of the school’s program. Students are encouraged to be more athletic, motivated and competitive while learning valuable life skills.

Students abide by the GAA Athletic Handbook while participating in these sports. The school believes that extracurricular activities impart valuable lessons such as sportsmanship, teamwork and commitment.

GAA also offers an extensive After School Activity (ASA) Program four times a year for the duration of six weeks each. The school is also an active member of the Emirates Athletic Conference, OASIS Activities Conference and the Junior Emirates Athletic Conference. The school also organised a multitude of events and activities throughout the school year to keep the students engaged in fun and play.

Field trips are an integral part of the curriculum module offered at GAA. Students visit historical, cultural and educational locations situated both inside and outside the country. In the past, students have visited Heritage Village, Emirates Park Zoo and Resort and Yas Mall Adventure to name a few.

GAA students also took a ski trip to Switzerland during their Winter Break.

GAA offers an extensive After School Activity (ASA) Program that consists of athletics as well as other co-scholastic activities. The afterschool activity program is offered to the students four times a year. Each block of ASA lasts six weeks and are teacher-led. Students can sign up for ASA prior to the commencement of the program and pick out activities depending on their interest and passion.

The ASAs take place on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 03:00 pm to 04:00 pm and is open to students from Grade 1-12. The nature of these activities may be sports, creative, musical, academic or service-learning and do not incur any additional charges. Some examples are Lego EV3 Coding, Dancing, Gymnastics, Tennis, Swimming and Karate.

GAA has a well-equipped medical facility available on the campus. The medical clinic is operated by two full-time nurses that are qualified and trained to tend to the medical needs of the students attending the school.

At GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi, parents are invited to learn, participate and partner with the school so as to bring about progress amongst the students as well as the school’s management. GAA conducts informal sessions and workshops for the parents during Parental Engagement Week where they discuss academic and parenting topics. Parents can also access relevant information regarding their child’s progress at the school through the GEMS Parent Portal.

GAA has a dedication parents association called the GEMS American Academy Parents Association (GAAPA). Parents who wish to collaborate constructively towards the school’s enrichment may join the GAAPA by contacting pre_gaa@gemsedu.com. The association is also responsible for conducting activities throughout the academic year such as the International Food Festival, Movie Night and more.

• Telephone: +971 2 557 4880
• Reception Email Address: info_gaa@gemsedu.com
• Admissions: registrar_gaa@gemsedu.com
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Note that the cover image belongs to GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi.