International Academic School

Located in Al Warqaa, the International Academic School (IAS) opened its doors in September 2006 with just 50 students. Today, the school has over 1,300 students, 96 teachers and 39 teaching assistants. The teacher to student ratio is 1:14 — a clear sign that all students get undivided attention. While students belong to over 60 different nationalities, most are Arab nationals.

The International Academic School is a part of Athena Education — a UAE-based educational group offering international education. IAS offers an American curriculum from kindergarten to high school as Athena’s mission. Moreover, it adopts the Ministry of Education (MOE) curriculum for Arabic, Islamic Education and Social Studies.

IAS school is an inclusive institution with approximately 283 students with SEND requirements. The school also has four guidance counsellors working during the school timings. The International Academic School KHDA rating is acceptable for 2018-2019.

Continue reading the International Academic School review by Bayut to learn more.

• Location: Al Warqaa
• School fees: AED 13,861 - AED 25,991
• Curriculum: American
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-ed
• KHDA rating: Acceptable
• Years offered: Pre-KG - Grade 12

International Academic School, Dubai is not only accessible to children and parents living in Al Warqaa but also accessible for families living in nearby communities.

• Mirdif
• Nad Al Hamar
• International City

Out of these communities, the nearest one is Mirdif. This neighbourhood offers spacious apartments and elegant villas for rent and sale.

Parents and guardians seeking residential properties near the school can browse the links mentioned below.

• Apartments for rent near International Academic School
• Villas for rent near International Academic School
• Villas for sale near International Academic School

International Academic School Al Warqaa has recently renovated the campus; hence, facilities are now better. Spacious classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards and multimedia.

You will find a library with digital and hardcover material for students. Similarly, modern science laboratories, kindergarten inter-skills room, computer labs, conference room and audio and visual room assist students in studying Science and ICT subjects.

One can also find creative centres for art and music, drama rooms, a multi-purpose hall, an auditorium and a prayer room. As for sports facilities, students can make the most of a football field, a basketball court, a swimming pool and a playground.

International Academic School is located in Al Warqaa 1, Dubai. The school is next to Newlands School and Primus Private School.

Established in 2006, International Academic is a part of Athena Education Group with an excellent reputation as a quality education provider. IAS school has a purpose-built campus providing necessary facilities and resources for students to pursue a well-balanced education.

The school follows an American curriculum with various extra-curricular activities to develop well-rounded students. The school strongly emphasises teaching Muslim students how to embrace the Islamic faith within the context of an American curriculum.

IAS, Dubai has hired new teachers bringing vast experience with degrees from the UK, USA, and Australia.

The International Academic School has four sections — kindergarten school, elementary school, middle school and high school.

Kindergarten

IAS focuses on socialisation skills, developmental play and inquiry rather than academic progress. These skills help children grasp fundamental concepts for academic success.

Theme-based projects are used to teach Art, Music and Informational and Communication Technology (ICT). It also helps to portray understanding through creative and engaging ventures.

Elementary School

The school introduces students to formal teaching methods and assessments in this stage. These strategies result in students’ physical, social, emotional, and academic development.

Elementary students learn through a hands-on, child-oriented and multi-sensory approach. Furthermore, projects often involve students in a large group, a small group, pairs or one-on-one activities.

The school encourages children to participate in extra-curricular activities and engage in additional lesson plans to build a strong foundation for middle school.

Middle School

International Academic School Dubai’s curriculum focuses on holistic progress in middle school. Core subjects teachers meet once a week to discuss students’ progress and develop team-building activities.

Subjects taught in middle school are:

High School

 A high school is a four-year phase, including freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years. In these years, students are prepared for the SATs or a diploma.

Students are graded based on the grade point average, also known as (GPA). It is an evaluation and grading system used in most American schools.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority is established to provide guidance and assistance to private schools in Dubai. The KHDA rates schools based on a six-point scale ranging from Outstanding to Very Weak.

The most recent rating of the school by KHDA is Acceptable. The report has also highlighted the strong and weak areas of the school. Below is the school’s performance over a decade.

Areas where International Academic School is performing well include:

• The principal and the school leadership team are determined to overcome any challenges and continuously improve the quality of education.
• Students have shown an exceptional understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture.
• Children in elementary school have displayed good performances in English and Mathematics.
• Parent partnership is a commendable aspect of IAS school.
• Another strength of the school lies in the curriculum design of the elementary and middle school stages.

However, the KHDA report provided a few recommendations as well.

• The school needs to improve the attainment and progress of students by identifying and sharing best teaching practices.
• There is a need to effectively implement the curriculum in all subjects and provide more relevant resources throughout the school, especially to kindergarteners.
• Improvise the assessment procedure and ensure that the teachers use reliable assessment information to review the curriculum.
• Identify and overcome challenges to improve students’ attainment in all subjects.
• The governors need to realise the difference between their roles and responsibilities, as pointed out by the school’s principal.

The International Academic School’s academic calendar is divided into two semesters. IAS follows the calendar issued by the Ministerial Development Council for Dubai private schools.

International Academic School’s admission process involves registration, assessment and enrolment.

Registration

Before starting the registration process, parents are highly encouraged complete the student enquiry form. You can either complete this online or during a walk-in visit to our school. You can contact the Parent Coordinator who carries out the tour daily to book a tour.

Next, parents and sponsors are required to fill in the new registration or re-registration form available from the administration department. At the time of registration, bring along the following documents:

• Recent coloured passport size photographs
• A copy of the birth certificate
• A copy of the vaccination card
• A copy of the student's passport with a valid residence visa for non-UAE citizens
• A copy of the Family Book (for the UAE Citizen) Or copy of mother’s Family Book Log (Emirati Mothers)
• A copy of student’s original Emirates ID
• 1 copy each of both parents’ original Emirates IDs
• Student’s Medical File from the previous school
• The student’s last report card and transfer certificate

Requirements for transfer certificate are:

• If the applicant is coming from Emirates other than Dubai, the Ministry of Education of the emirate must attest the Transfer Certificate
• If the applicant is coming from Oman, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy in that country must attest the Transfer Certificate
• If the applicant is coming from a Gulf country other than Oman, the Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy in that country must attest the Transfer Certificate
• If the applicant is coming from India (CBSE/ICSE Board), the Transfer Certificate should be attested by the Education Officer of that area and verified by the Indian Consulate in Dubai and the Foreign Affairs Ministry in the UAE

Assessment

After registration, applicants have to appear for an entrance exam. The assessment fees for the KG section is AED 200 per assessment, and for Grades 1 to 12, it is AED 250 per assessment. The assessment criteria for kindergarten students differs from other grades.

• Students applying for kindergarten will be tested on observational and practical skills to determine if they are ready to start school.
• Students aiming for admissions in Grade 1 to Grade 12 must complete a short version of the MAPP test for reading and Mathematics.

Please note that students transferring internally from another branch will not have to appear for any test.

Enrollment

After successful registration and clearing the assessment criteria, the applicant will be offered a place at the school provided seats are available. They put the applicant on the waiting list if there are no available seats. Results of the assessment will determine the grade and class placement of the child.

There are a few conditions under which students can be suspended or expelled from the school.

• Failure to pay fees on the due date on multiple occasions (parents will receive three emails as reminders)
• If a student misses school for 30 days or more continuously without informing the school authorities.
• Failing to pass any class for two years in succession.
• Misbehaviour or misconduct by a student results in the damage of goodwill of the school.

Upon approval from the principal, students can seek readmission into the school. However, they will have to go through all the formalities of new admission.

Before starting the admission process, you must ensure that your child meets the following age placement criteria.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: KHDA

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

International Academic School fees structure for the current academic year is as follows:

Please note that the resources in the table include books, text, and other school resources charges. You can pay international Academic School fees via cash, cheque or bank transfer.

Discount Policy

Please note that in case your child is eligible for more than one category of discount , he/she shall be allotted any one.

Refund and Strike-off Rules

If parents decide to withdraw the student, they will have to inform the school 30 days in advance to allow executing exit formalities and all other documents required.

Refunds usually are not entertained, but they can be granted under exceptional circumstances. If the case allows for a refund, the following calculation applies:

• If the student has attended classes for less than two weeks, one-month fees will be deducted from the refund.
• If the student has attended classes between two weeks to one month, two months’ fees will be deducted from the refund
• If the student has attended classes for more than a month, three months’ fees will be deducted from the refund.
• Transfer Certificate will not be issued until and unless all dues are cleared.

The school has a cafeteria for lunch options but requires parents to provide lunch for their children. However, there’s a rigid inspection of the quality of meals students bring from home. International Academic School recommends that parents only send nutritious and healthy meals except for junk, high fat and high sugar ingredients.

International Academic School outsources transport service to School Transport Services (STS) LLC. All the buses provided by STS are well-maintained and accompanied by a nanny. These SMART buses are equipped with the latest technologies for a safe commute.

Parents are advised to fill in the registration form and send a copy to transport@aisschool.net and info@aisschool.net to enrol. However, the representative will get back to you if the buses cover the route. You will also be given the contact details of the driver.

Transport fee for two-way and one-way is as follows:

IAS school has built various sports facilities to encourage physical activity among students. The facilities include a playground for kindergarten and elementary students, a grassed area, a basketball court, a football ground and a swimming pool.

To facilitate the school’s aim of producing well-rounded citizens, a plethora of extra-curricular activities are available for students. To engage in after-school activities, students can join the following clubs:

The school arranges field trips each year to provide a combination of fun activities and learning to students. In the past, children visited Magic Planet, Ski Dubai, KidZania, Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Motion Gate park and IMG Worlds of Adventure.

After-school care is available to students taking part in school activities from 03:00 pm to 03:45 pm.

Dubai International Academic School has a well-equipped medical clinic with full-time nurses to tend to emergencies and injuries. At the time of registration, parents must provide a complete medical record, vaccination book of the student and health consent.

Parents and guardians are requested to provide the school’s latest and operational contact information so that establishing contact with them is easier in case of emergencies.

International Academic School has several programs that allow parents and guardians to connect with the school and class teachers and stay updated regarding their child’s activity.

The school is a part of the D6 School Communicators application. Parents can install on their personal computers, laptops and mobile phones to receive relevant updates regarding school events, news and information and school documents. They can use this app to communicate with teachers.

Besides this, there is a Class Dojo app for kindergarten and elementary school students, teachers and parents. One of the most attractive features of this app is that it easily converts messages from one language to another. If a parent sends a message to a class teacher in Arabic, this app easily translates the message into English for the teacher’s convenience.

Finally, the IAS school introduced an embedded partnership with parents program where a group of parents are called each week to spend time with children and teachers in the classroom for 2 to 3 hours. Hence, parents can see for themselves how learning and teaching are conducted in the classroom and gauge their child’s participation.

Similarly, you can be a part of a WhatsApp group made for each grade to receive instant notification regarding any school event. You need to request the class teacher or a staff member to add you to a specific group.

Also, there's a parent portal which lets parent see all the updates regarding their child activities, performance and attendance.

• Telephone Number: +971-4-280-0993
• Email:
  • General Enquiries: info@ias-dubai.ae
• IAS Website
• IAS Facebook
• IAS Twitter
• IAS Instagram
• IAS YouTube

Note that the cover image belongs to International Academic School.

What are the timings of your school?

• Kindergarten: 07:50 am to 12:40 pm (11:10 am on Fridays)
• Grade 1 to Grade 12: 07:55 am to 02:20 pm (11:15 m on Fridays)

Do you conduct after-school activities?

Majority of extracurricular activities are conducted post school hours from 03:00 pm to 03:45 pm.

How many grades/years are there in International Academic School?

Pre-KG to Grade 12.

How many students are currently studying in International Academic School?

The school includes about 1,300 students from more than 60 different nationalities.

Can you please describe the academic calendar of International Academic School?

The academic year is divided into two semesters, starting in the last week of August and ending in the last week of June.

Do you conduct mid-term examinations?

Yes, IAS Al Warqaa holds mid-semester exams according to the following preliminary dates:

• Term 1: October 10, 2022 – October 18, 2022
• Term 2: March 20, 2023 – March 24, 202

Can you please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by your school?

International Academic School charges tuition fee from AED AED 13,861 to AED 25,991.

How do you communicate with parents?

International Academic School provides several ways to facilitate communication with parents, including the D6 School Communicator application, Class Dojo application, weekly parents program, WhatsApp groups, and parents' electronic portal.

Do you have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

Yes, there's a cafeteria on the school campus.

How often does your school arrange field trips?

The school takes students on educational and recreational field trips throughout the academic year.

How many teachers are currently teaching in your school?

The teaching staff consists of 96 teachers, 39 assistant teachers, and 4 educational advisors.