International School of Choueifat (ISC), Abu Dhabi

The International School of Choueifat Abu Dhabi (ISC Abu Dhabi) is one of the few SABIS Schools in Abu Dhabi. It is a non-selective, co-educational, college-preparatory, English-medium day school that initially started on temporary premises in 1978. Later, it moved to its current facility at Al Mushrif in 1979. Located on a spacious campus, the school has all the facilities required by a top-quality institute in the UAE. Moreover, it is a part of the SABIS Group, which is a global education network with a presence in 20 countries. Other popular ISC branches are the International School of Choueifat Al Sufouh and the International School of Choueifat DIP. The school also has branches in Umm Al Quwain, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.

It follows the SABIS Education System, an international curriculum that focuses excessively on academic achievements. All the SABIS Schools, including ISC Abu Dhabi, focus on developing skills that allow students to get admission to top colleges and universities.

The school is open to students aged 4 to 18 years old. Currently, it has over 3,500 students belonging to 79 nationalities. It has 151 teachers and 38 assistant teachers that offer individual attention and care to each student. 

The facilities at the campus fully support the academic needs of students. It also focuses on the development of essential skills through the extra-curricular programme.

Read this guide by Bayut to know more about ISC Abu Dhabi.

• Location: Al Mushrif
• School fees: AED 20,560 - AED 36,220
• Curriculum: SABIS Education Program
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-ed
• ADEK rating: Good
• Years Offered: KG 1 - Grade 12

International School of Choueifat (ISC) Abu Dhabi is located at the edge of the Al Mushrif in Abu Dhabi. Its strategic location allows easy access to popular residential areas in the capital city. These areas include:

• Al Nahyan
• Al Bateen
• Hadbat Al Zaafran
• Capital Centre
• Danet

Al Nahyan, the central part of the rental real estate landscape of Abu Dhabi, is nearest to the school. Named after the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, Al Nahyan is a popular residential spot for apartments. It is one of the oldest residential hubs in Abu Dhabi and has a mixture of new and old apartment buildings. Also, easy access to all the amenities makes it an ideal place to live for families.

• Apartments for rent near ISC Abu Dhabi
• Villas for rent near ISC Abu Dhabi
• Townhouses for rent near ISC Abu Dhabi
• Villas for sale near ISC Abu Dhabi

The campus sprawls over a spacious plot of 35,000 sq.m and houses several school buildings. Outside the campus lies the security check, ensuring the security of students, staff and parents at ISC Abu Dhabi. There is also a parking space for faculty members outside the administration block. This is followed by an administration block with a reception and a waiting area for parents.

Classrooms at ISC Abu Dhabi are bright and spacious. About 100 classrooms accommodate students from kindergarten to Grade 12. Classrooms have proper furniture to ensure a comfortable learning environment for students. The building on the left side of the administrative block is the computer lab. The computer lab is equipped with fast-processing computers, projectors and other ICT gadgets.

From the administration department, there is a library on the left and a theatre on the right. The library is stocked with a wide range of books, novels, journals, newspapers and other reading materials. It also has computer workstations to access the online databases and print out the reading material. The theatre is based on a spacious room with a stage and moveable chairs. This room is used for extra-curricular activities and morning assemblies.

ISC Al Mushrif has a well-equipped physics lab with voltmeters, ammeters and other physics-related equipment. There also exists a display room, a computerised examination hall and a cafeteria for students.

Sports facilities at the campus include two playgrounds based on AstroTurf for middle and high school students. There is also a grass-based outdoor field for soccer and other outdoor spaces. For kindergarten students, there are two play units with playing equipment. For physical education and indoor games like basketball, there is an expansive indoor PE hall. Other facilities at the school include two swimming pools: one for junior and the other for senior students.

The International School of Choueifat (ISC) Abu Dhabi is situated on Mohammed bin Khalifa Street near Khalidiya Mall in Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi. The school is located near the popular Umm Al Emarat Park and Beverly Hills Medical Centre. Umm Al Emarat Park is a 2-minute drive from the school while the Beverly Hills Medical Centre is at 3-minute drive from ISC Al Mushrif.

Those interested in visiting the school can access it through Mohamed Bin Khalifa Street and Sheikh Rashid Bin Shaheed Street, which connects the school with the rest of Abu Dhabi.

International School of Choueifat Abu Dhabi (ISC) Abu Dhabi is one of the oldest educational institutes in Abu Dhabi. It has been providing standard quality education to students for over 40 years. Established in 1978, the school is offering a quality SABIS based curriculum to students from kindergarten to Grade 12. The school understands the dynamics of education and makes changes over time to meet modern-day requirements.

It is a part of SABIS Education, educating students for over 135 years. It is an internationally recognised education management organisation that manages schools in five continents. The school is educating over 70,000 students in schools located in 20 countries. It has a extensive network with schools in UAE, US, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, KSA, Germany, Egypt, Kenya, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Panama.

These schools follow the SABIS Education System, which is an internationally acclaimed curriculum. SABIS Education System is academically rigorous and focuses on developing skills necessary for admissions to colleges and universities. The curriculum differs from others because of its planning and preparing, methodological teaching, frequent assessments, proper follow-up, support and active student participation.

Another strong point of this school is its well-resourced campus. The International School of Choueifat (ISC) Abu Dhabi has a wide range of school facilities that fully support academic and non-academic needs. Availability of technology in classrooms, fast-processing computers in computer labs and equipment in science labs aid in students’ learning. Moreover, the availability of sports and outdoor facilities supports the development of well-rounded skills.

The International School of Choueifat Abu Dhabi campus is accredited by the Accreditation International (AI), Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and National Council for Private School Accreditation (NSCPA). These accreditations ensure that the school follows the international standards and students have ample opportunities after graduation. Students graduated in 2020 pursued 53 majors, including science and engineering, medical and health care, business and finance and humanities in universities around the globe.

Students of ISC Abu Dhabi are equipped with skills that are necessary in the modern-day world. As per the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) awards in 2018, students of ISC Abu Dhabi scored well over the average score for reading, mathematics and science in the UAE. Similarly, the mean scores observed by Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 2019 was higher than many British, American, Indian, IB and MOE schools in the UAE.

The school educates children aged 4 to 18 years old split into the following phases:

At ISC Abu Dhabi, the school follows the SABIS Education Programme. It is an exclusive curriculum practised by SABIS schools throughout the world. SABIS curriculum is an internationally recognised educational programme that is academically rigorous and challenging for students. It focuses more on the academic development of students. However, the school has made modifications to support the non-academic needs of students. ISC Abu Dhabi considers its education system as a dynamic production team, each participant playing its role in students’ development. The faculty members, including the teaching staff, self-audit their role in educating children.

The SABIS curriculum has existed for over 135 years and has been modified to incorporate new learning methodologies. The school specifies daily learning goals for each grade at ISC Abu Dhabi. From KG1 onwards, students complete a series of learning objectives assigned to each grade. It is further supported by SABIS AMS, SABIS Textbooks and extended learning materials. The approach to student learning is based on a highly structured three-step process.

The first step in educating through the SABIS curriculum is the teaching phase. In this phase, teachers deliver updated lectures via interactive whiteboards and or any other ICT facilities available within the classrooms. Teachers further support the delivered lectures through individualised assignments, oral tasks and collaborative works.

This is followed by the second step of the process, which is known as testing and monitoring. In this process, teachers evaluate the understanding of students via written assignments. The assessment allows the teachers to understand the effectiveness of lectures and changes necessary for improved learning.

The last step of the SABIS Education System, students’ follow up, deals with peers reviewing each other’s work.

Besides, the school has special academic support programmes for students with weak academic skills. These programmes are offered to students at the time of admission and are charged separately. Summer School is the first special academic support programme that lasts for six weeks. It is usually offered from June to August and helps in bridging the skill gap of students before the start of a new academic year. The other support programme, special lessons, is offered to students that are weak in one subject. The programme completes when the child reaches the skill level of his or her peers.

The SABIS Student Life Organisation (SLO) is a key pillar of the SABIS Educational Programme. It allows the school to offer real-life experiences to students. Consequently, it results in the development of the following 21st century skills:

Those in the high school stage studying for the SABIS High School Diploma must pass at least five subjects in addition to Arabic and Islamic Studies as mandated by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Please note that Arabic is compulsory for Arab students and optional for non-Arabs whereas Islamic Studies is mandatory for all Muslims in Grade 1 to Grade 12.

Students in the high school stage sit for a variety of standarised exam subjects, which are as follows:

Advanced Placement

AS Levels and A Levels

Please note that students in the AS Level study all the subjects mentioned above except Arabic.

IGCSE

Please note that students have the choice to opt for either English as First Language, English as Second Language or English Literature. Similarly, students can opt for First or Foreign Language option for Arabic and French.

Besides the aforementioned, students also have the option of SAT, TOEFL, EMSAT, IELTS, DELF and ACT.

For more information, contact the school.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is a governmental entity regulating the education sector of Abu Dhabi. It was established in 2005 to regulate the education sector of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra regions. For this purpose, ADEK follows the Irtiqaa Programme, which allows it to inspect the performances of schools every 18 to 24 months. Afterwards, it issues a detailed report based on strengths and weaknesses. The rating is done following a six-point rating scale that varies from outstanding (best) to very weak (worst) rating. ADEK evaluates schools’ performance by considering the following six performance standards:

• Students’ Achievements
• Students’ Personal and Emotional Development, and Innovation skills
• Teaching and Assessment
• Curriculum
• Leadership and Management
• Protection, Care, Guidance and Support of Students

In its latest inspection report for the year 2019-2020, ADEK rated the performance of ISC Abu Dhabi as Good. There is an improvement in its overall rating as it was rated acceptable in the previous inspection. ADEK observed improvements in students’ achievement, leadership and management, teaching and assessment and curriculum. Whereas, the performance standards for students’ personal achievement and innovation and protection and care remain the same.

The key areas of strengths for the International School of Choueifat Abu Dhabi are:

• Commendable students’ attainment in the high school examination. Moreover, the overall achievement of students in English, Arabic as a First Language (AFL), science, mathematics, IT, PE and French is also a strength of ISC Abu Dhabi.
• Students make their best effort due to the overall consistency in the quality of teaching.
• Students’ behaviour and attitude, understanding of UAE culture and heritage, and respect for Islamic values are also the strength of this school.
• The school also provide quality provisions for support, guidance and care.
• The school’s leadership, in particular the director of the school, plays an important role in improving the standards of the school.

ADEK also highlighted some weaknesses and provided the following recommendations:

• The school needs to improve the attainment of students in middle school for all subjects, including Arabic as a second language (ASL) and UAE Social Studies. For this purpose, the school needs to build successfully integrated learning support (ILS) and implement opportunities for collaboration and teamwork. ISC Abu Dhabi can also ensure that the lesson plans fully develop the reading and writing skills of students studying ASL. Furthermore, teachers must increase the difficulty of lessons for UAE social studies.
• It should make provisions for more-able students to reach their full potential. For this purpose, teachers can focus on long-term planning and incorporate individualised activities for such students.
• The International School of Choueifat Abu Dhabi also needs to develop opportunities for all to take part in creative and practical works. For this purpose, the school needs to review the lesson planning to incorporate practical and creative tasks.

The academic year at ISC Abu Dhabi starts in August, ends in June, and has three terms:

For further information, view the academic calendar of ISC Abu Dhabi.

International School of Choueifat (ISC) Abu Dhabi is an inclusive school that accepts admission applications of all. The school follows a non-selective admission policy and decisions are made solely on the academic skills. Age is a limiting factor in deciding the best grade for your child. The admission process is easy to follow.

Those interested in enrolling their kids in this educational institute are encouraged to visit the school. The school tour serves as an opportunity for parents to understand the school’s vision and mission, teaching staff and campus facilities. To book an appointment, see the contact information at the end of the guide.

After making a school tour, parents can apply by submitting the application form to the admission office. The form is also available at the admission department of ISC Abu Dhabi. The documents required at the time of submission are:

• A copy of the student’s and parents’ passport
• A copy of the student’s and parent’s valid UAE residence visa
• Recent passport size photos of the student
• A copy of the student’s and parents’ Emirates ID cards
• A copy of the student’s birth certificate (in English)
• Recent school records
• A copy of the student’s vaccination record
• Completed medical form

Appointments for interviews and diagnostic testing will be communicated with parents after a complete online application is submitted. Testing process is as follows:

• Students applying to KG 1 to Grade 2 will sit for an online interview via video conference as part of the admission process.
• Students applying to grades 3 and up will sit for online diagnostic tests as part of the admission process. Upon completion, the diagnostic tests are marked and a decision upon placement is made by the school.

The school informs the parents about the placement in a few working days. Students that are below the expected levels are offered special academic support programmes. These programmes bridge students’ skill gap before the start of the academic year.

In case of queries, contact the school secretary at +971 2 4461444. For further information, read the admission process at ISC Abu Dhabi.

Below is the age placement table that parents must follow before initiating the admission process.

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

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

The International School of Choueifat (ISC) Abu Dhabi fees are as follows:

Other charges are as follows:

Currently, the school does not offer any scholarship programme to its students.

The school has a large indoor space dedicated as a cafeteria for students. The cafeteria has a proper seating arrangement where students can eat home-packed lunch boxes or purchase food items from the canteen. It serves as a place for social interaction where students can make friends and interact with peers while having lunch. The entire cafeteria, including the canteen, is clean and well maintained. Both hot and cold food items are available at affordable prices. All the food products are prepared in a hygienic environment using fresh and high-quality ingredients.

ISC Abu Dhabi offers a safe and reliable transport facility to students at affordable prices. It has a well-maintained fleet of buses that picks and drops children to and from different parts of Abu Dhabi. The transportation charges are the same for all grades.

International School of Choueifat Abu Dhabi is a day-only school and does not offer boarding or hostel-related facilities to students. Those living far from the school can use the school transport facility to reach school on time.

Currently, there are no holiday camps at ISC Abu Dhabi.

Sports are an important part of the students’ lives at the International School of Choueifat Abu Dhabi Al Mushrif campus. It is also integrated into the extra-curricular programme at the school. Students are found using the high-end sports facility available at the campus to relax after taking classes. To support students with athletic skills, the school has two playgrounds that have Astroturf pitch. These playgrounds are used for a variety of outdoor sports that require large spaces to play and practice. For football lovers, the school has a spacious grass-based soccer pitch.

For physical training and indoor sports, the school has an indoor physical education (PE) hall. The hall is extensively used for sports, such as badminton, basketball and volleyball. At the rare end of the campus, the school has a separate swimming pool for younger and older students. Moreover, the school has playgrounds with swings and other equipment for kindergarten students.

International School of Choueifat Abu Dhabi arranges several events throughout the academic year. Despite following the academically rigorous SABIS curriculum, the school believes that non-academic activities are crucial in maintaining the right balance. For this purpose, the school organises the following extra-curricular activities:

To support students’ learning beyond the walls of classrooms, ISC Abu Dhabi arranges several field trips. These trips are of educational and recreational nature, allowing students to learn and enjoy at the same time.

One of the benefits of such trips is that students are exposed to a practical environment where they correlate the lessons taught in classrooms with actual settings. Some noteworthy field trips arranged by ISC Abu Dhabi are:

• Abu Dhabi Science Festival
• BOUNCE, Abu Dhabi
• Legoland, Dubai
• Abu Dhabi Kids Park
• Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
• Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
• Motion Gate

One of the most popular field trips for students of ISC Abu Dhabi was the visit to BOUNCE, Abu Dhabi. Students of Grade 10 were taken to this indoor entertainment centre in Abu Dhabi. Here, they enjoyed a range of activities including the free-jump arena, super tramp, zip line, Bounce Fit, dodgeball and much more.

Students of ISC Abu Dhabi are currently getting after-school support in the form of extra-curricular activities. Some sports-related activities happen after regular school timings.

The school has a clinic that is used to provide medical assistance to students with mild to moderate sickness and injuries. The school staff has nurses that take care of students, manage medical records and run a health awareness programme for students.

Parents are an important stakeholder at the International School of Choueifat (ISC) Abu Dhabi. They play an important role in the development and learning of students, especially outside the school premises. Therefore, the school emphasises on effective communication among parents, teachers and the school for effective learning. Whenever the school feels the need for communicating with parents, the school will use one of the several modes of communication available at ISC Abu Dhabi.

Parent-teacher meetings are an important mode of communication that allows teachers and parents to discuss the progress of children. At ISC Abu Dhabi, a minimum of three parent-teacher meetings are arranged. In these meetings, students’ report cards are shared with them. These meetings are called mostly after each term.

SABIS Digital Platform is another source of communication between the school and parents. It is a password-protected platform where parents can access vital information such as academic performance, teachers’  feedback, circulars, notification and much more.

Moreover, parents can visit the official school website, social media pages and WhatsApp groups to contact the school or gain information.

• Address: The International School of Choueifat – Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Bin Khalifa Street, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• Telephone Number: +971-2-446-1444
• Fax Number: +971-2-446-1048
• Email Address: iscad@iscad.sabis.net
• Official Website
• Facebook
• Twitter

Note that the cover image belongs to the International School of Choueifat (ISC) Abu Dhabi

What are the timings of your school?

School timings are not published on the website. However, ISC Al Mushrif remains open from Monday to Friday.

Do you conduct after-school activities?

The school offers a multitude of extracurricular activities to physical and mentally nourish children. Many of these activities are offered after school hours.

How many grades are there in your school?

ISC offers education from KG 1 until Grade 12.

Does your school follow a co-education model?

Yes, the school follows a co-educational model.

Do you have any special education programmes or learning plans for students of determination?

The school has a non-selective admission policy, therefore different learning facilities and programs are in place to assist students of determination during their school years.

Can you please describe the academic calendar of your school?

The academic calendar runs from August until June of the next year.

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

The tuition fee ranges from AED 20,560 to AED 36,220.

How do you communicate with parents?

parents can get in touch with teachers and vice versa through parent-teacher meetings, SABIS Digital Platform, WhatsApp groups, social media sites and the school website.

Do you have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

Yes, the school has a cafeteria on the premise where you can buy snacks and refreshment and have your meals in the break.

How often does your school arrange field trips?

Recreational and educational field trips are arranged by the school round the year.