Ras Al Khaimah American Academy

Ras Al Khaimah American Academy, previously known as RAK Academy for Girls, was established in 2009 to offer quality education to girls. His Highness Sheikh Faisal Bin Saqr Al Qassimi had a dream to educate his daughters in a state-of-the-art school; hence the RAK Academy was established to serve the entire community. Presently, it is one of the best schools in Ras Al Khaimah following the American curriculum. Recently, the school has opened a middle building campus for boys in the same campus. 

RAK American Academy offers classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12. There are 1,200 students and 150 teachers. English is the primary language of instruction.

The school’s mission is to create a safe, nurturing environment for students where they can develop life-long learning skills. Its motto is Share, Care, Empower and Inspire.

• Location: Seih Al Uraibi
• School fees: AED 17,984 - AED 37,971
• Curriculum: American
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-ed from KG 1 - Grade 4 | Segregate from Grade 4 - Grade 12
• Years Offered: KG 1 - Grade 12

Residential communities near the school include Al Zahra and Al Soor. Other areas in proximity include:

• Al Nakheel
• Liwa Badr
• Seih Al Burairat
• Seih Al Qusaidat

Al Nakheel is a waterfront residential area in Ras Al Khaimah dominated by low-rise buildings. The apartments on offer are affordable compared to other residential areas in the surroundings.

Those looking to live near RAK American Academy can consider:

• Apartment for rent near RAK American Academy

The huge school campus is divided into two sections. Spacious corridors, elevators and well-maintained classrooms are prominent features of the school. A large area is dedicated to the Kindergarten section.
Physics, Biology and Chemistry laboratories are well-equipped.

ICT labs have the latest technologies for better concept building. Students are encouraged to spend time in the well-stocked library. Kindergarten classrooms are decorated in attractive colours and there is a separate indoor play area for the little ones. The shaded outdoor play area has different slides. The multi-purpose hall can be used for events. There is plenty of parking space just outside the school campus.

Ras Al Khaimah American Academy is located on Sheikh Saqr Bin Khalid Road, Seih Al Uraibi. Other schools at a short distance offer different curriculums. Shopping malls including Manar Mall and RAK Mall are also present in proximity to the school.

RAK AA is Cognia accredited – a well-acclaimed international recognition given to schools that show exceptional performance. It is a combination of AdvancED and Measured Progress. Schools that are Cognia accredited get three U.S recognised accreditation seals including:

• Southern Association of Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) – established in 1895
• North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) – established in 1895
• Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) – established in 1917

Ras Al Khaimah American School is the first American curriculum school in the emirate that offers classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Students can opt for additional courses such as SAT, IELTS, PIRLS, TIMSS and IBT. The school itself is a registered SAT and IELTS testing centre. Also, the school offers Advanced Placement classes and pre-AP classes, and have introduced the MERIT Award System to address incentives, interests, and behavior.

RAK American Academy fee is affordable and the school offers free support lessons depending on the specific needs of each student, especially to those coming from government schools. It is one of the best options for students who prefer to study the American curriculum.

Another milestone achieved by the school includes receiving Winner of 2022-2023 international Steven’s Initiative. Additionally, RAKA Academy is the first K-12 school in the UAE to win an action research grant for the RAKAA Scheherazade Project.

RAK American Academy offers classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Years offered are divided into four sections including:

Please note that the school follows a co-educational model from KG 1 until Grade 3. From Grade 4 and above, boys and girls are taught separately. Also boys are offered classes from Grade 4 to Grade 10 only.

Ras Al Khaimah American Academy (RAK AA) follows the American curriculum aligned with the American Common Core Standards. Arabic, Islamic Education and Arabic Social Studies follow the Ministry of Education guidelines.

Kindergartners and students from Grade 1 to Grade 5 are taught English, Science and Maths by classrooms/homeroom teachers. Specialist teachers are hired for Islamic Studies, Social Studies and Arabic to teach students from Grade 6 to Grade 12.

The table below shows subjects offered at each stage of education.

Ras Al Khaimah American Academy academic calendar is split into three terms: winter, spring and summer.

The online application form is available on the official website when admissions open. Interested parents are suggested to fill the online registration form.

RAK American Academy admission authority operates admission arrangements in line with the MOE (Ministry of Education) requirements. Once the admission form is filled and signed, the applicant needs to submit mandatory documents. Applicants also have to pay a non-refundable amount of AED 1,000 as admission deposit. All applicants have to appear for an entrance exam so the school can determine their English proficiency. Note that English is the official medium of instruction.

The school gives priority to siblings of already enrolled students. Those children who are not offered a place after all the over-subscription criteria has been applied will be placed on a waiting list for one full school term. Should a place become available, RAKAA will immediately offer that place to the child at the top of the waiting list.

Only 25 students are accepted for Kindergarten and Elementary classes while class sizes for Grade 6 to Grade 12 are limited to 30.

Parents must submit the following documents as a part of registration requirements as mentioned on the official school website to proceed with the admission process:

• Completed and signed application form
• 6 recent passport size photographs of the student
• Copy of the family book (only for UAE nationals)
• Emirates ID
• Transfer certificate
• Passport copy of the applicant’s father or guardian
• Copy of the applicant’s passport with visa (original should be presented)
• Copy of the immunisation record
• Copy of the birth certificate
• Report card and transcript from the previous school
• A recommendation letter from the previous school

Prior to enrollment, parents must ensure their children meet the following age requirements:

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

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

Ras Al Khaimah American Academy fee structure is mentioned below:

The quoted fee can be paid in three installments; it does not include the cost of books, uniform and transportation. RAK Academy has a sibling discount policy. A 10% discount is offered to the third child and the fourth child of the already enrolled sibling gets a 15% discount.

There is a well-maintained school canteen for students to buy healthy snacks and lunch. Fresh ingredients are supplied by the nominated vendors and the school believes in tracing each meal from farm to fork.
The menu is updated regularly by Abela & Co. Students can opt for hot meals or snacks, salads and fresh sandwiches which they can eat in the dining hall.

Food safety and the personal hygiene practices of the canteen staff during food preparation, storage and cleaning are given special attention.

While crisps, sweets and other unhealthy snacks are not encouraged at the school, they are not completely banned. Sweets are allowed during birthday parties and as rewards from teachers but in limits. Students can bring juice, milk and water. However, flavoured milk and fizzy drinks are not allowed.

The school offers school transportation to facilitate students living in different areas of Ras Al Khaimah. Parents and students are encouraged to follow the rules to ensure their safety during the journey. All buses depart 10 to 15 minutes after school dismissal.

Those using the bus service need to observe some rules:

• Students must be present on time at the designated area for pick-up.
• Children from KG to Grade 2 must be accompanied by an adult at the stop
• Parents should be aware that drivers cannot wait longer than two minutes at any stop during the morning.
• Should the child be late, the bus will move to the next stop.
• Buses depart 10 to 15 minutes after school dismissal.

Students are encouraged to participate in various sports at RAK American Academy.

Students are encouraged to participate in creative extra-curricular activities. The school organises and participates in many inter-school competitions.

The academy recently secured the top position in The Republic of Future Innovators and & Entrepreneurs (TROFIE) Competition (2019-2020). Students of Year 12 and Year 13 showed their entrepreneurial skills. More than 5,000 students belonging to different schools in the UAE took part in the competition.

RAK AA Elementary School and its ICT department achieved awards in the Regional UAE First Lego Junior League Competition.

Under the RAK AA Leadership Programme, three students from Grade 9 and Grade 10 attended the Harvard Model Congress Dubai 2020. Students play the role of senators, congressmen and democrats while engaging in debates during the three-day conference.

The Academy organises outdoor field trips for students. Risk assessment is done before the trip especially if the journey involves going outside Ras Al Khaimah. Teachers contact the organiser/company to obtain every little detail regarding the venue and surroundings.

The school arranges field trips to Oli Oli, The Green Planet and other recreational spots for kids in the UAE.

Students are encouraged to participate in after-school activities and clubs. The after-school programme ensures that academic classes are not disturbed and students focus on the activities taking place after the school dismissal.

Some prominent after-school clubs and activities include:

The school clinic is managed by a qualified nurse. If young students require any medication during the school hours, his/her parents must discuss the matter with the homeroom teacher who can allow them to come to the clinic to administer the medication.

For students of Middle and High school, all prescribed medicines should be handed to the school office. The school nurse is responsible to manage and administer medicines. All medication must be handed over to the nurse and recorded in the register. The school only accepts medication in original packaging and there should be a signed consent form by the parents with details of the dosing regimen.

The RAK Academy Parents Portal is the best communication platform for parents. The web-based program allows parents to view their child’s progress, marks and attendance.

Parents and Teachers Association or PTARAKAA includes a group of volunteer parents responsible for managing services and events for RAK AA. They raise funds for resources that fall outside the school budget.

Large scale events such as National Day, Flag Day, breast cancer awareness, winter souq, sports day and international day are organised with the support of PTARAKAA. The PTA committee consists of 16 members who meet formally every term.

• Telephone: +971-7-204-7999 / +971-56-500-4637
• Email: info@rakaag.com
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Note that the cover image belongs to Ras Al Khaimah American Academy.

How many grades/years are there in your school?

RAK American Academy offers education from KG 1 until Grade 12.

Is there any waiting list?

Yes, students who are not offered a place even after submitting all the documents and meeting all criteria will be placed on a waiting list.

Does your school follow a co-education model?

RAKAA offers a co-ed model from KG 1 until KG 3 after which girls are taught separately. 

How many students are currently studying in your school?

Currently, there are over 1,200 students enroled at the school.

Can you please describe the academic calendar of your school?

The academic calendar starts in late August and ends in the first week of July.

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

Ras Al Khaimah American Academy charges fee from AED 17,984 to AED 37,971.

How do you communicate with parents?

Parents can communicate via a parent portal or by being part of the Parent and Teacher Association. Other ways of communication include newsletter, attending school events and WhatsApp groups.

Do you have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

Yes, there's a canteen on school premise serving fresh meals and refreshments to students.

How often does your school arrange field trips?

The school arranges educational and recreational trips for students.

How many teachers are currently teaching in your school?

There are around 150 teachers teaching at the school.