Yas American Academy, Abu Dhabi

Yas American Academy, located on the vibrant Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, is the first American curriculum school established by Aldar Academies. The school follows the prestigious US Common Core, Massachusetts State Curriculum. Yas American Academy offers a structured learning environment and serves students across all phases, from Kindergarten to High School. Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the academy provides state-of-the-art facilities, making it a premier choice for education on Yas Island.

Currently, the school has over 1,000 students, with plans to expand up to 1,500 students through the high school phase. The majority of students are Emiratis, with others from the USA, UK and other European countries. Boys and girls study together until grade 5, after which they are taught in separate sections.

• Location: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
• Fees: AED 53,940 - AED 65,060
• Curriculum: American curriculum
• Co-ed or Segregate: Co-ed till Grade 5
• Grades: Pre-KG - Grade 12
• ADEK Rating: Good

Yas American Academy Abu Dhabi, as the name suggests, is located on the Yas Island. It is a vibrant leisure and entertainment hub, known for its world-class attractions like Ferrari World, Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Waterworld. It offers a blend of luxury, adventure and family-friendly activities, making it one of the top residential destinations in the UAE. The nearby communities are:

• Masdar City
• Al Raha Gardens
• Khalifa City

All these neighbouring communities are renowned and located in the south of Yas Island. Located 16 minutes away via Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street (E10), Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is a pioneering sustainable urban development. It features cutting-edge green technology, renewable energy solutions and a blend of residential and commercial properties. Adjacent to Masdar City are Al Raha Gardens and Khalifa City.

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The Yas American Academy Abu Dhabi campus is designed to provide an exceptional educational experience in a state-of-the-art environment. The school boasts extensive facilities, including a 400-seat auditorium, music studio and PE hall, as well as specialised spaces for STEAM subjects like science laboratories, engineering workshops and food technology laboratories.

For extracurricular activities, YAA offers a broad range of sports facilities including AstroTurf playing fields, a multi-purpose sports hall, dance studio and two large swimming pools for boys and girls. The academy’s performing arts facilities, including a large auditorium and black-box theatre, support students’ creative expression. Additionally, the campus is equipped with a well-resourced library, Food Technology lab, seminar rooms for small group teaching and a senior school center with video conference suites, fostering global educational connections. A fully staffed medical clinic ensures the well-being of students throughout the school day.

The school is opposite to the West Yas Mosque near West Yas Plaza in Zone K. Zone K lies in the West Yas community of Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Yas American Academy Yas Island is the first US curriculum school opened by Aldar Academies that offers the top-ranked Massachusetts State curriculum. The academy provides a structured learning environment tailored to students of all ages. The innovative approach includes play-based learning in Kindergarten, inquiry-based learning in elementary grades and project-based learning in middle and high school phases, ensuring high-quality education.

At Yas American Academy Abu Dhabi, every student has a clear path to success, with a curriculum that is broad and balanced. The school is known for offering the best education in the best surroundings, with extensive sporting facilities, dedicated performing arts spaces and a well-resourced library. Yas American Academy Yas Island is a diverse international school, celebrating over 40 nationalities among the students, fostering a vibrant and inclusive community.

Aldar Yas American Academy Yas Island Abu Dhabi currently educates children from Pre-KG to Grade 12. The education system at the school is split into the following phases:

Yas American Academy Yas Island Abu Dhabi follows the Massachusetts State Curriculum, known for its rigorous, comprehensive approach and ties to top universities like Harvard and MIT. This curriculum focuses on interactive, inquiry-based learning, physical education and extracurricular activities. Students work towards the American High School Diploma, recognised globally for entry into leading higher education institutions.

Kindergarten

In Kindergarten (Pre-KG, KG1 and KG2), Yas American Academy by Aldar utilises a play-based learning model. This approach fosters early development through interactive and engaging activities, laying a strong foundation for future learning.

Elementary

For Grades 1 to 5, the curriculum includes core subjects such as Arabic, English language, arts, mathematics, science, social studies and Islamic studies (for Muslims). Students also engage in health and physical education, creative arts and Integrated Learning.

Middle School

In Grades 6 to 8, students continue with core subjects including Arabic, English language, arts, mathematics, science, social studies and Islamic studies (for Muslims). They also have the option to choose from elective subjects like Information Technology (IT), economics, business education, pre-calculus, United States history, electronics and computer coding.

High School

High School students (Grades 9 to 12) have access to a broad range of 37 Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which offer university-level content and the opportunity to earn college credit.

ADEK is a governmental entity that regulates the education sector in Abu Dhabi. Through the Irtiqaa Programme, it inspects the performance of schools and issues a report on it every two years. Here is a brief explanation of each rating:

Yas American Academy was last inspected by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) for the 2021-22 academic year, where it was rated as "Good". This rating was consistent with evaluations from the previous academic years of 2018-19 and 2016-17.

The academic year at Yas American Academy is divided into three terms, each featuring a balanced mix of instructional periods, holidays and special observances.

• Term 1 begins in late August and includes important dates such as the National Day. It ends in mid-December, followed by a winter holiday.
• Term 2 starts in early January, with a mid-term break in February and includes significant events like Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr. This term concludes in late March, leading into the spring holiday.
• Term 3 begins in mid-April and wraps up in early July. It encompasses end-of-year festivities and concludes with a summer break, preparing students for the next academic year.

For more information, check out the academic calendar of Yas American Academy.

Yas American Academy has first-come-first-serve admission policy. The enrolment process is straightforward and consists of four key steps:

• Online Enquiry: Begin by filling out the online enquiry form. A Parent Relations Executive will contact you within two business days to guide you through the admission process.
• School Tour: Book a school tour with the senior leadership. This is an excellent opportunity for parents to explore the school environment and facilities.
• Application Submission: If satisfied, complete the registration process by submitting the application form with accurate details. You will need to upload your child's passport, Emirates ID and a recent school report. The admission team will contact you within two working days to arrange an assessment for your child.
• Assessment and Enrollment: After the assessment, the school will notify you of the decision within two working days. To finalise the admission, pay the registration fee of AED 2,000 to secure your child's place.

For more information, read the admission process at Yas American Academy.

The age-grade guidelines are:

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 Yas American Academy fee structure is given below:

For more information, view the fee structure of Yas American Academy.

The school has two cafeterias and a parent's cafe that provides healthy and nutritious food items.

Yas American Academy offers convenient bus transportation through Emirates Transport, the official provider for Aldar Academies. The cost for a return journey is 5,000 AED per year.

Several sports facilities are available to students at Yas American Academy. These facilities include:

Yas American Academy offers a variety of extra-curricular activities (ECAs) for students to enjoy. Most of these activities are led by teachers and are included in the tuition, meaning there is no extra cost for participation.

Yas American Academy offers a variety of enriching field trips designed to enhance learning beyond the classroom. Notable excursions include recreational visits to Fun Works Dubai and cooking workshops at Wagamama for Grade 1 students. Grade 2 students have the opportunity to attend cultural events like the Hay Festival 2019 at Manarat Al Saadiyat. Additionally, older students can benefit from international trips.

There is a school clinic equipped with facilities to take care of injured and ill children and staff. The academy has employed a full-time nurse who takes care of patients throughout the day.

Yas American Academy offers multiple communication channels to keep parents and teachers well-informed and engaged. Regular parent-teacher meetings provide a dedicated space to discuss a children's progress and development plans. The school also maintains a parent portal, which allows access to essential information.

The academy's official website is another valuable resource, includes newsletters, academic diaries, social walls and a gallery. Additionally, the school utilises social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp groups to further facilitate communication and keep the community connected.

• Telephone number: +971-2-885-7000
• Email: PRE@yasamericanacademy.ae

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Yas American Academy Website
• Yas American Academy Facebook
• Yas American Academy Instagram
• Yas American Academy LinkedIn

HOW MANY GRADES ARE THERE IN THE SCHOOL?

Yas American Academy offers classes from Pre-KG to Grade 12.

WHAT IS THE TUITION FEE CHARGED BY THE SCHOOL?

Yas American Academy fee ranges between AED 53,940 and AED 65,060.

DOES THE SCHOOL FOLLOW A CO-ED MODEL?

Yas American Academy offers a co-education model till Grade 5.

HOW MANY STUDENTS DOES THE SCHOOL HAVE AT THE MOMENT?

Yas American Academy currently has over 1,000 students.

HOW MANY TEACHERS ARE CURRENTLY TEACHING IN THE SCHOOL?

The school currently has about 100 teachers.

Note that the cover image belongs to Yas American Academy.