Al-Bayan International School vs American Baccalaureate School

	A Al-Bayan International School Kuwait City, Kuwait	A American Baccalaureate School Kuwait City, Kuwait
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KWD 2,434 - 5,273	Fees / year KWD 2,650 - 4,810
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP)
Pupils	Pupils 436	Pupils 1,081
Typical class size	Typical class size 15	Typical class size 23
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Arabic
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2006
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location —	Location Abraq Khaitan, Block 6, Street #59, Ibn Zuhair Street, Kuwait. The campus is located in Kuwait. The facilities include over 100 classrooms, a networked library and media center, fully equipped science labs, four state-of-the-art computer labs, two full cafeterias serving hot meals, a gymnasium, and an indoor semi-Olympic size swimming pool.
Stages	Stages —	Stages Kindergarten; Elementary; Middle and High School
School type	School type —	School type Private, non-profit college preparatory school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix High school student body is 99% Kuwaiti.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation The school has American affiliation.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The school week runs Sunday through Thursday. The school day begins at 7:30 a.m. and includes a daily 20-minute homeroom advisory period, followed by seven 48-minute instructional periods. Extracurricular activities occur after school.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and registration fees - Application / assessment: an admissions assessment and interview are required as part of the enrolment process; a registration fee of KWD 100 is required with the application. Tuition fees by year group (annual and calculated per-term) The published annual tuition for the 2025/2026 academic year is shown below (amounts in Kuwaiti Dinars). Per-term figures in parentheses are calculated by dividing the published annual fee by three (Annual ÷ 3) because a term-by-term breakdown was not published. The per-term numbers are presented for convenience and are calculated values, not an official school breakdown. - Kindergarten 2 (K2 / age 4): KWD 2,434 (per term: KWD 811.33). - Kindergarten 3 (K3 / age 5): KWD 2,650 (per term: KWD 883.33). - Grade 1: KWD 4,086 (per term: KWD 1,362.00). - Grade 2: KWD 4,086 (per term: KWD 1,362.00). - Grade 3: KWD 4,086 (per term: KWD 1,362.00). - Grade 4: KWD 4,086 (per term: KWD 1,362.00). - Grade 5: KWD 4,086 (per term: KWD 1,362.00). - Grade 6: KWD 4,770 (per term: KWD 1,590.00). - Grade 7: KWD 4,770 (per term: KWD 1,590.00). - Grade 8: KWD 4,770 (per term: KWD 1,590.00). - Grade 9: KWD 5,273 (per term: KWD 1,757.67). - Grade 10: KWD 5,273 (per term: KWD 1,757.67). - Grade 11: KWD 5,273 (per term: KWD 1,757.67). - Grade 12: KWD 5,273 (per term: KWD 1,757.67). Billing schedule and payment terms - Parents are required to pay tuition fees on or before the due date indicated on the school invoice. - The school's published figures are shown as annual tuition totals; a three‑installment structure (September, January and April) is commonly used across American-curriculum schools in Kuwait and is the basis for the per-term calculations above (per-term = annual ÷ 3). Those per-term amounts are calculated values for reference and are not a published BIS schedule. Boarding fees - Al‑Bayan International School operates as a day school; there is no boarding provision. Other costs and mandatory charges - Uniform: student uniform is mandatory from KG1 through Grade 12. No published uniform price was available. - Additional costs that families should expect (amounts not published): textbooks and book packs, exam fees (external assessment / university‑entrance testing where applicable), school trips, after‑school activities, and optional or route‑based transportation. These items are commonly charged separately to tuition. Refund information - A specific, school‑published refund policy for tuition, registration or other fees was not published in the available fee material. The school requires the registration fee with application; schools in Kuwait commonly treat some application/registration payments as non‑refundable. Where other schools publish explicit deposit/refund rules those vary by school and by timing of withdrawal. The per-term figures above are calculated values and not a statement of refund terms. Fee payment options - No detailed, school‑published list of accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, cheque, etc.) was found in the published fee material reviewed. Schools in Kuwait commonly accept bank transfer, cheque and/or card payments. Cheque payment instructions are used by other Kuwaiti international schools.	Fee details Application fees - Application fee (new applicants): KWD 50 (non‑refundable). - Registration fee (payable at registration): KWD 200 (non‑refundable). Tuition fees by year group (annual and per installment for the 2025–2026 academic year) - Pre‑K: Annual tuition KWD 2,243. Installments: 1st KWD 1,025 (due 31 Aug 2025), 2nd KWD 1,018 (due 31 Jan 2026). - KG‑1: Annual tuition KWD 2,815. Installments: 1st KWD 1,310 (due 31 Aug 2025), 2nd KWD 1,305 (due 31 Jan 2026). - KG‑2: Annual tuition KWD 2,954. Installments: 1st KWD 1,380 (due 31 Aug 2025), 2nd KWD 1,374 (due 31 Jan 2026). - Grades 1–4: Annual tuition KWD 4,408. Installments: 1st KWD 2,105 (due 31 Aug 2025), 2nd KWD 2,103 (due 31 Jan 2026). - Grades 5–8: Annual tuition KWD 4,645. Installments: 1st KWD 2,225 (due 31 Aug 2025), 2nd KWD 2,220 (due 31 Jan 2026). - Grades 9–12: Annual tuition KWD 4,885. Installments: 1st KWD 2,345 (due 31 Aug 2025), 2nd KWD 2,340 (due 31 Jan 2026). Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard tuition billing is in two installments with due dates shown as 31 August and 31 January for the academic year schedule above. Installment amounts are listed beside each grade above. - Cheques should be drawn payable to: "Oxford International for Educational Services." Payment dates and installment arrangements are subject to change per school policy. - Sibling discounts: first child—no discount; second child—KWD 100 discount; third child—10% discount; fourth child—10% discount. Boarding fees - No boarding/hostel fees are published. Boarding services are not listed as part of the school's fee schedule. Other costs and mandatory additional fees - Photo: KWD 10 (mandatory). - Locker (Grades 3–12): KWD 10. - PSAT exam (Grades 9–11): KWD 10. - Agenda/planner (Grades 3–12): KWD 7. - Textbook fees, consumable text fees, lab fees, course‑specific materials (e.g., oceanography book, culinary arts class), Windows laptop requirement (Grades 3–12), and school supplies for KG are additional charges that are not included in the annual tuition and will be billed separately as applicable. Transportation charges and extra‑curricular activity fees are charged separately. Specific amounts for these items are set per item/program and billed in addition to tuition. Refund information - Amounts paid to the school are non‑refundable for the application fee (KWD 50), registration fee (KWD 200), tuition fee, textbook fee, transportation charges, and extra‑curricular activities fees. Fee payment options and notes on payment methods - The published fee schedule specifies cheques to be drawn to "Oxford International for Educational Services." No alternative payment methods (credit card, online portal, bank transfer) are specified on the published tuition and fees schedule. Parents should use the cheque instruction as the named payee when submitting payment per the billing schedule.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement Uniforms are required. Uniform Order Sheets are available for New Students (Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle–High School; boys and girls) and Returning Students (KG1 to Grade 12; boys and girls).
Food options	Food options —	Food options Two full cafeterias serve hot meals.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership The American Baccalaureate School is a private, non-profit institution. It is formally recognized by the Kuwait Ministry of Private Education and accredited by Cognia.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details —	Curriculum details The American Baccalaureate School uses the Common Core Standards. For grades K-8, there are grade-by-grade standards in English language arts/literacy and mathematics; for grades 9-12, standards are grouped into 9-10 and 11-12 bands. The standards are research-based, clear and aligned with college and career expectations, emphasize rigorous content and higher-order thinking, and mastery of the standards is essential for success in college, career, and life. They draw on international models and input from educators, researchers, assessment developers, professional organizations, parents and students, to prepare students for the global economy. A range of supports is provided for all students, including those with special needs and English language learners. The Diploma Program emphasizes strong foundations in English and Arabic literacy.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Average class size is 20-23 students. ABS has a teaching staff of 229 individuals from over 39 countries.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression The School Profile 2024-2025 shows graduates gaining admission to universities in the United States, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Examples of U.S. institutions include the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, UC Irvine, the University of Colorado, Michigan State University, Yale University among others. Kuwait institutions listed include Kuwait University, GUST, and the American University of Kuwait, and UK institutions include the University of Glasgow, Bristol University, City, University of London, and the University of Manchester.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered to high school students starting in their junior year, including AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP English Literature and Composition, AP English Language and Composition, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Biology. AP exams are held each May and can earn college credit or advanced placement depending on scores.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning The school provides personal, social, and academic support through the ABS Counseling Department for students in grades 9-12. The counseling program helps students become college- and career-ready with guidance and resources focused on personal development. Character education is part of campus life. Students participate in activities that support social growth and leadership, including Student Council, the school yearbook, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, Green Ambassadors, and community service initiatives. Service learning is integrated within ABS and the wider community.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) ABS does not have the programs and resources to assist those children who have special academic, social or physical needs.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing Health and safety are ABS's top priorities. The health center, supervised by professionally qualified nurses, provides routine check-ups, first aid, vaccinations, and other health services during school hours and focuses on the physical and emotional well-being of students. The health clinic collaborates with parents and staff to foster a caring, safe, and supportive environment for all students.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding ABS prioritizes health and safety and works with parents and staff to maintain a caring, safe, and supportive environment for all students.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview ABS sits on a 25,000-square-meter campus housing Kindergarten through High School. The technology-centered campus includes over 100 classrooms, campus-wide internet, and fully networked classrooms with Interactive Panel Boards. There are two swimming pools and two cafeterias serving hot meals and fresh snacks. Specialist rooms support culinary arts, music, art, fine arts, and Islamic studies. Four semi-covered playground areas with basketball hoops, soccer goals, and organized lunchtime activities, plus an outdoor Astroturf soccer pitch. Separate buildings house each department.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities ABS provides state-of-the-art sports facilities, including two gyms: a full-size gymnasium for Elementary and Middle/High School students and a smaller, age-appropriate gym for Kindergarten. There are two swimming pools: a general-use pool and a separate pool for younger students, to support swimming education and water safety. The campus features an expansive soccer field and well-kept tennis courts, with spaces for basketball, football, volleyball, and handball. These facilities accommodate competitive teams, personal fitness, and recreational activities, fostering inclusivity, teamwork, and school spirit.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities ABS has over 100 classrooms, each with an interactive panel and projector, and campus-wide Wi‑Fi. Fully networked classrooms provide access to online resources and digital tools for student learning. There are seven computer labs across all sections, including two testing labs; student machines run Windows 10 and support Robotics, Graphic Design, Yearbook, Journalism, and 3D animation. Digital drawing tablets from Wacom are used by teachers to enhance instruction. The campus is equipped with CCTV, digital signage, and a public address system to support daily operations.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities A wide variety of annual activities are held on campus, including Afternoon of the Arts / 100 Days of School, ABS Book Fair, ABS Charity Carnival, Curriculum Night, International Day, National and Liberation Day Celebration, Open House and New Student Orientation, and a Talent Show, with parent volunteer opportunities through the Three for Me program. The ABS Book Fair is held twice a year to allow families to purchase books from local vendors. The ABS Charity Carnival is a community event to raise funds for charitable causes. International Day showcases global cultures through performances and foods, while National/Liberation Day celebrations highlight Kuwait's heritage with student dances and traditional activities. These events complement on-campus learning with cultural and community engagement.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History The American Baccalaureate School is a private, non-profit K-12 school providing an American curriculum with a schoolwide STEM framework. ABS opened in 2006 and has since expanded in academics, social and character education, athletics, and the arts. The school's mission is to prepare students to become accountable, independent, and successful global citizens prepared for international universities. The ABS vision is to educate lifelong learners with ethical values who will develop into leaders, contributing to the global community as responsible, critical thinkers and problem solvers.
Community	Community —	Community A wide variety of annual activities are held on ABS's campus each school year, creating fun and excitement in the school community. Annual events include Afternoon of the Arts/100 Days of School, ABS Book Fair, ABS Charity Carnival, Curriculum Night, International Day, National and Liberation Day Celebration, Open House & New Student Orientation, Parent-Teacher Conferences, Talent Show, Three for Me - Parent Volunteer, Arabic / Islamic Events, and Award Ceremonies. International Day celebrates the world's diversity with performances, foods, and traditions, while National/Liberation Day celebrations highlight Kuwait's culture. The ABS community also engages through parent volunteering programs such as Three For Me, which aims to involve parents in school activities and track thousands of volunteer hours.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association Three For Me - Parent Volunteer is ABS's parent volunteering program, built on partnership between parents and the school community. Volunteers participate in selected activities, fostering loyalty to the school's community spirit. The program emphasizes the partnership among child, school and home, strengthening ties between parents, school and child. Volunteers sign up for activities and follow the program's guidelines to maintain a safe environment. The school's goal is to log 3,000 hours of volunteer time in a school year, reflecting strong parent participation.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual The school has an extensive technology program with a computer lab for every department, a library/media center Partners in Action, and an Arts program that includes Visual Arts, Music, and Drama. ABS is a STEM Education school delivering interdisciplinary STEM activities across the KG, Elementary, and MSHS sections. Social Skills, Study Skills, and after-school extracurricular programs complement the academic program.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative The school has an Arts program that includes Visual Arts, Music, and Drama. Annual events include Afternoon of the Arts/100 Days of School and a Talent Show. This year a Fine Arts elective has been introduced.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language The school celebrates International Day to showcase world cultures with songs, dances, plays, and foods from around the world. Arabic/Islamic Events are observed as part of ABS's annual events. Spirit Days are used to raise awareness on global and local issues through themed dress and activities.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies The school hosts a Talent Show. Three for Me is a parent volunteer program that engages families in school activities and strengthens community ties. Spirit Days allow students and teachers to express creativity through themed dress days.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service ABS Charity Carnival raises funds for a worthy cause and brings the community together. Three For Me is a parent volunteering program that supports school activities. The National Honor Society (NHS) chapter links with Kuwait Red Crescent Society, Kuwait Autism Center, and Direct Aid to support service initiatives.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional NHS - National Honor Society has about 50 members each year and recognizes academics, service, leadership, and character. The Student Council leads student-government activities, hosts social and charity events, and promotes leadership development. Green Ambassador is a student environmental leadership role, and the Mentoring Program provides bi-weekly guidance from counselors to support goal setting and personal growth.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing The Athletics program emphasizes sport skills and sportsmanship, with competitive teams that compete in Kuwait and internationally. Lunch Time Activities offer a range of games and sports (football, basketball, volleyball, handball, dodgeball, gymnastics, aerobics, table tennis) and include inter-class and inter-grade football mini-tournaments.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision English is the primary language of instruction. Arabic is taught as part of the regular curriculum and is the language of instruction for Religion and Social Studies. An English Language Resource Program supports students whose English is below grade level starting in Grade 1. The school accepts both Arabic-speaking and non-Arabic-speaking students. AFL (Arabic as a Foreign Language) is offered with ministry approval required for enrollment.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching The school does not offer a formal bilingual program; English is the primary language of instruction, and Arabic is integrated into the regular curriculum and used for Religion and Social Studies.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations The school is accredited by the Kuwait Ministry of Private Education and Cognia (formerly AdvancED). Cognia is a global network that evaluates schools against standards.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions 1. Eligibility and program fit. The school offers admission to both Arabic- and non-Arabic-speaking students. It provides a full English immersion program with an American-based curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 12, taught by Western-trained teachers. The school invites families to visit the campus and contact the Admissions Office for enrollment guidance. 2. Application materials and submission. The application form and the Parent Checklist for KG, Elementary and MSHS are available for download. Complete these documents and submit them to the Admissions Office together with the required items. The Registration Office is open Sunday to Thursday from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, and Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. 3. Screening, transcripts and immunizations. New students must demonstrate an ability performance level within ABS programs and provide report cards and/or transcripts from previous schools. Satisfactory screening/testing is administered by ABS or the Oxford Learning Center. An immunization record or waiver must be on file prior to the start of school. 4. Admissions decision and waiting list. When the capacity of each class is reached, those meeting the above criteria but not admitted will be placed on a waiting list in case an opening occurs. Families will be contacted according to the stated criteria if space becomes available. Applications for the following school year must be resubmitted during spring registration. 5. Priorities for admission. New students will be considered for admission in descending priorities on a space-available basis: children with siblings currently in attendance; Kuwaiti children applying from an American School; American children applying from an American school; all other children applying from an American school. Admissions decisions take into account the capacity of each class and the ability to meet program requirements. 6. Special needs and program scope. ABS does not have the programs and resources to assist those children who have special academic, social or physical needs.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist The school maintains a waiting list when class capacity is reached. Eligible applicants meeting the criteria will be placed on the waiting list and contacted in the event that an opening becomes available. For the next school year, applications must be resubmitted during spring registration. Openings are offered based on space availability and the ordering of the criteria set by the school.
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