Al Forsan International School vs Manarat Al Riyadh International School

	A Al Forsan International School Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	M Manarat Al Riyadh International School Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year SAR 23,000 - 34,000	Fees / year SAR 26,500 - 42,900
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type —	Type —
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, American Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 3,700
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service —	Bus service —
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Al Forsan International Schools operate across four campuses in Saudi Arabia: Alizdihar Campus (Riyadh), Alqirawan Campus (Riyadh), Alrakah Campus (Al Khobar, Eastern Province), and Jeddah Campus (Jeddah). The campuses are located in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Jeddah, each serving its local city community. Transport links and access are via major city routes.	Location Manarat Al Riyadh International School (Boys) is located at Exit 8, North Ring Road, Janadel Street, Izdehar District, Riyadh 11481, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The school sits along a major Riyadh thoroughfare, providing straightforward access from surrounding neighbourhoods via the North Ring Road corridor. The address is a single-campus, boys-only site within the Maarif network in Riyadh.
Stages	Stages Ages 3–18; kindergarten to Grade 12.	Stages The school operates from Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12). The Maarif network indicates a K-12 structure across its Manarat Riyadh campuses, with the option to choose between American and British curricula beginning in Grade 9.
School type	School type The schools use gender-segregated campuses: KG–Grade 3 attend on the girls' campus, and from Grade 4 onward boys move to their own dedicated campus; separate campuses exist for boys and girls across the Riyadh and Jeddah sites.	School type Manarat Al Riyadh International School runs in gender-segregated sections; the page referenced is for the Boys' division, and the Maarif network confirms separate Boys and Girls sections for the same grade ranges. There is no on-site boarding facility indicated.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix Pupil nationality mix data is not publicly disclosed. The admission policy states that students from all countries are welcome after passing the admission test.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Academic support includes free reinforcement classes in core subjects.	Additional learning support SEN provision is not detailed on MRIS pages. Maarif has announced a multi-tier SEN support initiative in partnership with ACCEL at Manarat Riyadh School. Gifted/advanced learning programs (Ibdaa, Mawhiba, Mawhoob) are mentioned as part of broader learning supports.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation American-based curriculum aligned with CCSS and NGSS.	Country affiliation Affiliation: Part of the Maarif Education network in Saudi Arabia. The school offers American or British curricula, rather than a country-specific national curriculum.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Islamic teachings are observed; the schools are part of Ajialuna Educational Company.	Religious affiliation Religious affiliation is not specified; MRIS operates as an international program within the Maarif network.
School day structure	School day structure The Riyadh campuses operate Sunday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM.	School day structure Start and end times are not published in a single official page. Transport listings suggest early-morning pickups and daytime schedules; typical school days appear to run into the early afternoon, with bus departures around 5:30 am for trips and school hours commonly around 1:30–2:00 pm in various listings. Exact times vary by grade and term.
Bus service details	Bus service details A school transportation service is available; guardians can subscribe via the parent portal.	Bus service details Yes, the school offers a transportation service. Buses are modern, regularly maintained, and supervised by drivers and attendants; a tracking system is being installed to monitor movement. Zone A and Zone B options are available with round-trip and one-way fees listed for the year and semester; morning departures and afternoon returns are specified in the transport information.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / seat reservation fee - A deposit of SAR 3,000 is required to reserve a student seat. This SAR 3,000 deposit is included in the total school fees and is fully refundable up to the day before the start of the academic term. Tuition fees by year group (full-year and per-term amounts) - Kindergarten (KG): Full-year tuition SAR 23,000. First-term charge SAR 12,500 (new and current students). Second-term charge (current students) SAR 10,500. SAR amounts shown exclude VAT; VAT at 15% is applied where applicable. - Grade 1: Full-year tuition SAR 28,000. First-term charge SAR 15,000 (new and current students). Second-term charge (current students) SAR 13,000. - Grades 2–6: Full-year tuition SAR 30,000. First-term charge SAR 16,000 (new and current students). Second-term charge (current students) SAR 14,000. - Grades 7–9: Full-year tuition SAR 32,000. First-term charge SAR 17,000 (new and current students). Second-term charge (current students) SAR 15,000. - Grades 10–12: Full-year tuition SAR 34,000. First-term charge SAR 18,000 (new and current students). Second-term charge (current students) SAR 16,000. Transport (school bus) fees and payment - Bus fees for the full year: one-way SAR 3,450; two-way (round trip) SAR 4,600. Bus fees can be paid in three installments. Transport fees are charged for the full year and VAT treatment is noted in the school financial policy. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is billed in two installments (first term and second term). First-term fees must be paid in full before students receive books, uniforms, or access to classes; failure to pay by the due date can result in suspension of services, withholding of reports, and cancellation of discounts. Second-term charges for newly enrolled students may differ because of seat-preparation, books, and uniform costs. Parents must complete financial clearance and submit the full student file to reserve a seat. What is included in tuition and other mandatory items - Tuition includes school textbooks and one set of school uniform pieces according to grade-level policy. The school provides electronic versions of textbooks and workbooks; printing optional extra materials is the parent's responsibility. There is no separate uniform charge included in addition to tuition; however, if parents purchase uniforms outside the designated channel, there will be no reimbursement. Other costs, discounts, and special offers - A special opening discount of SAR 2,000 is available at the Jeddah branch only (applies to all grades). - Sibling discounts: a 5% discount applies for the second through fourth youngest sibling and a 10% discount applies for the fifth sibling, subject to the school's discount conditions (payment timing requirements). To qualify, payment must be made before the end of the first week of the term. Refunds and withdrawal charges - The SAR 3,000 seat reservation deposit is refundable until the day before the start of the academic term. No tuition refunds are issued beginning the third week of the term. If a student is withdrawn within the first week of the school start date, the tuition refund will be processed after deducting SAR 3,000 plus an additional SAR 2,500 for books and uniforms. If a student is withdrawn at the beginning of the second week, 20% of the total tuition will be deducted plus the SAR 3,000 reservation fee and an additional SAR 2,500 for books and uniforms. Transportation fees are non-refundable after the first week of subscription. School uniforms and books are not refundable. Fees for a full term will apply when a student fails to attend without submitting an official withdrawal request via the parent portal or the admissions email. Fee payment options and bank details - Accepted payment methods: cash at the school financial department; credit card (Visa or MasterCard); debit card (MADA); personal cheques payable to Ajialuna Educational Company; and bank/wire transfer to campus-specific bank accounts. For wire transfers, a copy of the wire transfer and the student ID must be emailed to the finance contact for the campus. Bank account details are provided by the school for each campus (Arab National Bank for Al Izdihar; Saudi Investment Bank for Al Rakkah; Riyad Bank for Al Qirawan and Jeddah campus) and the school instructs parents to send transfer confirmations to the campus payment email addresses. Boarding - Boarding is not listed or charged; the school provides day schooling with optional transport services but no boarding fees are published. Payment-related conditions and consequences - Students who have not settled tuition for the previous year will be removed from rosters and will not advance to the next level. The school may suspend access to report cards, electronic services, and records until tuition is paid. Not paying the seat reservation fee does not constitute an official withdrawal; outstanding fees will remain due and the student's file will not be released until all fees are cleared.	Fee details Application / Registration Fees - The school's public fee information does not publish a separate application or one‑time registration fee amount. Third‑party school fee aggregators report annual tuition figures but do not show a distinct, published application or registration fee on the school's public fee page. Tuition fees by year group (annual amounts in SAR) - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): SAR 26,500 (annual). - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): SAR 26,500 (annual). - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): SAR 28,350 (annual). - Grade 1 – Grade 6 (ages 6–11): SAR 33,600 (annual) for Grades 1–6, with Grade 1–6 shown at this level by the published fee table. - Grade 7 – Grade 8 (ages 12–13): SAR 39,250 (annual). - Grade 9 – Grade 12 (ages 14–18): SAR 42,900 (annual) for Grades 9–12. These annual figures are published as the school's current published annual tuition banding by grade on public school listings and fee aggregators. Reported annual fee tables are the basis for the figures above. Per‑term detail - Published fee information is presented as annual fees. The school's public fee pages and available published fee tables do not show a standardized per‑term charge or the number of instalments used for billing; therefore per‑term amounts are not published. Parents should note the fees above are annual totals. Billing schedule and payment terms - All fees are subject to VAT in accordance with Saudi Arabian regulations. - Payment methods published for fee collection: STC Pay QR code, cheque payable to "Maarif for Education", Mada Card, and the school's Direct Payment Service (online payment portal/payment dashboard). Payments are handled through the school collection department or the school's payment portal. - The school's public fee pages do not publish a detailed billing calendar (dates for re‑enrolment deposits, term due dates, or late‑payment penalties) in the openly posted fee summary. Boarding fees - No boarding provision or boarding fee schedule is listed for Manarat Al Riyadh International; the school is presented in public listings as a day international school, so boarding fees are not applicable. Other costs and miscellaneous charges - Tuition is stated to include textbooks, all materials, services and student activities (these items are covered within the published tuition). - Uniforms: uniforms are mandatory from kindergarten through high school and are provided to parents “at cost”; an online ordering service is available, but specific uniform price lists are not published on the public uniform page. Any uniform purchase cost is invoiced separately from tuition. - Transportation, lunch, specialized program fees, exam fees, or other ancillary charges are not itemized in the school's publicly posted fee summary. Third‑party listings focus on annual tuition and do not publish a comprehensive ancillary‑fee schedule on the public pages. If a separate charge for transport or meals applies it is not shown in the school's public fee summary. Refund information - The school's publicly available fee and policy pages do not include a detailed refund policy or explicit rules on refunds/proration for late withdrawal or mid‑year leaving in the fee summary accessible to the public. The school's policies section contains general policy headings but does not publish a specific refund table on the public pages. Fee payment options (methods accepted) - Accepted payment methods published by the school: STC Pay QR code, cheque payable to "Maarif for Education", Mada Card, and the Direct Payment Service (online/portal). The portal for direct payments is the school's fee collection dashboard. All payments processed locally are subject to VAT where applicable. Summary of availability of published information - The school's public fee summary confirms that published tuition amounts are annual and that tuition includes textbooks, materials and activities. The public fee summary and policy pages do not publish separate application/registration fees, a term‑by‑term billing schedule, detailed ancillary charges (transport, lunch, exam or activity fees), a boarding fee schedule, or a public refund/proration table. Where annual tuition numbers are required by grade, publicly accessible fee aggregators have published annual figures that match the banding shown in the school's public fee summary and related listings.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement Uniforms are included in tuition. Each student receives one piece from the official uniform table according to their grade level. Uniforms for the 2025-2026 school year are available at Adeem stores in Riyadh and Alkhobar; additional uniform items can be purchased at Adeem Stores.	Uniform requirement Uniforms are mandatory for all students from kindergarten through high school. The uniform carries the Maarif school logo and is worn to school and at school-organized events. Uniforms can be ordered online and are provided at cost.
Food options	Food options —	Food options There is a canteen on campus. The canteen menu is managed via EduPage; the public Canteen menu page shows a 'Lunch' section but currently lists no specific items and requires login to view full details.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership Al Forsan International Schools are owned and operated by Ajialuna Educational Company, a private education group. The group runs campuses in Riyadh (Alizdihar and Alqirawan), the Eastern Province (Alrakah in Alkhobar), and Jeddah (opened in 2025 within King Abdulaziz University).	Governance and ownership The school is part of Maarif Education. It operates under the Maarif network, with a Superintendent leading Manarat Riyadh International School.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school follows an American CCSS/NGSS-based curriculum taught in English for students aged 3–18, with the American High School Diploma awarded at graduation. The program is organized into Kindergarten (KG1–KG3), Elementary (Grades 1–3 on the girls' campus and Grades 4–6), Middle School (Grades 7–9), and High School, with English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies as core subjects; Arabic and Islamic Studies are required, and non-native Arabic speakers can join Arabic from Grade 2; French is offered as an elective from Grades 4–6. The curriculum emphasizes 21st-century skills—critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, global awareness, and social responsibility—through innovative teaching strategies and technology integration. Admission for Grades 2–12 requires passing the previous grade with at least a very good level and completing placement tests in Arabic, Science, Mathematics, and WIDA; KG entry follows MOE age guidelines (KG1 at 3, KG2 at 4, KG3 at 5, Grade 1 at 6). Al Forsan operates across campuses in Riyadh (Alizdihar, Alqirawan, Alrakah) and Jeddah, with English-language instruction throughout.	Curriculum details The school delivers a KG–12 program within national and international streams, with English as the main language of instruction and Arabic required by the Saudi MOE. French is taught from Grade 3 through Grade 8 as part of the curriculum. Reading and writing in English and Arabic are developed from early years, with early childhood described as play-based and developmentally appropriate. Mathematics and Science, together with National Identity subjects and an arts-and-life-skills curriculum, are taught across the grades, with technology-enabled learning including distance learning and 3D printing. Arts and humanities align with American standards, and learning outside the classroom is integrated through field trips and digital resources. For secondary students, qualifications and college-entrance preparation include AP courses, PSAT, SAT, and MAP assessments, with Mawhiba gifted pathways and an inclusion-focused support system, plus a focus on scholarships to prestigious international universities.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Graduates commonly proceed to international universities, with scholarships supported by Maarif; the school emphasizes preparing students for higher education with university admissions guidance and AP/SAT pathways.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented Gifted and talented programs are supported via the Mawhiba program and a dedicated gifted track; inclusion support is provided for students with special educational needs, including Kindergarten and Primary levels.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning The school provides student wellbeing and SEL support through a combination of structured programs and digital tools. A dedicated Student Services portal gives guardians access to support services, the ability to view the student's file, and to submit complaints or suggestions, facilitating ongoing welfare communication. ClassDojo is used as a behavioral tool to share classroom progress with parents, supporting ongoing SEL-related monitoring. The school also runs an Intervention Support Program with weekly sessions for low-achieving students and a multi‑tiered approach, including regular parent communication and targeted strategies. Additional after‑school programs offer religious, educational, and recreational activities intended to foster personal growth and character development.	Social & emotional learning Wellbeing is defined by the World Health Organization as a positive state that enables individuals and communities to thrive and contribute meaningfully. Maarif Education states that wellbeing is the foundation of its educational philosophy and that wellbeing is everyone's responsibility, with all staff having a duty of care to promote it. The school implements the Positive Education curriculum through the Educational Unit of the Maarif Wellbeing Department across the school year. All Maarif Education schools have medical clinics providing medical wellbeing support on campus, led by a doctor/paramedic/nurse, with a Medical Supervisor overseeing the wellbeing function across schools. All Maarif Education schools also offer mental health services delivered by qualified psychologists, with a Mental Health Supervisor coordinating this work across schools.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school publicly discloses academic support for students, including general reinforcement classes, and an Intervention Support Program for low-achieving students, but does not publish a dedicated SEN department or a list of specific disabilities it can support. The Intervention Support Program is designed to address needs through weekly sessions with a multi‑tiered approach and parent involvement. General academic support is described as available, with reinforcement classes in core subjects. There is no publicly disclosed information about a specialist SEN facility or unit.	Special educational needs (SEN) Maarif's Inclusion Department runs an Inclusion Program that designs customized educational plans to address each student's strengths and needs. The program provides intervention for emotional and social difficulties; learning disabilities including dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia; neurodevelopmental disabilities including ADHD and ASD; and school-based Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy. The inclusion program is delivered by highly qualified and trained academic staff in a fully inclusive learning environment. The Inclusion Department includes leadership such as Head of Inclusion and Special Education Lead; inquiries can be directed to these roles. The network also runs the ACCEL program for SEN students (in Riyadh Girls Section) and offers after-school remediation plus differentiated instruction in regular classrooms.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language The ESL program is described as a cornerstone of the school, with students assessed using Fluency MAP and weekly targeted small‑group instruction to strengthen foundational reading skills. The program is implemented across campuses including Alizdihar, Jeddah, Alrakah, and Alqirawan, indicating broad EAL coverage. This language support is positioned to enable success across the curriculum. In addition, specialized Arabic for non‑native speakers is offered at all grade levels, with French available for some grades, supporting multilingual learners.	English as an additional language The school does not publicly disclose information regarding EAL support. The MRIS public materials indicate that it offers American and British curricula (which are typically English‑medium) but do not specify language support for EAL. No explicit EAL policy or staff details are described on MRIS pages. Consequently, explicit EAL provisions are not publicly published. For explicit EAL details, direct confirmation from the school would be required.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Staff emphasise social and emotional wellbeing as part of student support, with language on the careers pages noting care and support for students at academic, social, and emotional levels. The Intervention Support Program addresses students' needs through weekly sessions and parental communication, contributing to mental and academic support. After‑school programs and the Homework Club provide structured environments that can enhance wellbeing through routine and constructive activity. The ESL program and general academic support also contribute to students' confidence and resilience by facilitating access to learning across subjects.	Mental wellbeing Mental health wellbeing support is provided at MRIS by a Mental Health Unit consisting of qualified psychologists, with a Mental Health Supervisor coordinating the service across schools. The Wellbeing Department includes an Educational Unit responsible for delivering the Positive Education curriculum and a Medical Unit operating on-campus clinics for wellbeing needs. The Positive Education curriculum includes mindfulness and wellbeing practices across Maarif schools. The Wellbeing framework is designed to develop students' social, emotional, physical, spiritual and personal health, with access to mental health services on campus.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding policies.	Safeguarding Safeguarding describes measures to promote and protect the health, wellbeing and human rights of every individual under the school's care, and safeguarding is everyone's responsibility at Maarif Education. There are formal policies including a Safeguarding Policy, an Occupational Health and Safety Policy, a Child Protection Policy and a Wellbeing Policy, and Maarif Education is ISO 45001:2018 compliant for OH&S. An international standard child protection framework is implemented across Maarif Education schools, including dedicated Child Protection Officers, Child Protection Committees, annual staff training, and parent and student awareness sessions, and a confidential online child protection reporting system to report incidents. The Head of Safeguarding provides strategic leadership for safeguarding across Maarif Education.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The Al Forsan International Schools operate four campuses in Riyadh (Alizdihar and Alqirawan), Alkhobar (Alrakah), and Jeddah (Jeddah Campus). The Alizdihar Campus consists of five advanced buildings and has separate campuses for boys and girls, with kindergarten to Grade 3 on the girls' campus and Grade 4 onward on the boys' campus. The Jeddah Campus, located on the King Abdulaziz University campus, spans 21,538 square meters, accommodates up to 3,250 students, and offers more than 40 advanced educational and recreational facilities. The campuses emphasise state-of-the-art educational facilities and modern learning environments. After-school programs include religious, educational, and recreational activities to extend learning beyond the classroom.	Facilities overview Manarat Al Riyadh International School is part of Maarif Education and has over 50 years of experience, supported by the latest learning technologies to foster student creativity. The school uses 21st‑century classrooms and a range of teaching methods, including project-based learning, flipped classrooms, inquiry-based learning, virtual labs, and collaborative learning. The Early Childhood Department is being developed to ensure play-based, developmentally appropriate learning aligned with international best practices. An Inclusion Support Team provides care and support for students with special educational needs, especially in Kindergarten and Primary. Life and soft skills are built through volunteering opportunities, and parental engagement is emphasized as part of the school's approach.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities Maarif Sports Club provides unlimited sports opportunities for students and was established in 2022 as part of Maarif Education, approved by the Ministry of Sports. The sports strategy aims to encourage mass participation in regular physical activity and to create pathways for elite athletes, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030. The Sport Coordinator for the Central Region oversees activities and is based at Manarat Riyadh School. The program includes athletics as a key area of focus for students. The sports club advances a broad suite of programs across Maarif Schools to support student development in sports.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities The schools provide state-of-the-art educational facilities and modern learning environments.	Academic facilities Manarat Riyadh International School offers American, British, or both curricula across K–12, with MRIS/MKhIS/MJIS generally serving the American stream and incorporating elements of the British curriculum. In secondary education, both American and British curricula are offered starting in Grade 9. External examinations include Cambridge CAIE, IGCSE, and A-Levels for the British stream; for the American stream, SATs, PSATs, and AP are offered, with Qudrat and Tahseeli administered at some branches. The school is licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Education and is Cognia-accredited for international accreditation. Communication with parents is via Email, SMS, WhatsApp, and PowerSchool (LMS), with MAP testing aligned to grade levels and periodic reporting.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities After-school programs include religious, educational, and recreational activities to extend learning beyond the classroom.	Extra curricular facilities Specialized programs for high school include AP, SAT, Qudrat, and Tahsili, along with gifted programs Mawhiba, Mawhoob, and Ibdaa. Co-curricular activities include spelling bees, public speaking, math days, science days, Quran recitation, and debates, with extra-curricular offerings in music, sports, and community service. The school hosts field trips, exhibitions, awareness campaigns, and national and international competitions. After-school clubs are available, and volunteering opportunities are encouraged to develop leadership and community engagement.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Al Forsan International Schools (FIS) operates in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Jeddah as part of Ajialuna Educational Company. The first campus opened in Riyadh in 2013, offering education from kindergarten to high school. A second campus followed in 2018 in the Eastern Province (Khobar), and a third campus opened in 2021 in the Al-Qairawan District of Riyadh. A fourth campus opened in 2025 in Jeddah on the King Abdulaziz University campus, expanding the network to serve students aged 3–18 with English-medium instruction and an American curriculum aligned to CCSS and NGSS.	History Manarat Riyadh International School is part of Maarif Education, a long-established Saudi educational network. Maarif Education has more than forty-eight years of experience in education and training and operates a network of schools across the kingdom, including Manarat schools. The school is governed within Maarif's framework, with Superintendent Areej AlTuwaijri leading Manarat Riyadh International School. Maarif emphasizes a national and international education approach, inclusion, gifted education, and well-being across its schools, including MRIS. Enrichment activities such as TEDx events and the Maarif Entrepreneurship Camp illustrate MRIS's engagement with broader educational initiatives.
Community	Community AFIS operates campuses in Riyadh (Alizdihar and Alqirawan), Alkhobar (Alrakah), and Jeddah (Jeddah Campus). The schools offer After School Programs that include religious, educational, and recreational activities to extend learning beyond the classroom. Parental involvement is supported through regular progress reports and open parent meetings, with guardians accessing student data and services via a dedicated Parent Portal; Classera, Savvas Realize, Microsoft Teams, and Outlook facilitate ongoing communications. The school conducts parent-focused workshops, including NGSS-focused sessions, to help families engage with their children's learning.	Community The school emphasizes Arabic language and cultural programs, including hosting an inter-school Quran Competition. The campus also hosts TEDx events, such as TEDx MRS 2024, reflecting opportunities for students to engage with global ideas. Enrichment activities include the Maarif Entrepreneurship Camp and a range of after-school clubs. Parent involvement is encouraged through formal channels and a broader Maarif commitment to parent partnerships, including a School Calendar and a Parents' Gateway.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association Public information describes a parental involvement framework centered on a Parent Portal for administrative and communications needs. Guardians can access student records, transport arrangements, and financial balances through the portal. Classera, Savvas Realize, Microsoft Teams, and Outlook are used to connect with families, supporting ongoing teacher–parent communication. The school hosts parent-focused events and workshops, including NGSS sessions, to deepen understanding of curriculum and learning at home. Regular progress reports and open parent meetings are part of the home–school partnership, and after-school programs provide additional family‑involved activities.	Parent teacher association There is no dedicated PTA page published for Manarat Riyadh International School; parent involvement is described through Maarif Education's broader parent-partnership framework. Maarif describes a robust partnership with parents as a core driver of school development. Parent-facing channels include the School Calendar, Parents' Gateway, and Policies to facilitate involvement and feedback. Enrichment programs such as Maarif Entrepreneurship Camp and After School Clubs include opportunities for parent participation and volunteering. Parent communications and newsletters are part of the MRIS/Maarif framework. Maarif emphasizes parent engagement as a pathway to student leadership and community service.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school's curriculum is built on the American Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Instruction is in English. It serves ages 3–18 and awards an American High School Diploma. The teaching staff is at least 60% native English speakers, and the program emphasizes 21st‑century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, global awareness, and social responsibility, delivered through innovative teaching strategies like integrated technology, cooperative learning, differentiated instruction, goal setting, cross‑curriculum teaching, and assessment for learning.	Academic & intellectual Manarat Al Riyadh International School is part of Maarif Education and operates in Riyadh. It emphasizes enhancing teaching interactivity across all grade levels, improving core academic skills as reflected in assessments such as NAFS, Qudurat, Tahsili, PSAT, SAT, AP, and MAP, and prioritizing student mental health and well-being through a Dean of Well-being. It also focuses on student ownership of the school environment, support for gifted and talented learners through Mawhiba, inclusion for students with special educational needs, and development of an Early Childhood Department that uses play-based, developmentally appropriate approaches.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Art is an elective for Grades 4–6; Art is scheduled for all students in that range. After‑school programs also offer opportunities in the arts alongside sports, technology, and leadership.	Arts & creative The school supports community through volunteering opportunities and offers co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, including programs in music, sports, and community service. It hosts activities and exhibitions and engages students in fields such as public speaking, art, and creative projects.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Arabic language and Islamic Studies are major components of the curriculum; Non‑Arabic speakers can attend Arabic language classes starting in Grade 2; French is offered as an elective for Grades 4–6; The language of instruction is English.	Cultural & language Arabic language is an integral part of the curricula, and the school is noted as the only one hosting an inter-schools Quran Competition. The school also emphasizes cultural values within its international education framework.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies After‑school programs cover sports, arts, technology, and leadership. Specific offerings include Homework Club with weekly progress reports, ESL, a Gifted and Talented WE Challenge program, STEM activities, After School External Prep, Phonic Mornings, and Intervention Support.	Social & hobbies The school maintains a strong partnership with parents and encourages student involvement in activities outside the classroom, including field trips and various student-led initiatives that reinforce collaboration and leadership.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service Community service programs are part of the school ethos, with a focus on developing empathy and social responsibility through volunteering and service opportunities.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional WE Challenge identifies high‑achieving students for Gifted and Talented work; Public speaking is part of after‑school programming, and leadership development is supported through these activities.	Leadership & professional The school supports leadership and professional development through programs for gifted students (Mawhiba, Mawhoob, Ibdaa) and initiatives that foster ownership, leadership, and responsibility among students.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Physical Education is included (Grade 4–6). After‑school programs provide opportunities for sports and recreation. The school day runs Sunday–Thursday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and campuses include Alizdihar, Alqirawan, Alrakah, and Jeddah.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Mental health and well-being are prioritized via the Dean of Well-being, with a focus on creating a positive, inclusive school culture that supports student wellness and belonging.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The language of instruction is English. Special Arabic for non-native speakers is offered at all grade levels. French is offered for grades 4 through 12.	Language provision MRIS offers American and British curricula. K-8 is predominantly American, though the British curriculum is briefly introduced in the intermediate stage. Grades 9-12 offer both the American and the British curricula starting grade 9. External exams and assessments include Cambridge-CAIE, IGCSE and A-Levels (British stream) and College Board SATs, PSATs, and AP (American stream).
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards null
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations The school is part of Maarif Education. Accreditation materials describe a global network supporting continuous school improvement, and claim local or Middle Eastern accreditation for Maarif, with a third accreditation outside the United States.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions 1. Registration procedures: There are two ways for parents to register their children: by visiting the school to fill the application form, or by registering online via enquiry.maarif.sa and then visiting the school to complete the application. An interview and admission test are conducted as part of the process. All required documents must be submitted to complete the student file. Tuition for the first term must be paid, and enrollment is confirmed when the school issues the enrollment confirmation. 2. Registration requirements: Registration requires several documents: the student's birth certificate, National ID for Saudis or Resident ID for non-Saudis, and Iqama or passports for non-Saudis. A Saudi family card and vaccination certificate are also required, along with a health record or health screening form in certain cases. For transfers within the Kingdom, a Noor transfer and a statement that the student is not a fee defaulter are needed, plus the original last progress card and financial clearance from the former school if it is private. Four photos are required for KG, and if a student under 6 applies to Grade 1, a certificate of attendance and a kindergarten recommendation are required. 3. Enrollment confirmation: Payment of the first-term tuition completes the financial requirement. The student's file must be complete with all required documents to proceed. Enrollment is confirmed once the school issues the enrollment confirmation. The enrollment confirmation finalizes the process.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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