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Bahrain School

Bahrain, Manama

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees BHD 9,391 - 10,382
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 600
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum
Typical class size 15
Introduction

Bahrain School is a United States Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school on a 28‑acre campus in Juffair, Manama, Bahrain. It follows an American curriculum and awards a US‑accredited American Diploma, offering Advanced Placement courses and the AP Capstone Diploma; primary and secondary provision is organised as Elementary (Kindergarten–Grade 5) and Middle/High (Grades 6–12), and school documentation also references Sure Start and full‑day Pre‑Kindergarten provision. The language of instruction is English; the school operates ESOL support and a Host Nation programme with daily Arabic instruction for GCC passport holders, and secondary World Language options include Arabic, French, German and Spanish (with AP language options). Notable facilities cited by the school include a library of over 25,000 volumes, a drama/musical performance facility, a swimming pool, four tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, soccer and softball fields, an athletic track, two sports halls and an on‑site dormitory that accommodates up to about 120 students (grades 6–12). The school highlights college preparation through AP, counselling and standardised test support.

8J53+9FC, Manama, Bahrain

The Essentials

Bahrain School has 600 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in English.

Location
The Bahrain School is located on a 28-acre campus in Juffair, Bahrain. The campus features a main building with separate wings opening to a central hall and a wide range of facilities, including science laboratories, a library, an Arabic library, several art studios, language classrooms, and extensive athletic spaces. The campus is in the Juffair area of Manama and serves as the central hub for the school's programs.

Stages
The school serves Kindergarten through Grade 12. It is organized into an Elementary School and a Middle & High School.

Type
The Bahrain School is co-educational. It offers a boarding program for Grades 6–12, with a dormitory that can accommodate up to 120 students.

Pupil Nationality Mix
The school represents 29 nationalities. Total enrollment is around 600+. The site does not publish a single most represented nationality or a precise local-to-international ratio; the student body includes both Bahraini locals and international families.

Additional learning support
English as a Second Language support is available, and there is a separate reading program for students who qualify. A Learning Resource Center is on site to support students.

Country affiliation
The Bahrain School operates as a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school, affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity. It is associated with the Bahrain International School Association (BISA).

Religious affiliation
There is no religious affiliation published for the Bahrain School.

School day structure
The school day follows DoDEA Bahrain timings: typically 8:00 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, with a shortened day on Wednesdays ending at 1:40 p.m.

Bus service
Dormitory transportation operates seven days a week. Students traveling by air receive free drop-off and pick-up to Bahrain International Airport. For students in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, transport is provided by Bahrain Limo Company. Transport is also provided to Aramco camps (Dhahran, Abqaiq, Ras Tanura, Udhailiyah, Hessa); non-Aramco students are dropped at the Holiday Inn Hotel on Old Airport Road, Al Khobar. Within Bahrain, two 14-seat minibuses handle activity trips.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Boarding is available for Middle and High School students aged 11-18. The dormitory is a co-ed facility with separate wings for boys and girls, each with lounges, a kitchen area and laundry rooms. A Dormitory Director leads the Dormitory Family, assisted by house parents, nurses and housekeeping, and the dormitory offers supervised study and after-school activities. Approximately 20% of Secondary students are boarders, and the dormitory is located at the heart of the campus for convenient access to facilities.

Food Options
Catering is provided by the Bahrain Family Leisure Company, serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks, with meals including special diets when required.

Governance and Ownership
The Bahrain School is governed by the Bahrain International School Association (BISA). DoDEA provides the educational program under an agreement with BISA. BISA owns, manages and operates a 120-bed dormitory adjoining the school and leases the campus grounds; the DoDEA Education Activity handles the academic program.
Fees

Annual tuition at Bahrain School ranges from BHD 9,391 to BHD 10,382 for 2026/27.

Application fees
- Application / Testing fee: BHD 70.000 (non-refundable).

Building levy
- Building Levy fee: BHD 600.000 (non-refundable; mandatory on acceptance to reserve a place).

Tuition fees by year group (annual amounts)
- Federal-connected students (annual tuition):
- Sure Start / Full-Day Pre‑Kindergarten to Grade 6: USD 26,628.00 per year.
- Grades 7–8: USD 28,032.00 per year.
- Grades 9–12: USD 29,424.00 per year.
- Non‑federal-connected students (annual tuition):
- Sure Start / Full‑Day Pre‑Kindergarten to Grade 6: USD 27,516.00 per year.
- Grades 7–8: USD 28,980.00 per year.
- Grades 9–12: USD 30,432.00 per year.
- Extracurricular fee (charged per semester when applicable):
- Federal-connected: Sure Start/PreK–Gr 6: USD 951.00; Gr 7–8: USD 1,001.00; Gr 9–12: USD 1,051.00 (payable per semester when the extracurricular rule applies).
- Non‑federal-connected: Sure Start/PreK–Gr 6: USD 983.00; Gr 7–8: USD 1,035.00; Gr 9–12: USD 1,087.00 (payable per semester when the extracurricular rule applies).
- DoDEA Virtual High School rate (per class): USD 577.00.
- Preschool Child Development (PSCD) rates are tiered by scheduled hours; published tiered annual and per‑hour rates apply for PSCD enrolments.

Per-term / invoice detail and billing schedule
- Tuition is invoiced in two separate billing packages. The first invoice covers the initial period from August through 30 September (funded from the prior fiscal year); the second invoice covers 1 October through the end of the school year. Payment for each invoice is due within 30 days of the invoice date.
- The school will email tuition invoices when received from the DoDDS Resource Management Office; the invoice will show the precise amounts due for each billing package.

Boarding / dormitory fees
- Dormitory (boarding) fee: BHD 6,500 (BISA fee; due prior to the first day of school for eligible dorm students in Grades 6–12). Dormitory students must also pay the Building Levy. Additional dormitory-related charges (transport to Saudi Arabia, AMH medical insurance, Bahrain visa government formalities, contingency fund) may apply as needed. Dormitory fees are payable in Bahraini Dinars to the BISA Dormitory administration.

Other costs and variable fees
- Extracurricular activities beyond the DoDEA extracurricular charge, travel related to athletics or events, some course-specific fees, textbooks, school uniforms, school supplies, and optional program fees are not itemized as fixed amounts on the published tuition schedule and should be expected as additional, variable costs. The Athletic Booster Club and school community sell spirit wear and similar items.

Refund information and tuition adjustments
- Application / Testing fee and Building Levy are non-refundable.
- DoDEA refund policy: once a student has attended any portion of a grading period, a refund for the remaining portion of that grading period is not authorized (no prorated refunds after attendance in a grading period). Tuition constitutes a debt owed to the U.S. Government and payments must be made in a timely manner to avoid denial of enrollment.

Fee payment options and receipt policies
- Accepted payment channels when paying on receipt of a DoDEA tuition invoice: major credit cards via Pay.gov (online), electronic funds transfer (EFT), and U.S. Dollar bank drafts. Pay.gov issues an online receipt; banks issue EFT receipts. The school will not issue duplicate receipts for Pay.gov or EFT payments; sponsors must present proof of payment as issued by Pay.gov or their bank. Payment instructions and the exact payment portal link are provided on each tuition invoice.

Notes on information coverage
- The published DoDEA tuition schedule lists annual tuition amounts in U.S. dollars and the school publishes non-refundable BISA fees and dormitory charges in Bahraini Dinars. Specific invoice amounts for each of the two billing packages are determined and shown on the DoDEA/DoDDS invoices; exact instalment amounts are therefore provided on the invoices rather than as fixed equal "per term" splits in the public schedule.
Academics

Bahrain School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
The Bahrain School follows an American curriculum with all classes taught in English. AP courses are offered across English, science, mathematics, social studies, and world languages. World languages include Arabic (I–IV), French (I–IV and AP), German (I–IV and AP), and Spanish (I–IV and AP). Career Technical Education pathways include Video Communications (I–III), Cybersecurity, Digital Design & Communication, Business, Programming, and AP Computer Science Principles. The school provides a range of enrichment programs and opportunities for advanced study through AP courses.

Higher Education Progression
Guidance services support college admissions and standardized testing, with information on SAT, ACT, PSAT, and TOEFL test dates and locations.

Gifted and Talented
Advanced coursework is supported through Advanced Placement options and enrichment programs such as AVID.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Bahrain School provides a diverse, international community with structured student life and support services to help students engage and grow. The campus offers athletics, arts, leadership opportunities, and guidance services to support social and emotional development.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school offers enrichment and ESL-related supports as part of its program to assist learners with language and academic needs within an English-language curriculum.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is the language of instruction across all classes, with English as a Second Language programming integrated into the curriculum.

Mental Wellbeing
Student wellbeing is supported through a structured school environment, counseling services, and activities that promote positive social engagement and resilience.

Safeguarding
Students have access to health and guidance services, and the school operates within DoDEA and Cognia-accredited frameworks to support student safeguarding and safety.
Parent Experience

History
Bahrain School was founded in August 1968 in Awali as the Bahrain American Elementary School, a Department of Defense School, with a staff of one teaching principal and three teachers for about forty students in grades one through eight. By 1970 the school began admitting English-speaking Bahraini students and other non-DoD sponsored students, and enrollment grew to approximately two hundred elementary and correspondence course secondary students. In January 1972, the school moved from Awali to a twenty-four-acre campus in Juffair. From the outset, the Bahrain Middle High School emerged with an American Curriculum for grades 6-12, and opportunities to take Advanced Placement examinations for students in grades 11 and 12, along with a full Arabic First Language program for Arab passport holders.

Community
Bahrain School is located on a 28-acre campus in Juffair, Bahrain. Facilities include science laboratories, a media center, an Arabic library, three art studios, social studies, math, foreign language, English classrooms, a learning resource center, a technology education complex, five computer centers, a business laboratory, instrumental and vocal music rooms, and a multi-purpose cafeteria-theater. Recreational facilities include a lighted artificial turf soccer field and softball fields, a 25-meter outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a fitness complex, a four-lane running track, and two gymnasium/sports centers. Extracurricular options include drama, Model United Nations, foreign language clubs, and intramural sports; Bahrain School teams compete nationally and internationally, and the student body represents 29 nationalities.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
A PTSA exists and its Chair and Treasurer serve on the Bahrain School Board of Directors.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Bahrain School sits on a 28-acre campus in Juffair, Bahrain. It follows an American curriculum with all classes taught in English and hosts students representing 29 countries. The campus includes a library with over 25,000 volumes and provides English as a Second Language support and a dedicated reading program. Special programs include music, art, physical education, and enrichment programs, with a facility for drama or musical productions and at least one major production each school year. The Career Education program includes courses in video production, web design, coding, business enterprise, computer applications and AP Computer Science. The dormitory accommodates up to 120 students for grades 6-12.

Sports Facilities
Basketball and volleyball courts, soccer and softball fields, a swimming pool, four tennis courts, an athletic track, and two purpose-built sports halls are on campus. The facilities support a broad athletic program for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. The campus includes dedicated spaces for physical education and team practices. The modern sports complex enables a variety of recreational and athletic activities.

Academic Facilities
The Bahrain School offers an American Diploma, Advanced Placement, and the AP Capstone Diploma. All classes are taught in English as part of the American curriculum. The campus features a 28-acre site with a library of over 25,000 volumes and a Career Education program including courses in video production, web design, coding, business enterprise, computer applications and AP Computer Science. Reading is offered as a separate class for eligible students, and English as a Second Language support is available. Guidance services include SAT, ACT, PSAT and other standardized tests. Total enrollment is 600+. Grades are Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Special programs include music, art, physical education, English as a Second Language, and enrichment programs. There is a facility for drama or musical productions, and at least one major production is offered each school year. There are numerous opportunities for participation in student government. Athletics, arts, and other extracurricular programs provide a broad range of activities for students.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Bahrain School follows an American curriculum and all classes are taught in English. Advanced Placement courses are offered, and the school is the first in Bahrain to offer the AP Capstone Diploma. The AP Capstone Diploma Program consists of AP Seminar and AP Research, with the Diploma earned by meeting exam requirements. The school provides university and college counselling to support college and career readiness, and guidance services include information on SAT, ACT, PSAT and TOEFL.

Arts & Creative
Drama or musical productions are offered, with a facility for drama or musical productions and at least one major production each school year. Instrumental and vocal music rooms are available on campus. Fine Arts offerings include Drawing, Ceramics, Painting, Studio Art, Digital Photography, AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, Band, Chorus, Drama, and Piano.

Cultural & Language
World Languages include Arabic (9–11, for Arab passport holders) and Arabic I–IV, plus French I–IV, German I–IV, and Spanish I–IV. AP French Language, AP German, and AP Spanish are offered.

Social & Hobbies
Extracurricular options include athletics, drama, Model United Nations, foreign language clubs and intramural sports. Student Life features athletics and arts, with a range of clubs and programs beyond the classroom.

Leadership & Professional
The school is the first Bahrain provider of the AP Capstone Diploma, a program that emphasizes critical thinking, research, collaboration and communication. University and College Counselling supports college and career planning for students in grades K–12. The school also offers the BISA Scholarship Program.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The campus includes a guidance center and a health office to support student wellbeing. Recreational facilities include a swimming pool, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, an athletic track, lighted fields and multiple gym spaces. The campus also houses a library and multiple arts and learning spaces to support student wellbeing and enrichment.
Languages

Language Provision
The Bahrain School follows an American curriculum, with all classes taught in English. English as a Second Language is offered. Arabic is taught as a World Language for Arab passport holders in Grades 9–11. AP language courses include Spanish Language, German, and French.
Reputation

Awards
null

Accreditations
Cognia; Europe South District, Department of Defense Education Activity; AP Capstone Diploma
Admissions

Admissions
1. Bahrain School uses rolling admissions with multiple entry points. Applicants typically enter at Kindergarten, 6th grade, or 9th grade, and admissions for other grades may be considered based on space and the applicant's qualifications. Space may become limited as the school year approaches, so applying early is advised. 2. The application process is described in the admissions FAQs and on the Apply page. 3. After submission, the Admissions Team reviews the materials and makes an admissions decision, which is communicated to the applicant once the review is complete. 4. Schedule a campus visit to meet the admissions team and tour the campus; campus visits help families learn about the school's programs and campus life. 5. Admission entry points are typically in August or January, and space may be available for other entry points on a case-by-case basis. 6. Tuition details are provided upon request; updated fees can be obtained by contacting the school. 7. Bahrain School graduates go to universities worldwide, with a large share attending the United States, the United Kingdom, or other European locations. 8.

Scholarships
BISA Scholarship Program offers partial tuition reduction for Bahraini nationals entering Grades 9–12, up to 54%. Benefits include a US-accredited American Diploma, AP Capstone Diploma Program, Advanced Placement courses, Career Technical Education (CTE) and NOCTI certifications, Varsity athletic programs, and US-certified teachers with all-inclusive tuition. Eligibility criteria require Bahraini nationality, enrollment in Grades 9–12, and tuition-paying status; applications are reviewed by the BISA Scholarship Committee based on GPA and conduct. Additional program details and application steps are available through admissions contacts (admissions@thebahrainschool.com; +973 1772-7828).
School Events
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