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Modern American School

Jordan, Amman

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees JOD 4,850 - 13,650
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1000
Opened 1986
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum
Typical class size 23
Introduction

Modern American School (MAS) is a private international school in West Amman, Jordan, serving ages 3 to 18 from two adjacent campuses in Sweifieh. It offers the American High School Diploma through Cognia/AdvancED and International Baccalaureate programs (IB PYP, MYP, DP). The curriculum blends an American-based pathway with the IB framework, and students earn credits in core subjects while pursuing electives such as Engineering and Technology. Language study includes Arabic, French and English, with optional Spanish, German and Japanese. MAS is affiliated with the American International Schools Worldwide Network and was founded by Tayseer Zamel, with Omaya Zamel as General Director. Facilities include five IT labs, three science labs, three media centers, three arts and crafts rooms, a 375-seat theater, a multi-purpose hall, two sports fields, two gymnasiums, and four libraries; the high school building has been renovated. Notable programs include MAS MUN, Debate League, and Travel Abroad Program, plus leadership and service initiatives.

Bakhit, Bekhit Al-Issa St. 27, Amman, Jordan

The Essentials

Modern American School has 1,000 pupils, typical class sizes of 23, instruction in English.

Location

The Modern American School is located in West Amman, Jordan. The campus address is 27 Bakhit Al Issa, Amman, Jordan, Airport Road – Building No. 00, Sweifieh. It is described as an elite international private school in West Amman and is associated with the American International Schools Worldwide Network.

Stages

The school serves students aged 3–18 and is organized into four divisions: Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and High School.

Type

The school is co-educational, private, and operates as a day school.

Additional learning support

The school provides language support through ESL (English as a Second Language) and ASL (Arabic as a Second Language) programs, and uses differentiated instruction to support individual learning needs.

Country affiliation

No formal country affiliation; MAS operates as an international school in Jordan and is connected with the American International Schools Worldwide Network.

Religious affiliation

No religious affiliation is stated; MAS emphasizes inclusive, secular education.

School day structure

Open School Hours for visits are Sunday–Thursday 8:00 AM–3:00 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM–2:00 PM; Fridays and national holidays are closed.

Bus service

Bus services are available for all MAS students. The buses are well maintained and meet high safety standards; drivers carry cell phones and each bus has an assistant; transportation staff are trained in First Aid.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement

MAS requires a daily school uniform. KG-8 wear gray pants with black shoes; 9-12 wear khaki pants with black or brown shoes, paired with a white collared shirt and a tie, and a black jacket. The PE kit consists of shorts or sweatpants and a red MAS T-shirt. Uniform items can be purchased from the MAS school bookstore.

Food Options

MAS operates a cafeteria that provides a healthy, diverse menu with weekly meal options. The Dining Services team supports dietary goals and a Cafeteria Menu is available to view. The dining program also features cultural menu items at various events throughout the year.

Governance and Ownership

MAS is governed by a Board of Trustees. The board includes founder Mr. Taysier Zamel and co-founder Ms. Omaya Zamel, with Dr. Jawad Al-Anani serving as Head of Trustees. Ownership details and whether MAS is part of a broader group are not disclosed.
Fees

Annual tuition at Modern American School ranges from JOD 4,850 to JOD 13,650 for 2026/27.

Fees 2025–2026 — summary and instalments

- Fees are given in Jordanian Dinars (JD) and are shown as three instalments with specific due dates: 1st instalment due 1 March 2025, 2nd instalment due 1 September 2025, 3rd instalment due 1 December 2025. Total annual tuition is the sum of the three instalments listed for each grade.

Application / Admission fees

- Admission fee (one-time, new students, Grades 1–12): JD 500.

Tuition fees by year group (per instalment and annual total)

- Pre, KG 1 (meals included): 1st instalment JD 1,565; 2nd instalment JD 1,565; 3rd instalment JD 1,570; Annual total JD 4,700.
- KG 2 (meals included): 1st instalment JD 1,600; 2nd instalment JD 1,600; 3rd instalment JD 1,600; Annual total JD 4,800.
- Grade 1: 1st instalment JD 2,170; 2nd instalment JD 2,170; 3rd instalment JD 2,160; Annual total JD 6,500.
- Grade 2: 1st instalment JD 2,240; 2nd instalment JD 2,240; 3rd instalment JD 2,220; Annual total JD 6,700.
- Grade 3: 1st instalment JD 2,540; 2nd instalment JD 2,540; 3rd instalment JD 2,520; Annual total JD 7,600.
- Grade 4: 1st instalment JD 2,620; 2nd instalment JD 2,620; 3rd instalment JD 2,610; Annual total JD 7,850.
- Grade 5: 1st instalment JD 2,690; 2nd instalment JD 2,690; 3rd instalment JD 2,670; Annual total JD 8,050.
- Grade 6: 1st instalment JD 2,750; 2nd instalment JD 2,750; 3rd instalment JD 2,750; Annual total JD 8,250.
- Grade 7: 1st instalment JD 3,040; 2nd instalment JD 3,040; 3rd instalment JD 3,020; Annual total JD 9,100.
- Grade 8: 1st instalment JD 3,070; 2nd instalment JD 3,070; 3rd instalment JD 3,060; Annual total JD 9,200.

- American High School Diploma (Grades 9 & 10): 1st instalment JD 3,700; 2nd instalment JD 3,700; 3rd instalment JD 3,700; Annual total JD 11,100.

- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP, Grades 11 & 12): 1st instalment JD 4,550; 2nd instalment JD 4,550; 3rd instalment JD 4,550; Annual total JD 13,650.

Transportation & additional mandatory / typical costs

- Arabic books, supplies and services (Jordanian books, stationery, yearbook, printouts, photocopies): KG: JD 100; Grades 1–12: JD 375.
- All English books (KG–Grade 12): available and sold at the school bookstore (costs charged separately).
- IB & American curriculum textbooks are sold separately at the MAS Bookstore; external exam fees (IBDP, SAT, AP, ACT) are not included in tuition.
- International accreditation / membership fee: JD 500 (Grades 1–12) covering accreditation-related visits and memberships.
- Family discount: two siblings receive 10% each; third or more siblings receive 15% each (applies to tuition).

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition is billed in three instalments with stated due dates: 1 March 2025 (1st instalment), 1 September 2025 (2nd instalment), and 1 December 2025 (3rd instalment). Each instalment amount is listed by grade; the annual total equals the sum of the three instalments.

Boarding fees

- No boarding or residential fees are listed for this school; the fee schedules and admissions materials available list day-student tuition only.

Uniforms, books, and school store

- Uniforms and English/IB/American curriculum books are sold through the school bookstore; costs for these items are additional to tuition and are charged separately. The school provides on‑site assistance for purchases (store hours and availability announced through school communications).

Refund information

- No public refund policy for tuition or related fees is stated on the school's tuition, student registration, terms of use, or privacy pages. The available fee pages list instalments, admission fee and additional charges but do not publish a refund or cancellation schedule.

Fee payment options

- The published fee materials and admissions/registration pages list instalments, amounts and related charges but do not list specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer details, credit card acceptance, or cash procedures) in the publicly available pages reviewed.

Notes on scope of published information

- The amounts, instalment dates, the JD currency, admission fee, additional charges (Arabic books, international accreditation fee), and sibling discount have been published as the school's 2025–2026 fee schedule. The school's public tuition and admissions pages do not publish a separate refund policy or the detailed payment-method instructions on the same pages.
Academics

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

Curriculum

MAS offers three IB pathways and an American diploma track: IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3–11, IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6–9, and IB Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11–12, alongside an American High School Diploma through Cognia (AdvancED). The school is an IB World School authorized to provide PYP, MYP, and DP and holds Cognia accreditation, with students prepared for external exams such as PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, AP, and GCE, and Tawjihi equivalency available for Jordanian university admission. Instruction is in English and Arabic, with two languages required; English, Arabic, and French are offered, and additional languages (Spanish, German, Japanese) may be available by demand, plus ESL and Arabic as a Second Language support. The DP emphasizes inquiry, intercultural understanding and global engagement, complemented by a mandatory community-service component (ACT) requiring a minimum 60 hours to graduate. Across all levels, MAS integrates technology (iPads in PK–6, laptops in Grades 7–12) and provides access to e-books and online learning platforms.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

MAS provides Individual Academic & Guidance Counseling based on the ASCA model, focusing on social-behavioral and academic-career development to support social-emotional learning.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

MAS states that it provides support for Special Education students as part of the standard curriculum; the specific kinds of Special Educational Needs supported are not publicly detailed.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

MAS provides English as a Second Language (ESL) and Arabic as a Second Language (ASL) support for students requiring extra help.

Mental Wellbeing

MAS supports mental wellbeing through its Counseling program and a broader emphasis on student well-being, including participation in events like the 2025 Amman Marathon.

Safeguarding

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding policies.
Parent Experience

History

The Modern American School was founded in 1986 in Amman by Mr. Tayseer Zamel. It began as a private co-educational day school and has since expanded to a full K–12 program. Over time the school broadened its international offerings, including international studies in 1996, IGCSE/Edexcel in 1997, the American Diploma in 2003, and AP coursework in 2008. MAS is an IB World School and Cognia-accredited, reflecting its evolution toward global accreditation. The campus spans two adjacent campuses in Amman and employs staff from 22 countries to support a diverse learning environment.

Community

MAS maintains a diverse, multinational community, with staff from 22 countries and students from many nationalities. The school emphasizes multicultural appreciation and global citizenship. Community events include Ramadan Iftar with orphans, the annual Open House, and International Children's Day celebrations, as well as a range of student-led activities such as Model United Nations and science clubs. Parents participate in school life through conferences and family sessions throughout the year.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

MAS engages parents through formal Parent-Teacher Conferences and regular parent communications. The school has hosted Parent-Teacher Conferences in 2023 and 2025, reflecting ongoing collaboration between families and educators. Open houses and information sessions help families understand MAS curriculum and programs. Family events include Grandparents Day in the KG department and parent education discussions that connect home and school. The ACT program provides a structured framework for student community service and leadership, inviting parental involvement through volunteering and support of student projects. Overall, parent engagement is a core element of MAS's mission to build strong home–school partnerships.
Facilities

Facilities Overview

Modern American School operates on two adjacent campuses in Amman. Classrooms feature Interactive Promethean boards, and five Information Technology labs support technology-enabled learning. The campus includes three media resource centers, three arts & crafts rooms, and four libraries, along with a multi-purpose hall and a 375-seat theater. Two sports fields and two gymnasiums support athletics, and the school provides three cafeterias on site. The high school building has been recently renovated to house state-of-the-art facilities.

Sports Facilities

The school provides two sports fields and two gymnasiums on campus to support physical education and team sports. These facilities are complemented by on-site scheduling and space for athletics across the two-campus layout.

Academic Facilities

Five Information Technology labs support hands-on learning, and Interactive Promethean boards are installed in every classroom. Students in KG–6 use iPads, while grades 7–12 use laptops, with online e-Books available to 5–12. Three fully equipped science labs and four libraries provide spaces for experimentation and independent study, complemented by three media resource centers and three arts & crafts rooms.

Extra Curricular Facilities

On campus, there is a multi-purpose hall and a 375-seat theater for performances and assemblies, along with a 400-seat auditorium listed as a larger performance space. Three cafeterias support daily dining, and an on-site medical center and dental clinic provide health services with a resident doctor and dentist on duty.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual

MAS fosters leadership and international engagement through multiple programs. The ACT Program requires every high school student to complete at least 15 hours of community service per year and at least 60 hours to graduate, with activities including Student Council, Model United Nations, and science fairs. MAS MUN provides a school Model United Nations experience with conferences in Jordan and the United States, teaching debate, resolution drafting, and public speaking. The Travel Abroad Program offers international learning experiences in various destinations to support language immersion and cross-cultural learning.

Arts & Creative

MAS offers arts and creative activities through non‑athletic programs in sport and student life. Non-athletic programs include Musical Theater Production and Art/Choir; drama and visual arts are supported by Drama Club/Art Exhibit and Photography Club. Creative outlets also include Poetry Café and a Talent Show.

Cultural & Language

Travel Abroad Program provides immersion through trips to France for the French language and to the United States for Model United Nations and academic programs. France French Language is listed as a destination; trips to the United States include MUN and college visits. French Club is among MAS's language-focused activities.

Social & Hobbies

Non‑athletic programs supported by the Athletics Department include Model United Nations, Student Council Community Support, Habitat for Humanity, Travel Abroad Program, Science Club, MAS Mathematics Society, Software Development, Musical Theater Production, Art/Choir, Camping and Overnight Adventures, and a Talent Show.

Community & Service

The ACT Program centers on community service and international citizenship, requiring at least 15 hours of community service per year and a minimum of 60 hours to graduate. It encompasses charity drives, Habitat for Humanity, Ramadan activities, fundraising events, and other service-oriented activities, and it promotes leadership and school spirit.

Leadership & Professional

Leadership development is a core MAS focus; the school prepares students to become leaders in a global context and emphasizes early preparation for life beyond graduation. High school students frequently found and operate on‑campus activities and societies that revolve around causes and interests. MAS MUN and Student Council are examples of leadership opportunities that develop debate, diplomacy, and organizational skills.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Sports and athletics are central to MAS life, with coaches, players, and families valuing sportsmanship and athletic programs. On-site medical and dental care is provided during classes and activities, with on-site physicians offering medical services and nutritional education. Non-athletic lifestyle activities include camping and overnight adventures, science and arts clubs, and events such as talent shows and cultural activities.
Languages

Language Provision

Language offerings include Arabic, French, and English, with additional options depending on demand (Spanish, German, Japanese). ESL (English as a Second Language) and ASL (Arabic as a Second Language) programs are available to support students needing extra help.

Bilingual Teaching

The school requires students to take courses in two languages. Language offerings include Arabic, French, and English, with additional options in Spanish, German, and Japanese offered depending on demand. The program is designed to develop true proficiency in a second (or third) language by graduation.
Reputation

Accreditations

COGNIA for Schools (AdvancED)
Admissions

Admissions

1. Meet with our Admissions Officer. The Admissions Officer meets with the parents of potential students, interviews potential students, and works with the Student Affairs Office throughout the registration process. The meeting provides firsthand information about MAS's academic programs, activities, and student support. The Admissions Officer also conducts an interview with the student and their parents that determines the preliminary admissions decision.
2. Take a Comprehensive Guided Tour of MAS. Tours allow parents and students to see the campus and facilities and to ask questions about the school. A Student Affairs officer conducts the tour, and tours typically take about 30 minutes. The tour helps families understand daily routines and the learning environment.
3. Complete a Placement Exam. The placement exam evaluates math and English abilities, with an optional Arabic section. Results determine the appropriate grade level, and high school students may meet with University & Academic Counselors for scheduling. Placement exams take about 1 hour 15 minutes and are graded immediately; language exams (Arabic and French) are used to place language courses after admission, and additional placement exams may be required for students with special educational needs.
4. Complete Application Package & Return it to Student Affairs. Parents receive an application package with forms to fill out at home and return after completion. Registration should occur before each term or school year as grade level sections may fill; if a section is full, applicants may be placed on a waiting list. Admission follows a non-discriminatory policy and depends on program fit; criteria do not include race, nationality, religion, or gender when making final decisions.

Scholarships

Academic scholarships are offered to new IBDP students for the 2025-2026 academic year. Applicants must submit an application form, past academic reports, a personal statement, and a certified birth certificate; eligible candidates are invited to an entrance exam in Math and English and to an interview. Scholarships cover tuition; awards are available to new Grade 11 students and are reviewed annually based on academic performance, with selection based on entrance test scores, past reports, references, and interviews.

Waitlist

Applicants may be placed on a waiting list if a grade level section is full.
School Events
The school has not added events