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American Community School of Abu Dhabi has 1,500 pupils, typical class sizes of 9, instruction in English.
Location
The American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) is located on Saadiyat Island in the Saadiyat Marina District, Abu Dhabi, near New York University Abu Dhabi. The Saadiyat campus opened in January 2024 after relocating from Al Bateen, and the site is close to the cultural district and NYU Abu Dhabi. The campus covers six hectares and offers modern facilities designed for ACS's programs.
Stages
ACS serves KG1 through Grade 12, organized into Elementary School (KG1–Grade 5), Middle School (Grades 6–8) and High School (Grades 9–12).
Type
ACS is a co-educational, nonprofit school operating an American standards-based curriculum.
Pupil Nationality Mix
Students represent more than 80 nationalities; ACS describes a multi-national student body, but publishes no detailed local-to-international ratio.
Additional learning support
ACS provides learning support to a managed number of students through a balanced service delivery model, including consultative support, accommodations, small-group instruction, some in-class support and Learning Labs at the Middle and High School levels.
Country affiliation
Affiliation: United States (ACS uses an American standards-based curriculum; it is not affiliated with a government body).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation: Not specified.
School day structure
The school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for all grades; Fridays dismiss at noon.
Bus service
ACS offers a bus service. Imperial Transport is the official provider, with GPS tracking, electronic attendance, seat belts, and a dedicated ACS representative; current families can register via the Veracross Parent Portal.
Fees
Annual tuition at American Community School of Abu Dhabi ranges from AED 56,526 to AED 99,060 for 2026/27.
One‑off and application fees
- Application fee: AED 630 (includes 5% VAT). This fee is non‑refundable. - Reservation fee: AED 3,000. Payable in March each year to reserve a seat for the following school year; new students pay the same fee within seven days of notice of acceptance. The reservation fee is applied toward annual tuition, must be paid before a student may attend class, and is 50% refundable if written notice is received by the Admissions Office by May 1 (non‑refundable after May 1). - Capital fee (new students only): AED 27,000, one‑time, non‑refundable and non‑transferable; paid in full during the student's first academic year and not prorated.
Annual tuition fees by grade (annual amount and per‑installment breakdown)
Tuition can be paid as a single annual payment or in three installments. The installment schedule is 35% (due June 1), 30% (due September 1) and 35% (due December 1). Amounts below show the annual tuition followed by the three installment amounts (rounded to whole dirhams) corresponding to those percentages.
- KG1: Annual tuition AED 56,526 — Installments: AED 19,784 (35% due June 1), AED 16,958 (30% due September 1), AED 19,784 (35% due December 1). - KG2 – Grade 5: Annual tuition AED 81,912 — Installments: AED 28,669 (35% due June 1), AED 24,574 (30% due September 1), AED 28,669 (35% due December 1). - Grade 6 – Grade 8: Annual tuition AED 85,627 — Installments: AED 29,969 (35% due June 1), AED 25,688 (30% due September 1), AED 29,970 (35% due December 1). - Grade 9 – Grade 12: Annual tuition AED 99,060 — Installments: AED 34,671 (35% due June 1), AED 29,718 (30% due September 1), AED 34,671 (35% due December 1).
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Standard due date for annual or first installment payments: June 1. Payment for new students joining after the school year starts is due within 14 days of invoicing and before the student's first day. Late payments will be considered overdue and may result in exclusion from classes until payment is made. Parents remain personally responsible for timely payment regardless of employer arrangements. Invoices are issued to returning students after re‑enrollment; new students are invoiced upon acceptance. - Installment schedule (if paying by installments): 1st installment 35% due June 1; 2nd installment 30% due September 1; 3rd installment 35% due December 1. The same 35/30/35 percentages are used to determine amounts due when a student enrolls partway through the year.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. ACS operates as a day school and does not charge boarding fees.
Other required or possible additional costs
- Student Support Services fee (for students receiving ongoing services): AED 5,505 (annual). - School lunch (estimated): AED 10–25 per day. - IB and AP examination fees: AED 440–490 per subject. - MESAC (competitive teams) per trip: AED 600–3,000. - Viper Venture (Middle & High School experiential learning): AED 0–15,000 depending on activity. - Uniforms (Grades 5–12 and others as required): estimated AED 600–1,000. - Apple laptop (Grades 5–12): estimated AED 4,200.
Refunds and withdrawal billing
- Reservation fee refund: 50% refundable if written notice is received by Admissions by May 1; otherwise the reservation fee is non‑refundable after May 1. - Tuition refunds: Refunds may be granted where full annual tuition has been paid and the student leaves before the end of the school year. Refunds require 30 days written advance notice and will be made upon receipt of a written request from the paying individual or organization. Refunds are calculated on the basis of quarters; the tuition allocation by quarter is 35% (first quarter), 30% (second quarter), 25% (third quarter) and 10% (fourth quarter). For example, if a student attends only the first quarter, 35% of annual tuition is charged and the remaining 65% may be refunded; if a student attends the first two quarters, 65% is charged and 35% may be refunded, and so on. Other fees follow their specific refund terms.
Payment methods and practical details
- Wire transfer (Dirhams) to the school's First Abu Dhabi Bank account: account and IBAN details are provided by the school; all wire transfer charges are the responsibility of the payer. - Dirham check drawn on a local (UAE) bank payable to American Community School. - Credit card: credit card payments are available; requests for credit card payment should be sent to the school contact indicated for payments (email address provided by the school's billing office).
Notes and practical points
- The reservation fee is applied toward annual tuition and must be paid before a student may attend class. New students who enroll partway through the year will be invoiced at acceptance and follow the installment structure for amounts due at enrollment. Late payments may affect a student's ability to attend classes until payment is made.
Academics
American Community School of Abu Dhabi teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum for students aged 4 to 18.
Curriculum
The American Community School of Abu Dhabi delivers an American standards-based curriculum taught in English, organized into Elementary (KG1–Grade 5), Middle School (Grade 6–8), and High School (Grade 9–12). The school offers both the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, with a focus on personalized learning across the grade levels. In Grades 9 and 10, courses are designed to prepare students for IB DP, AP, or general high school study in Grades 11 and 12, with a typical Grade 9 schedule including English 9, Integrated Mathematics, Science 9, World History 9, Physical Education/Health 9, World Language, and two electives. In Grades 11 and 12, students may enroll in the IB Diploma Programme, Advanced Placement courses, or ACS High School courses, with a minimum of seven credit-bearing courses required. Graduation requires 25 credits earned across English, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Language (two credits in the same language), Creative Arts, Physical Education & Health, and Electives, plus Arabic/Islamic Studies requirements under UAE MOE as applicable. Service Learning is integrated into the curriculum, and the High School features an experiential learning program called Viper Venture that undertakes yearly field experiences in Abu Dhabi and beyond.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
ACS Abu Dhabi supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a tiered counseling system across all grade levels, prioritizing social-emotional wellness and a safe, inclusive school environment; counselors partner with students, educators and families to provide individual guidance and classroom-based programs, and the K-12 School Psychologist also acts as the Child Protection Officer responsible for safeguarding.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
ACS provides Learning Support through a tiered system across Elementary, Middle and High School, with a Learning Support team that advocates for students and develops goals, instructional strategies and accommodations; English language learners are fully immersed in language-rich environments within this framework, but ACS is not described as a dedicated SEN specialist institution in the publicly available materials.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English as an Additional Language (EAL) is supported within ACS's Learning Services, with English language learners immersed in language-rich environments and receiving Tier 1 and Tier 2 support in the classroom and through Student Support Services.
Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is addressed through social-emotional learning and counseling services across grade levels, with elementary group SEL instruction and ongoing counseling support in middle and high school.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is supported by the School Psychologist, who serves as the Child Protection Officer, and by formal safeguarding practices such as the Middle School Child Protection Handbook that guides safety and security procedures.
Admissions
Admissions
1. Age requirements. ACS serves KG1 through Grade 12. A child must be 4 years old before September 1 to enroll in KG1, 5 for KG2, and 6 for Grade 1. Grades 2–12 have age guidelines and the admissions team reviews files to determine the best fit for the student.
2. Pre-Application. Begin with a Pre-Application to ACS, creating an online profile in the Veracross system. The Veracross system sends a username and a link to create a password; do not re-start the Pre-Application if you navigated away.
3. Application Form. Log in to the Application Form and complete the required sections; you can move in and out of the form as you work. All required sections must be marked completed before review, and the non-refundable application fee must be paid.
4. Required documents. Submit Report Cards for the previous two years, any standardized test scores, and Confidential Assessment Forms from your current school. High school transcript for Grades 10-12 when available; include additional documents such as IEPs, 504 plans, or psychological/educational evaluations if relevant. Upload PDFs in the Additional Documents section.
5. Schedule a visit. Schedule a campus tour (ACS offers tours Monday–Wednesday at 9 a.m.); a confirmation email is sent when the tour is confirmed. Virtual tours are also available.
6. Admissions timeline and review. Applications for the 2026-27 school year are open. The Admissions Timeline outlines waves of applications and when admissions decisions are typically communicated. Completed applications are time-stamped and Admissions Office staff will verify each document before determining if they are ready for review.
FAQs
Where is ACS Abu Dhabi located and what age range does it serve?
ACS is on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. The school serves students aged 4 to 18 (KG1 through Grade 12) in a co-educational, nonprofit American-curriculum program.
What curriculum and language of instruction does ACS follow?
ACS offers a standards-based American curriculum with English as the language of instruction from Pre-K through Grade 12. In Grades 9–10, courses prepare students for IB DP, AP, or ACS High School courses, and in Grades 11–12 they may pursue the IB Diploma Programme and/or AP courses.
Who is the head of school at ACS Abu Dhabi?
The head of school is Monique Flickinger.
What are the tuition and additional fees for ACS, and how are they structured?
Tuition ranges by year group: KG1 AED 56,526; KG2–Grade 5 AED 81,912; Grades 6–8 AED 85,627; Grades 9–12 AED 99,060. There is a one-time capital fee of AED 27,000 for new students and an annual Student Support Services fee of AED 5,505 for students receiving ongoing support. An application fee is AED 630, and a seat reservation fee is AED 3,000.
Is there a waitlist or admission ranking, and how does the admissions timeline work?
Yes, if a grade level is full, approved applicants may be placed on a waiting list. Offers are communicated by email, with grade-level capacity assessed for August entry in February; space may become available or change through the summer.
Are scholarships available at ACS Abu Dhabi?
Scholarly scholarships are not listed in the provided information.
What documents are required for the admissions process?
Applicants must provide (where applicable) two years of report cards and current progress reports, standardized test scores, Confidential Assessment Forms, and a High School Transcript for Grades 10–12, plus birth certificate, immunization record, passport and Emirates ID information, sponsor documents, and other requested employment or family documents.
Does ACS offer bus transportation, and how is it managed?
ACS partners with Imperial Transport for bus services. Buses come with GPS monitoring, electronic attendance, seat belts, and an ACS representative; detailed arrangements are available via the Veracross Parent Portal or bus@acs.sch.ae.
What are ACS's key academic outcomes (IB, SAT, AP, and college results)?
2023 IB Diploma results: 30 of 94 candidates earned the Diploma; average total points were 32, with a high of 38. 2023 SAT results (Class of 2024): EBRW 608, Math 606, Combined 1,214. The school also publishes 2023 AP scores and reports a 9:1 student–teacher ratio.
What pathways exist for Grades 9–12, and how do they prepare students for college?
From Grades 9–10, courses prepare students for the IB Diploma Programme, AP, or ACS High School options. From Grades 11–12, students may pursue the IB Diploma Programme and/or AP courses, aligning with college admission goals.
How successful are ACS graduates in higher education?
About 87% of students were accepted to at least one of their top three college choices. For the Class of 2023, matriculation included approximately 60% United States, 19% Canada, 12% Europe, 6% UAE, and 3% United Kingdom.
What facilities does the new ACS Saadiyat campus offer for academics, arts, and athletics?
The six-hectare campus (opened January 2024) is state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable, and supports academics, the arts, athletics and service-learning, with close proximity to NYU Abu Dhabi and the cultural district.
What sports and technology facilities are available to students?
ACS offers extensive athletics with 50+ teams across four seasons and a 25-meter pool. It also runs a 1:1 MacBook Pro/Air program for Grades 4–12 and maintains a large technology ecosystem with over 500 devices and strong IT support.
What arts and after-school facilities or programs exist?
Alongside Band, Choir and Theater, Visual Arts are showcased in exhibitions and productions. After-school activities include Year-round clubs (e.g., Robotics, Chess, Film Club) and a Vipers Swim Club, with opportunities to travel for MESAC and other festivals.
What kinds of clubs and leadership opportunities are available beyond the classroom?
There are about 30 student-led clubs for Middle and High School, plus high-visibility programs like Model United Nations, National Honor Society, Prom Committee and an Athletics/Activities Council. The Viper Venture program also offers experiential learning experiences.
What wellbeing and safeguarding measures does ACS provide?
ACS prioritizes social-emotional wellness with school counselors and a K-12 social-emotional curriculum. A dedicated School Psychologist handles safeguarding, and the Child Protection Officer coordinates disclosures and investigations, following Wadeema's Law and ADEK guidelines.
How does ACS support students with English as an Additional Language (EAL) and learning needs?
EAL and SEN support are provided through a tiered system: universal Tier 1 instruction, targeted Tier 2 supports, and more intensive Tier 3 services (including 1:1 support). English learners receive both in-class and Student Support Services assistance.
What is the uniform policy at ACS, and where can uniforms be purchased?
All students wear the official ACS uniform daily: collared polo or ACS-logo T-shirt with black or khaki bottoms; KG1–5 may wear collared dresses. PE uniforms are worn by KG2–Grade 12. Uniforms can be bought on campus or online via Trutex using code ACSAD-0019, with fittings on campus.
What food options are available on campus for ACS students?
ACS provides three on-campus food providers: Food Nation (cafeteria), Cafe '72 by La Cuisine de Manou, and Nectar (Grades 6–12). Meals can be purchased with ID badges via Spare, the cashless campus app; Viper Bites operates after school and during athletic events.
What accreditations or awards does ACS have, and how is its reputation built?
The data does not list formal accreditations or awards. ACS is a founding member of MESAC and participates in the Emirates Athletics Conference and the Junior Emirates Athletics Conference, reflecting regional involvement and competitive opportunities.
