How many secondary schools operate in Doha
Around 35 international schools in Doha deliver a full secondary phase, taking pupils from Year 7 or Grade 6 through to Year 11 or Grade 10. About 20 of those continue into Sixth Form or High School, offering A Levels, the IB Diploma or the US High School Diploma at ages 16 to 18. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education licenses each school, and most of the Sixth Form providers also hold accreditation from BSO, CIS or MSA.
The split by qualification at the post-16 stage is broader than the primary picture would suggest. British A Levels remain the largest route, anchored by Doha College, Sherborne Qatar and Park House. The IB Diploma is run by Qatar Academy, ACS Doha, Compass International and a handful of community-curriculum schools. The US High School Diploma with Advanced Placement runs at the American School of Doha and at ACS Doha as a dual pathway. Indian-curriculum schools deliver CBSE Class 12 examinations, which most Indian universities and a growing number of UK universities now accept directly.
Capacity is the constraint at the senior end. Year 12 entry at Doha College, ASD and Qatar Academy is competitive every year. Transfers into Year 12 from outside Qatar are usually possible only at schools running open enrolment IB Diploma cohorts, because A Level subject choices are typically locked by the May of the previous academic year.
Fees and the Doha secondary tiers
Secondary fees in Doha fall into three rough bands. The premium tier, USD 27,000 to USD 33,400 per year at Year 12, captures the American School of Doha, Doha College, Qatar Academy and ACS Doha. The mid tier sits at USD 17,000 to USD 26,000 and includes Sherborne Qatar, Park House, Compass International, Newton British Academy and DPS Modern Indian School's IB stream. The value tier, USD 9,800 to USD 16,000, covers the Indian-curriculum secondaries delivering CBSE or ICSE to Class 12.
Headline tuition tells only part of the story. Most expat families on relocation packages have schooling paid by the employer up to a fixed ceiling. Beyond tuition, capital fees, transport, exam entry charges and Sixth Form residential trips can add another 14 to 22 percent. Our Doha fees guide walks through the full cost-of-place arithmetic by school and tier.
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Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Doha secondaries based on your child's stage, your preferred qualification route and your budget.
Illustrative example schools
The schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each has been operating in Doha for at least ten years and runs a settled Sixth Form or High School phase with reliable university outcomes.
Doha College Senior School, in Al Waab, has been delivering IGCSE and A Levels since 1980. Year 13 cohorts of around 130 send the majority of their leavers to UK universities, with steady numbers going to Australia, Canada and the GCC.
American School of Doha High School, in Al Khaisa, is the largest US accredited high school in Qatar. The US High School Diploma with AP runs alongside a long-established athletics and college counselling programme that places leavers across North America.
Qatar Academy Doha Secondary, in Education City, runs the largest IB Diploma cohort in Qatar. Recent average Diploma scores sit in the mid-thirties, well above the global average of 30.3.
ACS Doha International Secondary, near Al Oyoun Street, is the strongest dual-pathway school in the country, delivering both the IB Diploma and the US High School Diploma in the same building. The IB cluster is mapped in detail on our Doha IB hub.
Where secondary families live in Doha
Secondary families in Doha cluster around the same five zones as primary, but the school catchment effect tightens as children get older. Al Waab and Aspire Zone for British Sixth Form families close to Doha College, Sherborne Qatar and Park House. Education City and Al Rayyan for the IB Diploma pipeline through Qatar Academy. West Bay and the diplomatic district for short ACS Doha and corporate commutes. The Pearl and Lusail for marina-side family compounds, with bus runs to Al Waab and West Bay. Al Khaisa and the northern suburbs, the catchment for the American School of Doha. For a fuller picture of where to live, see our Doha city hub.
Admissions calendar
Applications for September 2026 entry opened at most Doha secondaries between October and December 2025. The tier 1 schools, Doha College, ASD, ACS Doha and Qatar Academy, close their Year 7 and Year 12 intake by late January, with assessments running through February. Offers land between March and April, with deposit deadlines typically two weeks after the offer letter.
Mid-tier secondaries accept rolling applications throughout the year, subject to capacity. Year 12 transfers from outside Qatar after October of the academic year are difficult because A Level subject choices and IB internal assessments are already in progress. Families considering an A Level move in Year 12 should request a subject availability letter from the receiving school before booking flights. Our primary hub covers the FS2 to Year 6 phase that precedes secondary, and the cost calculator covers the full Qatar relocation arithmetic.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are there in Doha?
Around 35 international schools in Doha run a full secondary phase from Year 7 to Year 11 or Grade 6 to Grade 10. About 20 of those continue into Sixth Form or High School with A Levels, IB Diploma or the US High School Diploma.
What qualifications do Doha secondary schools offer?
Doha secondaries deliver four main qualification routes at age 18. IGCSE followed by A Level is the most common, offered at Doha College, Sherborne Qatar and several others. The IB Diploma runs at Qatar Academy and ACS Doha. The US High School Diploma with AP runs at the American School of Doha. The CBSE Class 12 examinations run at the Indian-curriculum schools.
How much do secondary schools in Doha cost?
Tuition at Doha secondaries ranges from about USD 9,800 at Indian-curriculum schools to USD 33,400 at the premium end. The median Year 12 or Grade 12 fee at the mainstream international schools sits near USD 24,800 before capital levies, transport and exam entry charges.
Can students transfer into Doha schools mid-year?
Most Doha secondaries accept mid-year transfers when capacity exists, particularly in Years 7 to 10. Transfers in the middle of the IB Diploma or US 11th Grade are difficult because internal assessments and subject choices are already in progress.
Do Doha sixth form students go on to UK universities?
Yes. UK universities receive a significant share of Doha sixth form leavers, especially from Doha College and Sherborne Qatar. North American universities take the bulk of ASD and IB Diploma cohorts. A growing minority head to universities in Australia, the Netherlands and the UAE.
