How many American schools in Jeddah
Jeddah has around 7 schools delivering a recognised American curriculum in 2026, defined as schools with AdvancED, MSA-CESS or Cognia accreditation running through to the American High School Diploma. The American International School of Jeddah (AISJ) is the only standalone Western-managed American school in the western region of Saudi Arabia. The remainder are Saudi-owned schools that run the American curriculum either exclusively or as a parallel pathway alongside Cambridge IGCSE and the Saudi national curriculum.
The American education footprint in Jeddah is smaller than the British in part because there are fewer American expatriate families and in part because the British curriculum has historically been the preferred international pathway for Saudi families. That balance has shifted noticeably in the last five years. Saudi Vision 2030 reforms and rising interest in US university destinations have pushed more Saudi families towards the American pathway, particularly at AISJ where the Saudi cohort has grown from around 20 per cent in 2018 to 35 per cent in 2025.
High school cohort sizes are modest. AISJ graduates around 60 students a year from Grade 12. Saudi-owned American-pathway schools typically graduate 30 to 70 students annually. AP catalogue breadth correlates strongly with cohort size: AISJ offers 17 AP courses each year, mid-tier schools 6 to 10, and smaller settings 3 to 5. Families serious about the AP route should weight this in their school selection.
Fees and AP courses
American curriculum tuition in Jeddah groups into three rough tiers. The mid-tier Saudi-owned American-pathway schools, running from SAR 35,000 to SAR 55,000 a year, cover Dar Jana International, Al Bayan and the International School Group Jeddah. The premium tier, SAR 60,000 to SAR 85,000, covers the upper years at established Saudi-American dual-curriculum schools. The top tier is the American International School of Jeddah at SAR 95,000 to SAR 110,000 a year for High School with AP, justified by class sizes of 16 to 20, the strongest AP catalogue in the western region, and the best US university counselling team.
AP course availability varies materially. AISJ offers 17 AP courses including Calculus AB and BC, Chemistry, Biology, Physics 1 and 2, US History, World History, English Language and Literature, Spanish, Computer Science A and Studio Art. Mid-tier schools typically run 6 to 10 AP courses, focused on the most-applied subjects (Calculus AB, Chemistry, Biology, US History, English Language). Smaller schools offer 3 to 5 AP courses or none at all, with sixth formers taking SAT and ACT but no formal advanced coursework. Our Jeddah fees guide walks through the loading mathematics. The fees comparison tool sets Jeddah American fees against Dubai and Riyadh equivalents.
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Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each delivers a recognised American curriculum with external accreditation.
American International School of Jeddah in Al Faisaliah is the only standalone Western-managed American school in Jeddah. Cognia accreditation, 17 AP courses, Class of 2025 SAT average of 1320, with placement at MIT, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley and the University of Michigan.
Dar Jana International School in Al Salamah delivers the American curriculum through to the High School Diploma with around 8 AP courses available. Cognia accreditation, predominantly Saudi cohort with a growing Egyptian and Lebanese parent base.
International Indian School in Al Andalus runs the CBSE curriculum primarily but operates an American Section with AdvancED accreditation. Around 6 AP courses, popular with Indian-American dual-national families.
Al Bayan Model School in Al Rawdah is a Saudi-owned school running both the Saudi national curriculum and an American pathway. Cognia accreditation at the American section, 4 to 5 AP courses.
International School Group Jeddah in Al Hamra delivers the American curriculum from KG through to High School Diploma with around 7 AP courses. MSA-CESS accreditation. Smaller cohort than AISJ but a more affordable American-pathway option.
Where American families live
American curriculum families in Jeddah cluster around three areas. Al Faisaliah and the surrounding villa compounds for proximity to AISJ, with Cinnamon Compound, Coral Beach Compound and Movenpick all within 15 to 25 minutes of the AISJ campus. Al Salamah and Al Andalus for proximity to Dar Jana, International Indian School and the airport, popular with families whose work involves regular travel to Riyadh or Dubai. Al Rawdah and Al Hamra for proximity to Al Bayan and the International School Group Jeddah, with Saudi senior-professional families predominating.
The American community in Jeddah is smaller than in Riyadh or Dubai, with most US expatriates working in oil and gas downstream, healthcare, defence consultancy, or as teachers and academic administrators at AISJ itself. The community has been remarkably stable in size over the last decade, with longer average tenure than the British or French expatriate cohorts. Saudi families with explicit US university ambitions form a growing share of the AISJ parent body. Our Jeddah neighbourhoods guide covers residential options in detail.
Admissions and the Saudi calendar
The Jeddah school year runs August to June, matching the Saudi national calendar rather than the US September to June rhythm. Applications for the August 2026 academic year opened at most Jeddah American schools between September and November 2025. Grade 6 (start of Middle School) and Grade 9 (start of High School) are the most competitive entry points. AISJ closes its main intake by mid-January, with assessments through February and offers in March. Mid-tier American-pathway schools run rolling admissions through to June where capacity exists.
Mid-year transfers are usually possible up to Grade 10. Grade 11 transfers are difficult because junior year courses count significantly towards US university admission and the GPA calculation differs between US and Saudi calendar schools. Grade 12 transfers are essentially never accepted. The Saudi Ministry of Education requires a transfer certificate (Tasdiq) and the child's previous school records authenticated at the Saudi embassy in the home country. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for paperwork on top of the school's own admissions process.
Frequently asked questions
How many American curriculum schools are there in Jeddah?
Jeddah has around 7 schools delivering a recognised American curriculum in 2026, defined as schools with AdvancED, MSA-CESS or Cognia accreditation running through to the American High School Diploma. The American International School of Jeddah is the only standalone Western-managed American school. The remainder are Saudi-owned schools running the American curriculum as a parallel pathway alongside Cambridge IGCSE or the Saudi national curriculum.
How much do American schools in Jeddah cost?
American curriculum tuition in Jeddah ranges from SAR 35,000 a year at mid-tier Saudi-owned American schools through to SAR 110,000 at the American International School of Jeddah for High School with AP. Most mid-tier American-pathway schools sit between SAR 45,000 and SAR 65,000 a year. Transport, lunch, AP exam fees and uniforms typically add a further 15 to 20 per cent on top of headline tuition.
What AP courses are available in Jeddah?
The American International School of Jeddah offers around 17 AP courses across the sciences, mathematics, English, social studies, world languages and the arts. Typical course catalogue includes AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP US History, AP World History, AP English Language and Literature, AP Spanish, AP Computer Science and AP Studio Art. Other Jeddah schools running the American curriculum offer between 4 and 10 AP courses.
What is the typical SAT score at Jeddah American schools?
The American International School of Jeddah reports a Class of 2025 average SAT score of around 1320 out of 1600. The top 25 per cent of the cohort score above 1450, with 7 students achieving 1500 or above and earning admission to MIT, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley and the University of Michigan. ACT averages run at around 28 to 29 across the cohort.
Can Saudi nationals attend American curriculum schools in Jeddah?
Yes. Saudi nationals can enrol in American curriculum schools in Jeddah following the 2017 reforms. AISJ now runs a 30 to 35 per cent Saudi cohort with the remainder American, British, Egyptian, Lebanese and other expatriate. Saudi-owned American-pathway schools like Dar Jana and Al Bayan typically run 60 to 80 per cent Saudi enrolment. All Saudi students must take Arabic Language, Saudi Studies and Islamic Studies in addition to the American core.
Do Jeddah American schools follow a US calendar?
All Jeddah American schools follow the August to June Saudi national academic calendar rather than the September to June US calendar, with a fortnight winter break around the New Year and a longer spring break in March or April. Term breaks align with Saudi national and Islamic holidays. The school day typically runs from 7.30am to 2.30pm or 3pm, slightly earlier than US schools but normal for Saudi conditions.
