How many secondaries serve Riyadh
Roughly 25 schools in Riyadh run a full international secondary programme from age 11 onwards. The British IGCSE and A Level pathway dominates the cluster with around 14 schools, including the British International School of Riyadh, several Sabis branches, Manarat Riyadh International Section and Kingdom Schools. Five schools offer the IB Diploma as the sixth form route: SEK International School Riyadh, Multinational School Riyadh, King's Academy Riyadh, Hayat International School and the soon-to-be-authorised Vision Academy. American AP runs at the American International School Riyadh and three other US-aligned campuses. Lycee Francais International runs the French Baccalaureate stream.
The cluster is younger than Dubai or Doha but expanding fast. Six of the 25 schools opened or expanded their secondary section after 2021, with Vision 2030 explicitly targeting an increase in international sixth form provision to support the King Abdullah Financial District workforce. Class sizes through Years 7 to 11 average 20 to 24 pupils, dropping to 8 to 14 at A Level and IB Diploma. Sixth form choice in Riyadh is genuinely competitive: families now weigh the Diploma at SEK against A Level at BISR or AP at AIS based on the child's likely university destination.
Sixth form options and fees
Secondary tuition in Riyadh sits in three tiers. The value tier, SAR 60,000 to SAR 78,000, covers schools like Sabis Riyadh and the Manarat International Section through Year 11. The mid tier, SAR 78,000 to SAR 100,000, captures BISR Years 7 to 11, Multinational School Riyadh secondary and the American International School. The premium tier, SAR 100,000 to SAR 130,000, is the sixth form years at SEK Riyadh, King's Academy and BISR A Level. Add 15 to 25 percent for transport, exam entries, science laboratory fees and capital levies. A SAR 105,000 sixth form tuition fee is closer to SAR 130,000 once everything is paid. The Riyadh fees guide breaks the loading out by year group.
Sixth form choice matters more than primary choice. A Level subjects are chosen 18 months earlier than the IB Diploma, which forces a Year 11 conversation in March. The IB Diploma's six-subject breadth suits families likely to apply to US, Canadian or continental European universities. A Level still wins for direct UK university entry and for highly specialist science applicants.
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Illustrative example schools
The four schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each has a track record at GCSE, A Level, IB Diploma or AP results and holds a current ETEC Good or Distinguished rating.
British International School of Riyadh in the Diplomatic Quarter runs IGCSE and A Level through Year 13, with strong science and mathematics provision. The default for British and Commonwealth families targeting UK universities.
King's Academy Riyadh offers IB Diploma alongside its primary IB Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme. Newer campus, US-influenced facilities and strong recent investment in arts and sport.
SEK International School Riyadh is one of the established IB World Schools in the city, with a continuous IB pathway from age 3 to 18 and steady Diploma cohorts averaging just above the global IB mean.
American International School Riyadh offers an AP-led sixth form leading to the US High School Diploma. Strong fit for diplomatic families and oil and gas rotation families on US university tracks.
Where teenage families live
Teenage-age families in Riyadh cluster around three zones. The Diplomatic Quarter dominates for embassy and senior diplomatic roles, with BISR senior school, AIS and a clutch of attached secondaries on or near the compound. Al Nakheel houses most senior corporate expatriates with teenagers, drawn by the Multinational School secondary campus and SEK International. Hittin and Al Yasmin serve mid-tier corporate families with strong secondary clusters and bus links to the IB schools. Some families also live closer to King Abdullah Financial District for shorter commutes, using school transport into the international school belt. For wider relocation context, see the Riyadh city hub and the compare tool.
Admissions and entry points
Applications for the August 2026 intake opened in most Riyadh secondaries between October and December 2025. The three competitive entry points are Year 7, Year 10 and Year 12. Year 7 places fill earliest, followed by Year 10 and Year 12. For Year 12, schools require predicted GCSE or MYP grades, the previous year's school report and an academic reference. The IB Diploma cohort sets subjects in May to June for an August start; transferring in after that window means accepting whichever subjects still have places.
Tier 1 schools close their main intake by late January, with rolling applications continuing all year subject to availability. Documentation requirements include the previous school's report card, an iqama or visa endorsement, an Absher account and an English assessment for new entrants beyond Year 7.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are in Riyadh?
Roughly 25 schools in Riyadh run a full international secondary programme covering Years 7 to 13 or Grades 6 to 12. The British IGCSE and A Level pathway dominates with around 14 of those campuses; five schools offer the IB Diploma and the remainder run American AP or the French Baccalaureate.
How much do secondary schools in Riyadh cost?
Secondary tuition in Riyadh runs from about SAR 60,000 at value-tier providers to SAR 130,000 at the most premium sixth forms, which is roughly 16,000 to 34,700 US dollars. Sixth form fees for A Level, IB Diploma and AP sit at the upper end. Add 15 to 25 percent for transport, exam entries and capital levies.
Which secondary qualifications do Riyadh schools offer?
Riyadh schools offer IGCSEs followed by A Levels at most British curriculum campuses, the IB Diploma Programme at five authorised IB World Schools, AP courses leading to the US High School Diploma at the American International School and a handful of others, and the French Baccalaureate at Lycee Francais International de Riyadh.
When do Riyadh secondary applications open?
Most Riyadh secondaries open admissions for the following August intake in October or November. Year 7, Year 10 and Year 12 entry points fill fastest. Tier 1 schools close their main intake by late January with rolling applications continuing all year subject to availability.
Can my child transfer into Year 12 mid-cycle?
Transfer into the IB Diploma or A Level after October of Year 12 is usually not possible because subject choices, internal assessments and Extended Essay or coursework are already underway. Transfers into Years 7 to 11 are feasible when places exist, particularly between schools running the same curriculum.
