At a glance
The Elementary School is the youngest stage of the American International School of Jeddah, the Pre Kindergarten to Grade 12 institution founded in 1952 in the Al Muhammadiyah district. It covers the early years through to Grade 5 and runs on the same campus as the middle and high school, so a child who starts in elementary can progress through to the IB Diploma or Advanced Placement without changing schools. The programme follows US standards, taught in English, with the specialist lessons and pastoral structure that define an American elementary setting. You can place the wider school within the city through our Jeddah city hub, and read the full institution profile on our American International School of Jeddah page.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | US curriculum (AERO Plus and Common Core); no external exams at this stage |
| Stages | Early years through Grade 5 (elementary) |
| Founded | Part of AISJ, founded 1952 |
| Accreditation | Middle States Association; member of the Council of International Schools and NESA |
| Fee band | Upper to premium (see the Jeddah city hub) |
| Campus area | Al Muhammadiyah, north Jeddah |
Curriculum and academics
The elementary stage follows a US curriculum built on the AERO Plus and Common Core standards, the same framework used across American schools worldwide, so the move will feel familiar to families arriving from the United States. Teaching in these years centres on literacy and numeracy, with reading, writing and mathematics anchoring the day and inquiry led units drawing science and social studies together. Specialist teachers usually take art, music, physical education and library, and English language support helps children who arrive with another first language. As a Saudi school AISJ also teaches Arabic and Islamic Studies in line with national requirements. Because elementary pupils sit no external examinations, the stage is judged on how well it prepares children for the middle school and, in time, the IB Diploma or Advanced Placement in the high school. We describe the programme in the terms the school uses and do not publish figures we cannot verify, so ask the school directly about class sizes and support provision.
Elementary fees
Fees for the elementary stage sit in the upper to premium band for Jeddah, lower than the high school but still among the city's higher tuition levels, reflecting a US accredited school that recruits much of its faculty internationally. Annual tuition rises gently through the elementary grades. We do not print a single headline figure here because the school revises fees each year and issues the current schedule to applicants, and you can place the band in context through the Jeddah city hub. Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, a capital or building levy and optional transport. To weigh the cost against comparable elementary options across the city, use our free school comparison tool and line the schools up side by side.
Compare Jeddah elementary schools
Line up AISJ Elementary against other Jeddah schools on curriculum, fees and location. Free and independent.
Admissions
Admission runs across the academic year, which follows a US style calendar from August to June, with the main intake at the start of the year and places offered into other grades where space exists. Families relocating to Jeddah should apply ahead of the year they need a place, as the youngest grades fill early at an established school. Assessment in the elementary years is age appropriate, built around readiness observation, a play based session for the youngest children and reports from any previous setting rather than formal testing. The school sets out the documents it asks for, including residency and transfer papers, during the application, which matters for families moving into the Kingdom on a new visa.
Location and who goes there
The elementary school shares the AISJ campus in the Al Muhammadiyah district on the north side of Jeddah, close to the Red Sea coast and to the neighbourhoods where many international families live. It draws North American and other Western expatriate families, Saudi families who want the American route from the start and the corporate and diplomatic community attached to the consulates and energy sector. For young children the commute and the campus feel matter as much as the curriculum, so it is worth visiting in person and comparing a shortlist of elementary schools side by side. For the wider picture of where families settle across the city, return to the Jeddah city hub.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once they are verified. If your child attends or has attended the elementary school at the American International School of Jeddah, you can submit a review to help other relocating families. We never display a star rating without real, checked reviews behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How much are American International School of Jeddah Elementary fees?
Elementary fees at AISJ sit in the upper to premium band for Jeddah, lower than the high school but still among the city's higher tuition levels for a US accredited school. Budget separately for registration, a capital or building fee and optional transport. The school issues current rates to applicants by grade.
What ages does American International School of Jeddah Elementary cover?
The elementary stage at AISJ covers the early years through to Grade 5, after which pupils move up to the middle school within the same Pre Kindergarten to Grade 12 institution.
What curriculum does American International School of Jeddah Elementary follow?
The elementary school follows a US curriculum based on AERO Plus and Common Core standards, taught in English, with specialist lessons in subjects such as art, music, physical education and library, plus the Arabic and Islamic Studies required in Saudi Arabia.
When do American International School of Jeddah Elementary applications open?
Admission runs across the academic year, which follows a US style August to June calendar. Apply ahead of the year you need a place, as the youngest grades fill early at established schools.
Where is American International School of Jeddah Elementary located?
The elementary school shares the AISJ campus in the Al Muhammadiyah district on the north side of Jeddah, close to the Red Sea coast.
