At a glance
Dar Jana opened in 1999 with a small early childhood intake and has since grown into one of the larger American programme providers in the city, teaching several thousand students drawn from more than forty nationalities. The school follows a US curriculum leading to a high school diploma and is accredited by Cognia, the American accreditor formed from the merger of AdvancED and its regional commissions, through its Northwest Accreditation Commission. Rather than a single site, Dar Jana operates separate campuses for boys, for girls and for its youngest nursery and preschool children, which is a structure common to Saudi schools and worth confirming for your child's stage. It teaches the Arabic, Islamic and Saudi studies required of all schools in the Kingdom alongside the American academic core. For the wider market, see our guide to international schools in Jeddah.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | US curriculum; high school diploma; Arabic and Islamic studies |
| Stages | Nursery and preschool through Grade 12 |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Accreditation | Cognia (Northwest Accreditation Commission) |
| Fee band | Mid, more accessible (see the Jeddah city hub) |
| Campus area | Separate boys, girls and early years campuses in Jeddah |
Curriculum and academics
The school follows an American curriculum, which gives families moving from a US system a familiar progression of grades and a high school diploma at the end. Cognia accreditation is the external benchmark on teaching standards and governance, and it is the assurance most American families look for when judging a school outside the United States. Unlike the Western expatriate schools that lean entirely international, Dar Jana keeps a strong Arabic and Islamic studies thread running through the programme, which suits Saudi families and Muslim expatriate families who want the American academic route without losing that grounding. The school describes itself as focused on creative thinking, leadership and life skills rather than examination drilling alone. We report programmes in the terms the school uses and do not publish examination figures or university destinations we cannot verify, so ask the admissions team directly about Advanced Placement options, recent results and where leavers go on to study.
Dar Jana International School fees
Dar Jana International School fees sit in the more accessible mid band for Jeddah, below the long established Western expatriate schools but in line with what a large Cognia accredited American programme costs to run. Annual tuition rises by grade, with the high school the most expensive stage. 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, books and resources and optional transport, which is a meaningful cost given the school runs separate campuses across the city. To weigh Dar Jana against the premium options, compare it directly with two other shortlisted schools.
Choosing between Jeddah's American schools?
Put Dar Jana side by side with two other schools on fees, curriculum and stage, or let the school finder shortlist three Jeddah schools matched to your child.
Admissions
Admission runs across the academic year, 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 established schools fill popular grades early. Assessment is age appropriate, with readiness checks for the youngest children and curriculum based testing in English and mathematics for older applicants, alongside school reports and references from the previous school. Because Dar Jana places boys and girls on separate campuses and teaches Arabic and Islamic studies, it is worth discussing your child's stage, gender campus and Arabic background with the admissions team early. The school sets out the documents it asks for, including residency and transfer papers, during the application.
Location and who goes there
Dar Jana sits across multiple campuses in Jeddah rather than a single site, so the commute that matters is the one to the campus for your child's stage and gender. The school draws Saudi families who want the American route, Muslim expatriate families from across the region and Asia who value the Arabic and Islamic studies thread, and some Western families looking for a mid budget American option in a large, diverse community. The right school in Jeddah usually comes down to the curriculum you want, the fee band you can sustain and the commute, so it is worth visiting the relevant campus in person and comparing shortlisted schools side by side. For the wider picture of where families settle and how the schools compare, return to the Jeddah city hub, or see our roundup of the best American schools in Jeddah.
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 Dar Jana International School, 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 Dar Jana International School fees?
Dar Jana International School fees sit in the more accessible mid band for Jeddah, below the long established Western expatriate schools but in line with a large Cognia accredited American programme. Tuition rises by grade. Budget separately for registration, books and optional transport. The school issues current rates to applicants.
Is Dar Jana International School a good school?
Dar Jana was founded in 1999 and has grown into a large American curriculum school holding Cognia accreditation, teaching thousands of students across separate boys, girls and early years campuses. Whether it suits your child depends on budget, the American pathway you want and the value you place on a strong Arabic and Islamic studies thread.
What curriculum does Dar Jana International School follow?
Dar Jana follows an American curriculum leading to a US high school diploma, accredited by Cognia, alongside Arabic, Islamic and Saudi studies required of schools in the Kingdom.
When do Dar Jana International School applications open?
The main intake follows the academic year. Apply ahead of the year you need a place, as established Jeddah schools fill popular grades early.
Where is Dar Jana International School located?
Dar Jana runs separate campuses in Jeddah for boys, for girls and for nursery and preschool children. Confirm the campus relevant to your child with the admissions team.
