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Top Schools Awards 2021. Results Live. The American School of Dubai Awarded The SchoolsCompared.com Top Schools Award for Best American Curriculum School in the UAE 2021-22

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Top Schools Awards 2021. Results Live. The American School of Dubai Awarded The SchoolsCompared.com Top Schools Award for Best American Curriculum School in the UAE 2021-22

The American School of Dubai is awarded the SchoolsCompared.com Top Schools Award for Best American Curriculum School in the UAE 2021 - 22

by Jon WestleyDecember 6, 2021

The SchoolsCompared.com Top Schools Award for Best American Curriculum School in the UAE 2021-22 is awarded to:

The American School of Dubai

The American School of Dubai won the SchoolsCompared.com Top Schools Award for Best American Curriculum School in the UAE and was a finalist in each of our overall Best School in the UAE, Best School for Music, and Best School for Theatre and Performing Arts categories. Little wonder – this is an absolutely extraordinary school for children. It is worth getting out of the way up front the complication. For very complex reasons, the American School of Dubai has never achieved the rating from the KHDA it would achieve were it not for Arabic subjects provision. In the Awards, as in 2019-20, our Judges have not considered the issues around this – our focus has been the school on its own terms and as school delivering for its children. Some have argued, that the school, because of its approach to Arabic subjects, should not be considered, or that we should in some way limit its ability to be recognised. This is a view that is arguable, but, as above, not one we are addressing.

It is worth this year providing detail on this truly exceptional school. Many families, particularly those who have not looked for a US curriculum education, will not be aware of the historic importance of the school and its status in the UAE.

ASD is an accredited member of the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS). It was first accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in 1976. The re-accreditation process takes place every seven years, with ASD’s most recent re-accreditation in 2020. MSA accreditation provides ASD with the knowledge and processes for implementing school improvement and achieving
higher levels of student performance.

“ASD has a strong whole child focus. Students are high performing, which is reflected
in assessment data (both external and internal), college acceptance rates, honor roll,
and in classroom observations. In addition to academic accomplishments, students
are also empowered to be global citizens and self-aware. Students have voice and
choice both in and outside the classroom at ASD. Student advocacy gave rise to the
sustainability ethos at the school, which is now part of the school MSA action
planning. Students are encouraged to speak up and make a difference, and the adults
at the school not only welcome that, but encourage it.”

MSA Report 2020

The American School of Dubai is one of the UAE’s small number of sought-after Ivy League not-for-profit schools, is fiercely independent and offers an outstanding all-through US curriculum education for children between PreK and Grade 12. The school is international in its welcome and focus.

One of the founding, and oldest, schools in Dubai, the school was established in 1966 by the Dubai Petroleum Company and formerly known as Jumairah American School. Today, with an enrollment of approximately 1,950 students, the school shines in its genuinely world-class facilities; highly experienced leadership; professional, dedicated, and certified faculty, staff, and counseling teams; a world-class college-preparatory US curriculum and AP program that integrate technology to support student learning; hundreds of extracurricular and student activities in the Arts, Athletics, and Service Learning; and an engaged community of parents, alumni, and friends. This is a school that fires the imagination and brings to life what an outstanding school can be.

In 2010, ASD moved to the 23-acre Al Barsha campus—a million square foot, wireless, state-of-the-art facility. The campus includes over 100 classrooms, two libraries, a 630 seat performing arts theater, black box theater, band and choir rooms, art studios, field house, an organic garden, indoor and outdoor running tracks, climbing wall, dance studio, regulation soccer fields, additional playing fields and play areas, fitness center, two 25-meter swimming pools, six tennis courts, broadcast studio, maker spaces, and two cafeterias. The facilities provide for band and choir, offer five art studios and four purpose-built science and computer labs.

In 2020, ASD expanded its facilities to open an additional purpose-built learning environment to host the new Early Learning Program for 3 and 4 year old learners. Flexible spaces enhance the foundation of teaching and learning. The space gives students more control and responsibility, and improves academic engagement. Flexible classrooms produce better academic outcomes among primary school children than the more traditional, static classroom designs. These flexible learning spaces include the Elementary Maker Space, Middle School Maker Space, STEAM Labs, Sustainable Garden, and Bee Garden (partially made possible by the Zayed Sustainability Prize) which enhance the foundation of teaching and learning and promote hands-on inquiry with examples of real-world technology and science.

The American School of Dubai boasts highly experienced faculty and staff who are passionate about collaborating, committed to lifelong learning, and personally and philosophically aligned to the school’s Mission and Core Values. ASD has more than 200 certified faculty with experience teaching all over the world. As members of a variety of educational organizations (including the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA), ASD faculty have access to the latest educational research. ASD also subscribes to premier educational journals, shares articles, explores webinars, and invests in conferences to keep faculty members excited about their craft. The school was the first accredited “Great Place to Work” in the UAE.

ASD is committed to academic excellence; providing an international perspective and a comprehensive education; and preparing every student to be future ready. The school follows the common core and standards-based learning models for classroom instruction and student assessment, focusing on student mastery of concepts and skills.

In September 2020, ASD opened an additional purpose-built learning environment to host the new Early Learning Program for 3 and 4 year old learners. The program is modelled on the principles of Reggio Emilia—a play-based, student-centred approach with a focus on inquiry-based learning. The Elementary School curriculum is aligned with Common Core State Standards and follows a Standards Based grading scale. The program includes core subjects taught in a homeroom class environment along with encore (specialists) classes which include art, music, and physical education. The core subjects include: English, science, social studies, mathematics, and Arabic.

Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum and supported by technology coaches. The technology coaches help to develop learning opportunities for students using technology as well as how to become responsible digital citizens.

The pillars of the Middle School program at ASD are challenging core courses in the disciplines of Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. The Middle School incorporates Design Thinking and inquiry based learning to allow the exploration of individual interests.

The High School experience extends far beyond the classroom walls. Outside the classroom, learning is made relevant through self-directed learning, experiential travel, and service learning as well as extracurriculars in the arts, athletics, aquatics, campus recreation, and student organizations. The High School offers 25 Advanced Placement classes including AP Capstone, a culminating two-year credential program in which students complete in-depth research on world phenomena. Other unique programs include an opportunity to engage in self-directed learning through Global Online Academy, ASD’s partner for online-learning courses in the High School, and INSPIRE global trips (cultural, eco-adventurous, or service learning experiences) to enhance the rich educational opportunities.

The legacy of the school is over 50 years of Excellence. Established in 1966, before the founding of the United Arab Emirates, it is one of the oldest international schools in Dubai. Since that time, ASD has maintained its strong sense of community. Student life and learning have evolved over the decades and ASD has continuously provided rigorous academic and extracurricular opportunities for every student. Although the American School of Dubai has grown and changed over a span of over fifty years, the spirit of community has remained a driving force behind the success of the school and its students.

As a result of student-led and community-wide campus sustainability initiatives, ASD has been able to make a significant impact on the environment with its thriving sustainable garden, bee and sensory gardens, and composting program—earning the school several awards in recycling as well as the 2019 Zayed Sustainability Prize. An Expo 2020 ‘Sustainability Champions’ Award led to the installation of solar arrays that have so far reduced the campus energy consumption from the grid by 4%—with plans underway to reduce overall grid-sourced energy by up to 50% by 2027. Students continually engage in and lead on-campus, community-wide, and global sustainability initiatives.

ASD received the Service Learning Program of Distinction recognition from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) in 2020. The Service Learning Program of Distinction recognizes schools with exemplary programs that support broad-based inclusion of experiential learning through the application of higher order problem-solving skills to address real life concerns. For Schools/Systems granted the Service Learning Program of Distinction, classroom learning is enhanced through advocacy, either direct or indirect service to the community.

At ASD, there are almost 40 student organizations in leadership, academics, service, and inter-scholastic organizations. As co-curricular programs, student organizations are considered an important part of the school programming.

ASD High School students are now preparing for their seventh Annual American School of Dubai Model United Nations (ASDMUN) Conferences, which will be held in February 2022. Past conferences had seen hundreds of students from the UAE and other countries participating and collaborating in solution-orientated discussions about important issues—giving them a deep insight into the world’s problems, making them aware of the causes of conflicts, teaching them to adopt views and attitudes other than their own, and leading them to practice tolerance and living in peace with one another as good neighbours.

ASD seeks to develop the whole child. Students are encouraged to ask questions, think deeply, create, challenge themselves, explore their curiosities, and be producers—not just consumers—of knowledge. ASD graduates are not only college and career-bound, but reflective thinkers, effective communicators, and role models. Outside the classroom, learning is made relevant through self-directed learning, experiential travel, and service learning as well as extracurriculars in the arts, athletics, aquatics, campus recreation, and student organizations.

The ASD athletics program celebrates a successful legacy and world-class facilities. The Athletics Department offers interscholastic athletics programs and after school sports for upper-elementary, middle, and high school students. ASD competes with over 50 teams of 14 different sports. Sportsmanship, integrity, and respect are the foundations of character for ASD student-athletes.

A wide range of visual, music, and performing arts opportunities are available to all students. Students may learn dance, music, visual arts, theatre, acting, choir and band. Annual productions include full-length musicals in high school and middle school, plays, an elementary musical, variety shows, dance recitals, art shows and more.

The campus recreation program supports the school mission by providing a wide variety of positive, healthy activities for students, parents, faculty and staff in order to foster and encourage within each participant the desire to pursue a healthy lifestyle. Campus recreation activities include After School Recreation Programs (ASRPs) and Intramural Sports Leagues led by ASD faculty and staff. The Campus Recreation department also organizes activities for the ASD parent community and alumni, and facilitates activities offered by external providers for professional instruction in a variety of disciplines hosted on campus.

The school’s not-for-profit status enables ASD to focus on the quality of education over satisfying investment expectations of shareholders. Tuition helps fund the cost of education to deliver on the school’s educational mission that is dedicated to educating the whole student. ASD continues to build on the rich and extensive history of more than 50 years to continuously improve the quality of learning experience provided to 1,950 students.

On average, 98% of ASD students attend colleges and universities directly after school, 1% opt for a gap year, and 1% move directly to jobs in the military or workforce. The Class of 2021 matriculation list includes top universities from the United States and around the world.

The American School of Dubai is deeply committed to developing the professional practice of its faculty, and offers significant on and off-campus professional learning opportunities to all faculty and staff. For example, to deepen their understanding of the Reggio Emilia and Inquiry approaches, ASD’s Early Learning educators have additional training and professional development specific to early childhood education—such as ongoing professional training with consultants on campus, training in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and site visits to other schools that implement flexible learning.

The school’s mission is “To challenge and inspire each student to achieve their dreams and to become a passionate learner prepared to adapt and contribute in a rapidly changing world.” Its core values are Compassion, Excellence, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility.

The American School of Dubai strives to achieve its mission by providing learning experiences to support every child to embody the skills and characteristics of the Student Profile.

ASD prides itself on its family atmosphere and strong sense of community. ASD thrives because of the dedication of so many parents, friends, and alumni volunteers who give thousands of hours each year in support of the school. On any given day, parent volunteers are on campus helping in classrooms, as coaches, assisting teachers or leading and organizing events. Its main parent volunteer groups include the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), The Booster Club, and CAST (Creative Arts Support Team).

ASD has more than 10,000 ASD alumni living, working and making a difference in their communities across the globe. An ASD alumnus is defined as any individual who has benefitted from an ASD education, whether for one year or fourteen. At ASD alumni include former students, parents, along with faculty and staff. The school sees a key goal as forging lasting relationships with its unique community. All ASD alumni—past students and graduates, parents of alumni, and former faculty and staff—are invited to reconnect with their classmates and friends, teachers, and coaches to share memories and learn about the school today. Many ASD alumni now participate in alumni events and reunions, social and professional networking, and contribute time, talent, and treasure in support of Legacy Families: ASD through mentoring, volunteering, and giving back.

The school currently has over twenty Legacy Families at the American School of Dubai—a distinction which includes ASD alumni who have returned as ASD parents, and ASD alumni who have returned as faculty and staff to give back to the community.

The American School of Dubai values and celebrates all learners in its community for their unique contributions, each of whom brings his or her own diverse background and learning profile. Its culture of inclusion is founded on a personalized approach to meeting students’ social, emotional, physical, and academic needs so that every student is challenged and inspired, and so that every student has access to the education they deserve.

All ASD students have access to a team of professionals to advocate and support academic, social and personal development. ASD student support professionals include a Director of Student Services, a dedicated School Psychologist, a Counseling Department at each division with 12 counsellors in all, 13 certified and experienced special educators, and three Learning Support assistants.

ASD’s Learning Support program is dedicated to providing inclusive education for a managed number of students with identified learning needs/students of determination. The school argues passionately that students with learning needs learn best when they are educated with typically developing peers to the maximum extent possible. It is able to meet the needs of most students in the regular classroom with differentiated instruction through accommodations and consultation. Some students may receive additional support in class through:

● Small group instruction
● Point-of-performance support
● Co-teaching

As a not-for-profit school, operations are supported by tuition revenue. Additionally, each year the school goes through an internal application and review process that results in enhancement and renovation of identified learning spaces. This has most recently seen investment in the school’s design creation of its maker spaces and science labs. For the 2020-2021 school year, ASD opened “The Early Learning Centre at ASD” and launched its Pre-K program designed to serve its youngest learners.

Responding to the health and safety protocols implemented by the KHDA, ASD designed a fully online learning model (@ASD 100% Distance Learning Program). While this program did not utilize facilities, the school invested considerable resources in the technology and in the professional development of its teachers to ensure a robust learning experience for students. In total, over 140 students took advantage of the program.

Creditably, as a result of the negative impact on the financial situation of many families in the ASD community from the ongoing pandemic, ASD designed and implemented a financial assistance fund in 2020-2021 for those families experiencing economic hardship to ensure that those families at ASD remained at ASD. In total, ASD supported over 100 students with nearly $1,000,000 USD in funds.

The fund continues for the 2021-2022 and will support nearly 40 students with $400,000 in aid.

At the end of the 2020-2021 school year, ASD launched a giving campaign that was designed to establish a scholarship fund. The funds generated from the corpus of the fund will be allocated to an ASD student each year for use towards college expenses. This is one of several scholarships designed at ASD that aim to invest in the ongoing education of its students.

An American education emphasizes choice, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, and analysis—with a focus on a well-rounded experience for the whole child. This aligns with ASD’s mission and core values as well as excellence in extracurriculars that allow students to pursue their passions.

Science education is an important part of the American curriculum. A high-quality science education means that students develop an in-depth understanding of content and develop key skills—communication, collaboration, inquiry, problem solving, and flexibility—that will serve them throughout their educational and professional lives.

AI is seen by the school as “a key wild card” in the world of schooling. However, leveraging it “requires leaders not only to be courageous but also show urgency.” The school argues passionately that schools that fail to leverage these tools are on:

“a slow slide toward irrelevance, as they will not produce graduates who are future ready, and students will turn elsewhere for what they need.”

Dr. Paul Richards, Superintendent, American School of Dubai (ASD) 2020-21

In 2020-2021, ASD introduced additional courses in AI, cybersecurity and digital art. The school’s Early Learning Centre too, provides state-of-the-art learning spaces to promote AI and ML, as well as design and entrepreneurial skills.

“The new school model is hybrid. It promotes not only traditional literacies but also information, data and ICT literacies.”

Dr. Paul Richards, Superintendent, American School of Dubai (ASD) 2020-21

Most respondents of the Climate and Culture Survey conducted by Hanover Research earlier this year say that they feel welcome at school, feel like they belong at ASD, and that they are proud to attend ASD. Further, over 90% of students, staff, and parents feel their school’s environment is safe. Respondents also feel that ASD wants students to succeed, and they agree that students have the resources and support they need to succeed. Most respondents also agree that relationships among students and adults at ASD are positive, caring, and respectful.

Varsity Jr. Varsity Falcons
Fall: Dance, Golf, Swim, Volleyball, Mascot
Winter: Basketball, Cheer, Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, Wrestling, Mascot
Spring: Badminton, Baseball, Softball, Track & Field, Mascot
Varsity: Grades 9-12
JV: Grades 8-11
Middle School Jr. Falcons & Jr. Falcons 6
Fall: Dance, Swim, Volleyball; Soccer (6)
Winter: Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Wrestling; Track & Field (6)
Spring: Track & Field; Basketball (6)
Elementary Grades 4-5 Mini Falcons
Fall: Soccer; Winter: Track & Field; Spring: Basketball

Every year, the following Senior Awards are given to students for excellence in the areas of academic, service, sports, and leadership. Award recipients also receive scholarships of $1,500:

● Ambassador’s Award for Academic Excellence
● Distinguished Service Award
● Senior Arts Award
● Dale Haus Waldoch Visual Arts Award
● Award for International Understanding
● Valedictorian and Salutatorian
● The Megan Garrison Athletics Award
● The Mike Ross (Athletics) Award
● Bob Ackerman Award for Excellence in Technological Innovation
● The Booster Club Scholarships
● The Sikander Shallwani Senior Business Award

“The classroom space plays a major role in promoting relationships, communication, collaboration, experimentation, and exploration through play. The open space, transparent doors, outdoor spaces, and common areas all play a role in building a great sense of community and belonging. Students learn best when they feel welcomed and safe, are actively engaged, and have ownership over their learning.”

In summary, this is a school that delivers on a scale that is eye watering in its depth, and its investment in families, and children, beyond argument, inspirational. We have long argued for bursaries and scholarships in the UAE. This is a school that delivers them – and through Covid stood by the side of its parents and their children – and seriously. Sporting provision here, even during Covid was extraordinary. Its scale of ambition is beyond creditable. We have long argued that an American education without AP inevitably fails some children – here AP is placed centre stage.

The feedback from families and students is uniformly positive across both WhichSchoolAdvisor and SchoolsCompared.com. Performing Arts is just one part of a whole child curriculum that achieves for children at equally high levels. Bottom line: this is a school in which families find a home – and their children receive never less than an outstanding plus education, one rich in culture, forward looking and world class. This school absolutely deserves the SchoolsCompared.com Top Schools Award for Best American Curriculum School in the UAE. The decision of our judges was unanimous. This school fires the imagination – and absolutely sparkles for its children.

Our final words go, fittingly, to a parent: