The majority of public and private schools are gender-segregated and follow the state-approved curriculum taught exclusively in Arabic. It is made compulsory for every child to attend at least 6 years of fundamental primary education. 

All the international schools in Riyadh are well-equipped to provide high-quality education that meets the western curriculum standards. Riyadh International Schools offer various curricula to cater for the diverse expat communities. International schools specifically will let your child feel at home while engaging in life-long friendships with other multicultural expats around the kingdom. Most of these schools teach English, Math, Science as their core subjects. The educational curricula and certificates offered in Riyadh International Schools are as follows;

International Baccalaureate (aka IB)

There are few International schools nested within the city that offer International Baccalaureate Diploma. IB is a challenging educational programme for children between the ages of 6-19 that deeply encourages fostering critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills. The IB diploma is recognized worldwide as it focuses on birthing a newer generation of distinctive fast learners that strives for excellence. 

International General Certificate of Secondary Education (aka IGCSE)

IGCSE is one of the most popular curricula followed by expat families interested in the national curriculum of the British educational model. IGCSE is benchmarked and accredited according to the Cambridge International Examination Board. Students will be awarded a well-recognized qualification certificate for Advanced Level once the IGCSE is completed within the last few years of a student’s secondary academic years. IGCSE qualification makes the transfer to British Universities for Higher Education quite seamless. 

American High School Diploma 

International schools that cater towards an American-style education model are usually segregated into elementary school, middle school and high school. Students are assessed with exams, essays, assignments and projects every semester of each academic year. At the successful completion of the last year of a High School, the students will be awarded an American High School Diploma ceremonially with a convocation. 

Advanced Placement (aka AP)

Higher Advance Placement programme scores are highly likely to stand out in your child’s college admission process. These placement programmes will give your child the opportunity to participate in college-level courses while using the AP test scores as qualifying college credit (AP scores can also be used to skip intro-level class lectures on college).

These are some general documents that you will be required when applying for a spot in any International School in Riyadh(needed documents might be subjected to changes depending on each school)

A completed school application form
Application fees
Identification Documents
Health forms
Identification forms for both parents and children
Transcripts

Here’s our roundup of the best International Schools within the city borders of Riyadh.

British International School of Riyadh
American International School
Al Yasmin International School
Manarat Al Riyadh International School
King Faisal School
My Little School International
Advanced Learning Schools