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American Curriculum

Most American curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi follow the U.S. Common Core State Standards for English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies, Technical Subjects, and Next Generation Science Standards. These academic standards facilitate a broad-based approach, ensuring all graduates are well-prepared for college and future careers.  

Moreover, the curriculum nurtures various practical skills and knowledge beneficial in non-academic environments. The curriculum also allows secondary school students to personalize their educational journey by choosing from a range of career pathways and elective subjects to match their future aspirations.

Progression
  • Pre-KG enrolment starts at age 3.
  • Students complete 12 years of schooling after kindergarten.
  • In high school, courses are measured in "credits," which represent the number of hours students spend studying.
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The table below shows the academic journey that a student studying an American curriculum is expected to take

Age Grade
3-4 Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K)
4-5 KG1
5-6 KG2
6-7 Grade 1
7-8 Grade 2
8-9 Grade 3
9-10 Grade 4
10-11 Grade 5
11-12 Grade 6
12-13 Grade 7
13-14 Grade 8
14-15 Grade 9
15-16 Grade 10
16-17 Grade 11
17-18 Grade 12
Assessments
  • In the American system, assessments include internal formative, summative assessments, and external assessments. Students studying the curriculum in Grades 3-9 must take the NWEA MAP® in English (Reading/Language Usage), Mathematics, and Science.
  • Unlike other curricula, there are no high-stakes external exams or qualifications that students must pass to obtain a high school diploma. Instead, students engage in school-based summative assessments and receive semester grades, along with a Grade Point Average (GPA), to indicate their academic achievement at the end of their schooling.
  • Optional Advanced Placement (AP) Assessments are external standardized tests available for high school students to demonstrate mastery in specific college-level subjects.
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Accreditation
  • Middle States Association-Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS).
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
  • Accrediting Commission for Schools-Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS-WASC).
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Further Details
  • More details on the Common Core Standards are available. Click Here
  • More details on the Next Generation Science Standards are available. Click Here