Criteria for Selection
An important evaluation criterion we look at when evaluating top 10 best international schools in Dubai is the Government of Dubai’s Education Directory. Every year, staff members visit schools and observe and inspect different aspects of them for a week. In the end, the schools receive a rating from KHDA. The rating can be anywhere from “Outstanding” to “Weak”. In this article, we will only cover schools with the rating “Outstanding,” meaning that the schools provide exceptional high-quality education and teaching practice. The inspectors look at academic rigor, faculty, extracurricular activities, curriculum, student outcomes, and many more criteria. Read the full guidelines on how KHDA rates schools.
Curriculums in Dubai
There are different types of schools in Dubai with various curricula that students can choose from, such as American, Australian, IB, British, French, Swiss, and Indian. The reason behind the diversity of curriculum is that International private schools can follow the curricula of their homeland but operate under the license and supervision of the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). We will cover the schools that carry more popular curricula in Dubai: UK and American curricula.
Please note that in this article, the schools are arranged alphabetically rather than by rank.
1. Top 10 International Schools in Dubai: Nord Anglia International School Dubai
Nord Anglia International School Dubai is one of the 80+ schools in the Nord Anglia Education organization across 33 countries in the Americas, Southeast Asia, Europe, India, China, and the Middle East. The school prides itself in its partnership with world-leading institutions such as Juilliard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UNICEF, and IMG Academy. Nord Anglia International School Dubai attracts students from 91 nationalities, creating an immersive international and multicultural environment for students.
The schools provide education for students from ages 3 to 19. For secondary (age 11 to 15), Nord Anglia International School Dubai offers education from the National Curriculum of England, reading to IGCSE qualifications in Year 11. Students can choose between International Baccalaureate DP and A-Levels for Sixth Form (ages 16 to 19).
In addition to the curriculum, Nord Anglia International School focuses on providing small class sizes of 20-22 to 1 teacher. Students can learn five languages: Arabic, French, German, Mandarin, and Spanish.
Regarding student achievement, such as IB scores, NAS Dubai students achieved an average diploma score of 33.4 points, exceeding the overall global score of 30.24 points and the UAE average score of 31.97 points.
2. Repton School
Repton School is an international school in the heart of Dubai that implements the academic rigor of the UK curriculum. The school attracts outstanding students from 80+ nationalities to create a diverse and multicultural learning environment. Students who graduated from Repton School go to prestigious universities such as the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Stanford University, UCLA Berkeley, John Hopkins University, and more.
The school has an education system for infants up to IGCSE level in Year 11. The students follow an academic program based on the British National Curriculum from Early Years to Year 11 (FS1 to Grade 10), studying a broad range of International GCSEs, examined at age 16 in Year 11, accredited by the Cambridge and London University Exam Boards.
For the IB Results, students attain a record average score of 36.2 points in the IBDP program alongside a 100% pass rate in the IBCP and IB Courses programs.
3. Jumeirah English Speaking School
Jumeirah English Speaking School is a top British international School based in Dubai. For students from 11 to 18 years old, the school incorporates the National Curriculum of England and the IB Diploma Programme.
In 2023, JESS Dubai students’ IB results achieved a 37.2 average points total (compared to the world average of 30.24 points). Most JESS students are enrolled in top universities in the UK, Europe, and the United States, including Oxbridge, the Ivy League, other Russell Group universities, medical schools, and many other high-ranking institutions globally.
4. Dubai English Speaking College (DESC)
Founded 60 years ago, Dubai English Speaking College is a not-for-profit private school for students aged 3 to 18. The DESC school has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the KHDA for many years, and they are recognized as a world leader in international education.
This school follows the British Curriculum. The school has achieved remarkable results for International Baccalaureate and BTEC Extended Diplomas in Art, Business, and Sport. Overall, 97.8% of students achieved 30 points or more, and 87% achieved 35 points or more.
5. Dubai College
Dubai College is a selective British school in Dubai catering to students in Year 7 to Year 13 with a focus on British GCSE and A-Level examinations. According to The Telegraph UK 2022 League Table, Dubai College is ranked as the 14th best independent day school with co-educational Six Form. With a 19-acre campus, the school provides resources and opportunities for students to participate in many extracurricular activities such as tennis, art studios, swimming, etc.
The school has been growing exponentially, attracting top talents around the country. For the GSCE, the school received 92% of all examinations graded 9-7, the highest set of unadjusted GCSE grades at the school.
6. Dubai British School
Earning the KHDA Outstanding status in 2017, Dubai British School is one of the leading British schools in the region for students ages three to eighteen. Known for its high academic standards and multicultural environment, DBS provides modern facilities, a wide range of extracurricular activities, and comprehensive support services to ensure its students’ holistic development and success.
The students have access to a broad and balanced curriculum and enrichment opportunities to aid their development into responsible adult community members. Some of the outstanding programs include Duke of Edinburgh, EPQ / IPQMOOC Courses, LAMDA Qualification, Sports Leaders Awards, MUNTedX talks, Prefect Programme, Peer Mentor Programme, etc.
7. GEMS Wellington International School
GEMS Wellington International School is an Outstanding British Curriculum and IB School in Dubai. GEMS Wellington International School has been rated Outstanding by the DSIB for the 12th consecutive year.
The school, spanning an area of eight acres, offers a spectrum of facilities and resources that combine a world-class education with a distinctive state-of-the-art infrastructure. The school is part of the GEMS (Global Education Management Systems) group of schools, an international education company that is one of the largest private school operators.
GEMS students are accepted by some of the world’s most prestigious universities, such as Cambridge, UCL, LSE, Princeton University, Stanford, JHU, BU, and UC Berkeley, to name a few.
8. GEMS Dubai American Academy
GEMS Dubai American Academy is GEMS Education’s flagship American school, which is the only school providing an American curriculum in Dubai. The school offers students an enriched American Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
DAA has received the KHDA rating of Outstanding since 2011.
DAA offers a diverse range of extra-curricular, athletic, and leadership opportunities to enrich the holistic development of each student.
9. GEMS World Academy - Dubai
Managed by GEMS Education, GEMS World Academy (Dubai) is an international private school. Founded in 2007, it follows the International Baccalaureate Curriculum, and offers education to students ranging from Grade R to Grade 12.
The students who participated in the International Baccalaureate obtained an average of 32 points. Through the support of the Mother Tongue Programme, 100% of students achieve above grade-level expectations in their home languages including Korean, Russian, Serbian, Mandarin, Danish, Dutch, German, Italian, Swedish.
10. King’s School, Al Barsha
Established in September 2014, Kings’ School Al Barsha is an outstanding British Primary and Secondary school for global and local families. The school follows the customized National Curriculum of England to make sure the curriculum is relevant to children growing up in Dubai but designed with academic rigor and excellence to make sure students are prepared for the future.
Kings’ School Al Barsha has outstanding facilities, from state-of-the-art technology throughout the school and classrooms, to purpose-built science laboratories, design, technology, and art suites. Students are also encouraged to do performing arts via auditorium, black box theatre, and music recording studios.
Choosing the right international school for your child in Dubai can be a daunting task, given the plethora of options available. However, the diverse array of curricula, outstanding facilities, and exceptional teaching practices offered by the top schools in Dubai make it an enriching educational environment for students from around the globe.
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