The Secondary School

Middle School (Grades 6-8) and High School (Grades 9-12)

Welcome to Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the AISA Secondary School!

The AISA Secondary School is made up of 2 divisions.  The Middle School covers grades 6 to 8, and the High School covers grades 9 to 12. AISA provides students with a learning environment that is both challenging and supportive as our students working towards earning a US High School Diploma.

In both the AISA High School and Middle School we have teaching faculty that are truly caring, competent and effective in nurturing and affirming student learning with a rigorous focus on academic achievement, combined with outstanding arts and athletics programs. AISA strives to meet the needs of it’s’ learners within a positive learning environment that encourages character development and student wellness.

The AISA Middle School is a great place for students to grow and learn. Our curriculum is based on the Virginia Standards of Learning and we have based our program on the National Middle School Association’s recommendations for excellent middle schools. Our inquiry-based approach to education is proven to work well with adolescents and builds on their natural curiosity to investigate, question and learn. We challenge and support our students as they become contributing, self-actualized members of AISA, the city of Abu Dhabi and the global community.

Our curriculum focuses on the core subjects of English, Humanities, Science and Math. In addition, we expose students to a wide range of other classes to guide them as they develop and pursue their passions. Students take exploratory classes in Physical Education, Health, IT, Art, Choir, French, Arabic and a special class focused on Literacy.

The AISA High School is designed to challenge students academically, socially and in extra-curricular areas.

We offer three options for our students as they work towards achieving our High School Diploma(s). 

• Our first option is a regular, American High School Diploma. Our curriculum is based on the Virginia Standards of Learning. Students are able to explore a number of academic areas of learning, while also focusing on specific subjects of interest.  At the end of 4 years, students receive an American High School Diploma. 

• Secondly, for those dedicated students, we offer the rigorous international  IB Diploma Programme.  AISA, in 1996 became the first high school in Abu Dhabi to be accredited for the IB Diploma! We have years of experience with students enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme.

• Thirdly, students in the regular High School program may do a blending by enrolling in International Baccalaureate Certificate classes in specific subjects, thereby complimenting their regular High School classes. 

• Our Course Prospectus explains the options and graduation requirements in greater detail.

AISA provides an extensive after school and extracurricular program that incorporates sports, clubs and activities for students. Students are encouraged to get involved and participate in activities such as, Student Council, Athletics, Science Club, Model United Nations, and Community Service activities.

Each classroom is equipped with Smart Board technology and teachers integrate Information Technology (IT) into their curriculum delivery. Teaching at AISA is infused with technology to support and enhance student learning. At AISA, our IT integration is based on the SPARKS document, produced by Virginia State, and each student meets the expected IT exit outcomes by the time they finish each grade level.

Middle School and High School at AISA is unique for an international school in Abu Dhabi, in that we have segregation of students by gender for academic classes in grades 6 through to 12. Boys and girls learn in separate classes that are planned with each group in mind. Boys and girls have the opportunity to interact with each other by participating in after school activities such as choir, sports, MUN or student council. While this may be a new experience for some of our students, they quickly learn the rhythm of the day and appreciate the opportunities that this style of organization offers them. 

I invite you to become a member of our international community of learners.  As our name reflects, AISA is both an American and an International School in Abu Dhabi. AISA is justly proud of our past academic successes, and we enthusiastically looking forward to providing the best educational program in Abu Dhabi!