Cities / Abu Dhabi / American Community School Abu Dhabi
American Community School Abu Dhabi
Non-profit American-curriculum school with IB Diploma and AP on Saadiyat Island, KG1-Grade 12, ADEK Outstanding. 2025-2026 fees AED 56,526-99,060/year; new campus opened January 2024.
In brief
Abu Dhabi's longest-running American school, opened 1972, now on a purpose-built Saadiyat Island campus after relocating from Al Bateen in early 2024.
Non-profit, board-governed, US State Department affiliated, with the historic embassy and oil-company connection still visible in the parent body. Around 1,315 students from 80-plus nationalities. Dual-track American high school diploma and IB Diploma. MSA, NEASC, CIS, and IBO accredited.
Teaching is generally well-regarded, with strong university outcomes and an experienced staff. Fees sit at the top of the Abu Dhabi market, comparable to Cranleigh and BSAK. Recurring family complaints centre on uneven literacy delivery in lower elementary and questions about whether the personalised-learning approach lands consistently in classrooms.
Strongest fit for American families who want continuity with US college admissions, and for IB families who want an established programme with deep university counselling.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| KG1 | 4 | Annual | AED 56,526 |
| KG2-Grade 5 | 5 | Annual | AED 81,912 |
| Grade 6-8 | 11 | Annual | AED 85,627 |
| Grade 9-12 | 14 | Annual | AED 99,060 |
| Application Fee (incl. VAT) | One-time | AED 630 | |
| Reservation Fee | One-time | AED 3,000 | |
| Capital Fee | One-time | AED 27,000 |
Reviews
- ADEK lifted ACS from Very Good to Outstanding in May 2023, with teaching rated Outstanding in middle and high school.
- One Reddit commenter called ACS Abu Dhabi an independent non-profit regarded as one of the best schools in the region.
- Parents praise the new Saadiyat Island campus opened in January 2024, citing two pools, a 650-seat theatre and an FIFA-sized pitch.
- One former student recalls strong teaching going back decades, with another saying the academic system and athletic facilities are impressive.
- 96 percent IB Diploma pass rate with an average of 34 points and a third of cohort scoring 36+; 59 percent go on to US universities.
- Parents report low staff turnover, with about a 1:7 ratio in KG and 1:10 elsewhere.
- Some parents describe leadership as politicised and curriculum as in need of modernising, with elementary literacy instruction singled out as weak.
- Earlier inspections flagged Arabic and Islamic Studies delivery as a compliance issue, and the elementary phase has historically lagged secondary.
Head of school
Monique Flickinger
Monique Flickinger is Superintendent of the American Community School of Abu Dhabi. She brings more than 20 years of international teaching and leadership experience across the United States, Canada, Costa Rica and Panama. She holds a Master's in Education from the University of Victoria and a certificate from Harvard University, and is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Wyoming.
Accreditations
- MSA 01
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 02
- Council of International Schools 03
- IBO 04
- ECIS 05
Academic results
- University acceptances 87% first-choice top-3