Best Secondary Schools in Doha (2026 Guide) | International Schools Guide

The brief

Doha College leads on A Level. *20% A\ and 56% A\–A in 2025, the deepest sixth form subject menu, the full BSO, BSME, CIS, COBIS Patron* stack. The default top pick for Russell Group medicine, engineering and law.
American School of Doha leads the US track. Founded 1988, NEASC accredited, AP and IB Diploma on one campus, the most established American senior school in the country.
Compass and Doha British School Wakra cover dual A Level and IB. Compass posts IB 34.4 average, 96% pass alongside A Levels; DBS Wakra posts IB 38 average at a smaller cohort.
ISL Qatar leads single-track IB Diploma. Pure IB Continuum, top score of 43 points against a global average of 30, the most coherent PYP to MYP to DP pipeline in the city.
Sherborne is the boutique A Level pick. 49% top grades in 2024, non-profit foundation, UK independent lineage, sixth form still maturing.

Doha's secondary market is smaller than Dubai's, with the top tier concentrated in around eight schools. British senior schools dominate by volume; the IB Diploma is offered at most premium campuses; AP is held by two schools. Qatari and mixed-heritage families fill a wider tier of mid-fee Cambridge and Edexcel operations below.

What changes at secondary is the exit qualification. A child sitting A Levels at Doha College is on a different academic track from a child taking the IB Diploma at ISL Qatar or AP at the American School of Doha. All three open doors to top universities; the routes diverge, and switching pathway at 15 or 16 is harder than switching school at 8.

Senior fees at the top end run QAR 60,000 to 80,000 (USD 16,500 to 22,000). Mid-tier sits QAR 45,000 to 60,000. The most expensive senior school in Doha is around 30% below the top tier in Dubai.

The top tier

Two schools sit at the top of the British track and one at the top of the American track. ISL Qatar and Qatar Academy anchor the IB-only end.

Doha College

Al Wajba, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1980. Around 2,600 pupils. Head: David Tongue. Accreditations: BSO, BSME, CIS, COBIS Patron. Senior fees: QAR 65,000 to 74,841 (USD 17,900 to 20,600).

The default top pick for British secondary. Oldest British school in Qatar, the largest sixth form, the only campus combining every relevant inspection stamp with consistent top-end results. *A Level 2025: 20% A\, 56% A\–A, 99.4% pass. IGCSE 2025: 56% A\, 75% A\–A.* Cohort and subject menu wider than any British peer in the city. Non-profit, parent-elected board, heavily UK-qualified staff. The feel is closer to a busy UK comprehensive than a boutique; families wanting smaller year groups push toward Park House or Sherborne.

American School of Doha

Al Waab, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1988. Around 2,250 pupils. Head: Dr. Victor Guthrie. Accreditations: NEASC. Senior fees: QAR 66,000 to 79,305 (USD 18,100 to 21,800).

The most established American senior school in Qatar, the only one combining the full AP catalogue with an IB Diploma option from one cohort. AP Scholar with Distinction recognition (scores of 3 or higher on five AP exams) and an IB Diploma average around 35 points at recent published cohorts. US-format transcript, full college counselling team, deep institutional relationships with US admissions. Peer group skews American and dual-nationality.

ACS Doha International School

Other Doha, ages 3 to 18. Founded 2020. Around 1,070 pupils. Head: Dr. Robert S. Jackson. Accreditations: NEASC. Senior fees: QAR 70,000 to 80,465 (USD 19,200 to 22,100).

The newer American option, part of the ACS group from the UK. AP and IB Diploma both available, 98% of graduates moving to further education at last published cohort. Purpose-built campus, smaller year groups than ASD, fees at the top of the market. Senior school still maturing; university destination depth not yet at ASD's level.

International School of London Qatar

Other Doha, ages 3 to 18. Founded 2008. Around 1,190 pupils. Head: Dr. Sean Areias. Accreditations: NEASC. Senior fees: QAR 70,000 to 77,766 (USD 19,200 to 21,400).

The single-track IB choice: PYP, MYP, DP with no parallel A Level or AP pathway. Reported top IB score of 43 points against a 30-point global average. Mother-tongue programme for non-English speakers is unusually well-resourced, reflecting the London parent group's design. Senior cohort is smaller than the British leaders, so HL subject combinations narrow.

Strong mid-tier

Credible secondary operations with serious accreditation, sitting below the top tier on results consistency, sixth form scale, or both. The right answer when fees matter or location decides.

Compass International School Doha

Madinat Khalifa, ages 3 to 18. Founded 2017. Around 1,500 pupils. Head: Jamie Hughes. Accreditations: Cognia, CIS. Senior fees: QAR 60,000 to 68,342 (USD 16,500 to 18,800).

The Nord Anglia school in Doha, the only campus offering the dual sixth form at this price band: A Levels or the IB Diploma from one staffing pool. *A Level 2025: 37% A\/A. IB Diploma 2025: 96% pass, 34.4 average points.** Decent without elite. Weak spot at this fee level is inspection footing: Cognia and CIS rather than BSO. Group claims (Juilliard, MIT, UNICEF) apply identically at every Nord Anglia campus worldwide.

Sherborne Qatar

Doha, ages 3 to 18. Founded 2021. Around 1,400 pupils. Head: David Butcher. Accreditations: BSO, BSME. Senior fees: QAR 55,000 to 66,053 (USD 15,100 to 18,200).

The only school in Doha with a direct UK independent school lineage (Sherborne in Dorset, 1550, licenses the name). Purpose-built campus, leadership recruited from UK independent schools, early A Level signal already competitive: 49% top grades in 2024, 100% IGCSE pass. Non-profit Foundation structure rather than the for-profit groups running the other premium British schools. Sixth form is small; subject combinations narrower than Doha College.

Qatar Academy Doha

Education City, ages 2 to 18. Founded 1995. Around 1,900 pupils. Head: Mehdi Benchaabane. Accreditations: CIS, NEASC, MoEHE. Senior fees: QAR 65,000 to 74,556 (USD 17,900 to 20,500).

The longest IB Continuum in Qatar, run by Qatar Foundation on the Education City campus. Mixed peer group with a strong Qatari and regional cohort. Most recent published DP cohort: 62 of 87 students passed (71%), top score 37/45, May 2022; 47 earned the bilingual diploma. Pass rate below ISL and the premium British schools; the value is bilingual emphasis and the institutional setting next to QF universities.

Doha British School (Wakra)

Multi-campus, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1979. Around 3,000 pupils. Head: Terry McGuire. Accreditations: CIS, BSO. Senior fees: QAR 40,000 to 44,346 (USD 11,000 to 12,200).

The largest British school group in Qatar and the most likely to have a seat when others do not. *IB Diploma 2024: 38 points average. A Level 2024: 52% A\/A. Around 40% below Doha College** at sixth form. Multi-campus chain feel comes with the model.

Park House English School

Abu Hamour, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1994. Around 1,000 pupils. Head: John Smith. Accreditations: BSO, BSME, CIS, COBIS Patron. Senior fees: QAR 47,000 to 52,423 (USD 13,000 to 14,400).

The other school with the full four-stamp accreditation, at half the size of Doha College and around 30% lower fees at sixth form. A Level 2025: 100% pass rate. IGCSE 2025: 96% at grades 9 to 7. Smaller sixth form limits specialist A Level combinations (Further Maths, Latin, niche sciences). The like-for-like alternative for British families who want a smaller, more pastoral environment.

Qatar International School

Al Dafna, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1977. Around 2,000 pupils. Head: Deane Baker. Accreditations: BSO, CIS. Senior fees: QAR 46,000 to 50,978 (USD 12,700 to 14,000).

The other founding-era British school in Qatar, on Cambridge and Edexcel exam routes. *A Level 2025: 44% A\–B. IGCSE 2025: 40% at 9 to 7, 85% at 4/C or above.** Below the top tier on top-grade percentages; the Al Dafna location in the diplomatic quarter decides for many West Bay families.

Best for A-Levels

Doha College is the clearest pick: *20% A\ and 56% A\–A in 2025*, the largest cohort, the widest subject combinations. The strongest A Level pipeline in Qatar for Russell Group medicine, engineering, economics and law.

Sherborne is the boutique alternative: 49% top grades in 2024, UK independent feel, narrower subject menu.

Park House for the four-stamp accreditation at a smaller scale: 100% pass in 2025 with institutional muscle for university applications.

Compass and DBS Wakra for families undecided between A Levels and the IB Diploma; both run them from one cohort.

Best for IB DP

International School of London Qatar runs the purest single-track IB Continuum and posts the strongest published score: top of 43 against a 30 global average. Subject combinations are designed for the Diploma from PYP onwards, not bolted on at 16.

Compass is the strongest IB at a school that also offers A Levels: 34.4 average, 96% pass in 2025.

Doha British School Wakra posts the highest published Diploma average in the city at 38 points (2024) at a smaller cohort.

Qatar Academy is the longest-running IB programme, embedded in Qatar Foundation's Education City. Pass rate is below the premium IB tier; the value is bilingual emphasis and the institutional setting.

Arab International Academy is the bilingual Arabic-English IB school; its fifth IB DP cohort graduated in 2025, so the senior pipeline is still young.

Best for AP

American School of Doha is the established choice: full AP catalogue, AP Scholar with Distinction recognition (scores of 3 or higher on five exams).

ACS Doha International School runs AP and the IB Diploma on the same campus, 98% of graduates moving to further education at last published cohort. Senior school is newer; smaller cohorts.

Nord Anglia Al Khor (NAISAK) runs A Levels, the IB Diploma and AP from one senior school: 54.2% of AP scores at 4 or 5 at last published cohort. Geography-restricted to families in or near Al Khor.

At a glance

School	Curriculum	Fees (QAR)	Sixth form
ACS Doha	American, IB	51,309–80,465	AP, IB DP
American School of Doha	American, IB	36,570–79,305	AP, IB DP
ISL Qatar	IB	54,436–77,766	IB DP
Doha College	British	39,192–74,841	A Level
Qatar Academy Doha	IB	46,033–74,556	IB DP
Swiss International School Qatar	IB	55,750–74,017	IB DP
Compass	British, IB	45,000–68,342	A Level, IB DP
Doha British School (Ain Khaled)	British, IB	23,377–67,185	A Level, IB DP
Sherborne Qatar	British	35,000–66,053	A Level
SEK Qatar	IB	30,650–63,099	IB DP
Durham School for Girls	British	46,200–60,000	A Level
Newton British Academy	British	25,633–57,621	A Level
Arab International Academy	IB	35,296–54,465	IB DP
Park House English School	British	22,934–52,423	A Level
Qatar International School	British	29,543–50,978	A Level
NAISAK	British, IB, AP	31,400–47,750	A Level, IB DP, AP
DBS Wakra	British, IB	25,680–44,346	A Level, IB DP

Top-year senior fees shown. Verify current figures with each school.

The age labels and exit points

Secondary in Doha runs Year 7 to Year 13 (ages 11 to 18) at British schools, Grade 6 to Grade 12 at American schools, and MYP into DP at IB schools.

British track. Years 7 to 9 follow the English National Curriculum at Key Stage 3, IGCSE in Years 10 and 11 through Cambridge or Pearson Edexcel, then A Level in Years 12 and 13. Cambridge is an exam board operationalising the English academic model, not a separate curriculum.

IB Diploma. Ages 16 to 19. Six subjects (three Higher Level, three Standard Level) plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, CAS. Graded out of 45 points. Full IB Continuum schools design from age 3 around the Diploma's breadth.

Advanced Placement. Subject by subject, scored 1 to 5, alongside a US high school diploma. ACS Doha, ASD and NAISAK run AP cohorts.

Inspection sits on top. BSO benchmarks British schools against UK independent inspection. BSME runs the regional Gulf scheme. CIS, NEASC and Cognia run international or American accreditation. MoEHE licenses every school in Qatar and sets the floor on Arabic, Islamic Studies (for Muslim students) and Qatar History.

How to choose between them

Three questions narrow the field.

What does the sixth form look like? From Year 9 up, exit qualification dominates. Doha College for A Level depth. Compass or DBS Wakra for dual A Level / IB. ISL Qatar for single-track IB. ASD or ACS for AP and the US transcript. NAISAK for A Level / IB / AP in one cohort.

Where do you live? West Bay, Lusail and the Pearl push toward Doha College, Qatar International School, Compass and SISQ. Al Waab, Abu Hamour and Ain Khaled push toward ASD, Park House, Sherborne and DBS Ain Khaled. Al Khor families have NAISAK as the only practical option. A 25-minute morning commute in March becomes 55 minutes in June heat.

How sensitive are you to inspection footing? UK independent families weight BSO. Regional Gulf families weight BSME. International circuits weight CIS or NEASC. The four-stamp British schools (Doha College and Park House) and the NEASC American schools (ASD and ACS) remove the question.

FAQs

Which is the best secondary school in Doha?

By A Level results, scale and accreditation, Doha College: 20% A\ and 56% A\–A in 2025, the largest sixth form in Qatar, BSO plus BSME plus CIS plus COBIS Patron. For the US track, American School of Doha. For single-track IB, International School of London Qatar.

Which schools offer both A Level and the IB Diploma?

Compass International School Doha and Doha British School Wakra both run them from one sixth form. Nord Anglia Al Khor adds AP. Compass and DBS Wakra post the strongest IB averages in the city at 34.4 and 38.

How do Doha secondary fees compare to Dubai?

Top-year senior fees in Doha sit at QAR 65,000 to 80,000 (USD 17,900 to 22,000). Equivalent schools in Dubai run AED 90,000 to 120,000 (USD 24,500 to 32,700).

Do schools in Doha teach Arabic at secondary?

Yes. MoEHE makes Arabic, Islamic Studies (for Muslim students) and Qatar History compulsory at every licensed school. Durham School for Girls Doha has earned recognition for its Arabic IGCSE and A Level results.

Can a child switch from a British senior school to IB at sixth form?

Yes. Compass and DBS Wakra do this internally: IGCSE through Years 10 to 11, then A Levels or the IB Diploma at Years 12 to 13. Moving from a British school into single-track IB at ISL Qatar at 16 is possible; the IGCSE to IB transition needs adjustment in style of study, not in content.

Sources. Each named school's website for results, fees, head, founding date and accreditation. Qatar MoEHE licensing register. BSO register, UK Department for Education. BSME members directory. CIS accreditation register. NEASC accreditation register. COBIS membership directory. Exam results as published for the 2024 and 2025 sittings.