Cities / Amman / Amman Baccalaureate School
Amman Baccalaureate School
Founded in 1981 by the Hashemite Society for Education and the first IB school in Jordan, ABS sits at the academic top end of the bilingual sector. Around 1,175 students in Dabouq, full IB continuum plus the Career related Programme.
In brief
Founded in 1981 by the Hashemite Society for Education and the first IB school in Jordan, ABS sits at the academic top end of the bilingual sector. Around 1,175 students in Dabouq, full IB continuum plus the Career-related Programme.
One of fewer than thirty schools worldwide to run all four IB programmes, PYP through DP and CP, delivered bilingually in Arabic and English. IB results sit well above world averages and almost all graduates go on to university, mostly in the US, UK, Canada or Jordan.
Strong on facilities for a Jordanian non-profit: eight science labs, a 400-seat theatre, three tennis courts, a stadium. CIS and NEASC accredited, Round Square member. Fees range from roughly 6,200 to 14,900 JOD, putting it inside the local elite tier but below the American school. The intake is heavily Jordanian, with the bilingual model the main draw for families who want their children fluent in Arabic and on an international academic track.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| KG2 | 4 | JOD 7,252 |
| KG3 | 5 | JOD 7,252 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | JOD 7,789 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | JOD 7,789 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | JOD 7,789 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | JOD 8,892 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | JOD 8,892 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | JOD 10,032 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | JOD 10,515 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | JOD 11,305 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | JOD 12,101 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | JOD 13,227 |
| Grade 11 (IB Year 1) | 16 | JOD 16,113 |
| Grade 12 (IB Year 2) | 17 | JOD 16,913 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Administration Fee | JOD 100 | |
| Enrolment Fee | JOD 1,500 |
Reviews
Jordan's first IB World School, founded in 1981 under royal patronage and still chaired by the Hashemite royal family. The bilingual Arabic-English programme sits at the centre of the identity: kindergarten and primary run in both languages, with English taking over from grade 7 alongside Arabic and Islamic studies. IB results sit comfortably above world averages and graduates land at US, UK, Canadian and Jordanian universities, with a regular trickle into Ivy League and Russell Group destinations. Fiyaz Ahmed has been CEO and interim principal since late 2023, and the school speaks openly about a recent rebuilding period in the middle years before MYP results returned to form. The Dabouq campus on the west side of Amman carries the heritage of forty-plus graduating cohorts; some of that age shows in the upkeep.
Positives
- IB pedigree and bilingual identity. First IB World School in Jordan, with the bilingual Arabic-English thread running from kindergarten through to graduation. The combination of IB rigour with Arabic and Islamic studies is hard to find at this depth elsewhere in Amman.
- Academic outcomes and university destinations. IB Diploma averages sit above world and regional benchmarks. Graduates head to the US, UK, Canada and Jordan, with a regular flow into highly selective institutions including Ivy League and Russell Group universities.
- Royal patronage and institutional stability. Founded in 1981 by the Hashemite Society for Education. Princess Sarvath El Hassan remains founder and chairwoman emeritus; Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan chairs the board. The graduation ceremony is patronised by the royal family each year. The non-profit governance and royal backing give the school an unusual degree of long-term stability.
Considerations
- Leadership transition and middle-years rebuilding. Fiyaz Ahmed stepped in as CEO and interim principal in late 2023. The school itself describes the period before that as a rebuild in the middle years, with grade 10 MYP outcomes now back on track. The interim title has held for some time.
- Campus upkeep. Comments about the wear on a forty-year-old campus come up. Strong facilities on paper, including eight science labs, a 400-seat theatre and sports complex, but the buildings carry their age.
- Fees. Tuition runs roughly 6,000 to 15,000 JOD across the grades, with a non-refundable 1,500 JOD enrollment fee on confirmation of a place. Mid-pack for a top-tier Amman IB school rather than the cheapest IB option in the city.
Leadership
Mr. Fiyaz Ahmed
Fiyaz Ahmed has served as the CEO and Interim School Principal of Amman Baccalaureate School since November 2023. Prior to this role, he was an Educational Consultant for the school and served as the Director of School at Ajman Academy for nearly five years. He also has previous experience at ABS as Vice Principal from 2014 to 2018 and held leadership positions at Ras Al Khaimah English Speaking School. He is recognized for his leadership in International Baccalaureate (IB) education and his commitment to holistic student development.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 02