King's Academy
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$27K - US$53K
Curriculum: American
Age Range: 12-18
Students: ~500
Location: Madaba, Amman
Updated April 2026
In Brief
King's Academy is the only school of its kind in Jordan - a boarding and day school with a genuine liberal arts AP programme, real campus infrastructure, and a mix of local and international students that produces something close to a university experience for teenagers. The Madaba location is the one thing to reckon with honestly.
King's Academy opened in 2007 on a 144-acre campus outside Madaba, founded by HM King Abdullah II with an explicit mission around leadership development. It runs Grades 7 to 12 with an AP curriculum, co-educational learning, and single-gender boarding houses - a model that is common in North American and British independent schools but is genuinely unusual in the region. The student body of around 500 draws from 38+ nationalities, with a meaningful proportion of Jordanian students alongside international families. The boarding option - which accounts for a portion of the student body - creates a residential community that day schools cannot replicate.
Forty per cent of students receive need-based financial aid, and the school awarded US$5.3M in 2025-2026 - figures that are publicly stated and worth noting because they indicate a school that is serious about access, not just selective prestige. Jordanian families on discussion forums describe King's as diverse, predominantly English-speaking in lessons, with faculty drawn from international backgrounds. Teachers and former staff consistently rank it among the top postings in Jordan for a combination of campus quality, student calibre, and professional environment. Peter Nilsson leads the school following recent appointment.
The Madaba location is 30-45 minutes from central Amman by car - straightforward if your child is boarding, more demanding if they are day students. Day families either live in Madaba or make a daily commitment. There are no shortcuts on this; the campus is deliberately remote by design, which is the point for a boarding school but requires a genuine logistical decision for day families. Boarding fees (JOD 37,750 per year for Upper School) are the highest of any school in this guide.
What parents value
- –The only co-educational boarding school in Jordan. The residential community, 144-acre campus, AP curriculum, and 38+ nationalities create an educational environment that is not replicated anywhere else in the country.
- –Forty per cent of students on need-based financial aid (US$5.3M in 2025-2026). This is meaningful at a school at this price point - if your family qualifies, it is worth applying and asking.
- –Faculty drawn from international backgrounds; strong track record of university placements in the US, UK, and globally. Described consistently by teachers as one of the best postings in Jordan for professional quality of life.
Points of consideration
- –Madaba is 30-45 minutes south of Amman city. Day students and their families absorb that commute daily; boarding is the model the school was designed around. Be honest about whether the distance works for your family's daily logistics before applying for a day place.
- –Upper School boarding fees of JOD 37,750 per year (approximately US$53,000) are the highest in this guide. Financial aid is available and actively distributed, but self-funding families without aid should plan this carefully.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Middle School (Day) | 12 | NaN |
| Upper School (Day) | 15 | NaN |
| Upper School (Boarding) | 15 | NaN |
Fees converted from JOD. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Academic Results
Academic results have not been made publicly available by this school.
Extra Curriculars
Contact the school for details on co-curricular activities and facilities. Ask what a normal week looks like outside lessons for your child's age group.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
No published inspection details are currently available.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Amman's international schools draw a mix of Jordanian families, diplomatic households, and families on corporate packages. Contact the school for current enrolment breakdown by nationality.
Leadership
School leadership
Contact the school for current leadership details.