The Guide
Mon, 15 June 2026

Cities / Amman / National Orthodox School

National Orthodox School

Multi-track school in Shmeisani offering British (IGCSE/A-Level), IB Diploma, and Jordanian Tawjihi pathways at the higher end of the market.

National Orthodox School campus
National Orthodox School, Deir Ghbar & Central West. Photograph · School

Curriculum
IB
Fees, annual
JOD 3k–6k
Ages
4 to 18
Pupils
~2,500
Founded
1960

Annual fees

Year level Age Fee
Grade 1 6 JOD 3,350
Grade 2 7 JOD 3,415
Grade 3 8 JOD 3,560
Grade 4 9 JOD 3,715
Grade 5 10 JOD 3,810
Grade 6 11 JOD 3,990
Grade 7 12 JOD 4,255
Grade 8 13 JOD 4,705
Grade 9 (IB) 14 JOD 5,190
Grade 10 (IB) 15 JOD 5,555
Grade 11 (IB) 16 JOD 5,850
Grade 12 (IB) 17 JOD 5,915

One-time fees

Item Age Fee
Grade 12 Refundable Deposit JOD 150
Registration Fee (Grade 9) JOD 500
Registration Fee (Grades 10-12) JOD 1,000


An institution in the Amman education landscape: Greek Orthodox heritage, non-profit, and the country's first co-ed school. Large by local standards, about 2,400 pupils across Shmaisani and the smaller Ashrafieh early-years campus, with three exit routes (Tawjihi, IGCSE/A-Level, IB Diploma). Reputation is steady and the parent-teacher community is tight. Where commentary turns sharper, it tends to be about whether fees match perceived service, particularly on the international tracks.

Positives

  • Heritage and institutional depth. Founded in 1960 under the Orthodox Educational Society, a national non-profit. Long-tenured leadership under May Goussous, herself part of the first graduating class. The continuity shows in how families talk about the school across generations.
  • Curriculum breadth. Three parallel tracks from Grade 9: the Jordanian Tawjihi taught largely in Arabic, Edexcel/Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels, and the IB Diploma (an IB World School since 2018). English is the primary language of instruction with Arabic, French, and German alongside.
  • Christian, co-ed character. The Greek Orthodox identity sits at the centre of school life without being doctrinaire; the intake is mixed and the family-style register comes up repeatedly in how the school is described.
  • Learning support and admissions screening. A dedicated centre runs one-on-one support for students with learning needs and for non-Arabic-speaking families, including expat Arab children needing Arabic catch-up. Entry runs through written tests and interview.

Considerations

  • Fees versus perceived value. Arabic-language commentary flags fees as high relative to the experience some families feel they get, particularly on the international tracks where IB tuition runs into the JOD 9,000-10,000 band before books, exams, and activities.
  • Scale and class sizes. Around 2,400 pupils with classes averaging 24 and capped at 26. Big enough to carry sport, drama, robotics and MUN; large enough that the experience can feel less personal than at boutique competitors.

Leadership

Ms May Goussous

Ms. May Goussous has been a pivotal figure at the National Orthodox School, having graduated from the first class and returned as a teacher and then principal. Her leadership has been instrumental in the school's growth and adaptation to modern educational standards.

Accreditations

  • Council of International Schools 01

  • IB Diploma 2022 average 90%
  • A* / A at A Level 2022 50%

School website