Cities / Jeddah / German International School Jeddah
German International School Jeddah
The German stream school in Jeddah, sponsored by the German government and running from preschool to the German Abitur and IB Diploma. DISJ was established in 1975 in the Ar Rabwah area and is part of the official German schools abroad network, with ZfA recognition.
In brief
The German-stream school in Jeddah, sponsored by the German government and running from preschool to the German Abitur and IB Diploma.
DISJ was established in 1975 in the Ar Rabwah area and is part of the official German schools-abroad network, with ZfA recognition. Around 155 students attend, which makes this one of the smaller schools in the city. The programme leads to the German Abitur and the IB Diploma, with Cambridge Advanced layered in. The school took the German government's award for best German school abroad in 2012. Sabine Schönsee leads the school. Fees run from roughly SAR 26,000 to 66,000.
The community is small and tight, dominated by German-speaking expatriate families and Saudi families who want trilingual German, English, and Arabic education. Reviews lean strongly positive on teaching quality and the personal feel of a small school, which is the natural trade-off when you are a fraction of the size of AISJ or BISJ. Families choose DISJ when language continuity into a German university pathway matters more than scale of facilities or peer group.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 3 | SAR 26,335 |
| Preschool | 5 | SAR 34,500 |
| Elementary (Grades 1 - 4) | 6 | SAR 46,000 |
| Secondary I (Grades 5 - 10) | 10 | SAR 49,450 |
| GIB / IB Diploma (Grades 11 - 12) | 16 | SAR 65,780 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee (one-time) | SAR 5,635 | |
| IB Exam Fee | SAR 5,750 |
Reviews
- Parent voices are sparse but consistently positive on teaching quality and individual attention. One parent of three years called it the best school in Jeddah "in teaching, class size and care".
- The school carries the German government's "Best German School Abroad" award (2012) and operates the German curriculum to grade 10 plus an IB Diploma route to grade 12.
- Reviewers flag transparency: DISJ does not publish IB Diploma results, which is unusual at this fee point.
- Fees are mid-range against established UK, US and IB-curriculum schools in Saudi Arabia. One parent said the school is excellent "but very expensive".
- Public review pool is small and lightly framed; signal is thin outside language-learning testimonials.
Positives
- Teaching and care. Parents cite small class sizes and engaged staff
- Curriculum pathway. German curriculum through Grade 10 with IB Diploma in 11-12
- Government recognition. 2012 Best German School Abroad award
Considerations
- Outcomes transparency. IB Diploma results not published
- Fees. Mid-range against established UK/US/IB schools in Saudi Arabia
Leadership
Sabine Schönsee
Sabine Schönsee serves as the Headmaster of the German International School Jeddah (DISJ). Under her leadership, the school maintains its status as an 'Excellent German School Abroad' and an authorized IB World School. She is active in fostering international partnerships, recently seeking collaborations with the Saxony International School network in Germany. Her administration oversees a diverse curriculum that integrates German national standards with international programs like the GIB-DP, focusing on language education and academic excellence. Ms. Schönsee emphasizes a democratic atmosphere and a holistic approach to student development across all sections from kindergarten to the upper school.
Accreditations
- Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen 01