The KAUST School
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$16K - US$24K
Curriculum: IB
Age Range: 4-18
Students: ~1,782
Location: North Jeddah, Jeddah
Updated April 2026
In Brief
If you are joining KAUST as a faculty member, postgraduate student, or staff, TKS is the school - your children attend free and you are unlikely to find a better IB programme within 100 km. If you are a contractor or service provider, the published fees are at the very top of the Jeddah market; weigh up the commute from the city before committing.
TKS sits in a category of its own in western Saudi Arabia: a genuine full IB continuum school - PYP, MYP, and Diploma - with 1,782 students from 73 nationalities, built from scratch to serve a research university community. The school opened in 2010 and is now CIS, MSA, and IBO accredited. Class sizes are small - 15 in KG, 18 in Elementary, 20 in Secondary - and the co-curricular programme runs to 119 options for Elementary and 144 for Secondary students. Graduates in 2024 received over US$10M in scholarship offers.
The KAUST university partnership gives students access to research lab internships from Grade 9, the KAUST Winter Enrichment Programme, and Science Fairs run by the university itself. The campus is purpose-built, with two theatres, two gymnasiums, science labs, a Design Technology hub, and an outdoor pool. The school separates into distinct Middle and High School sections from Grade 6. Dr Michelle Remington has led the school since 2019. IB Diploma results are not publicly published - the school does not share scores - which is worth noting given the top-of-market fees for non-community members.
Access is the defining constraint: TKS is open only to the KAUST community. Faculty and staff dependants attend without tuition charge; the published fees of SAR 60,400 to SAR 91,500 apply only to service providers and contractors associated with the university. The campus is in Thuwal, around 100 km north of central Jeddah - around 60-70 minutes by car without traffic. For non-KAUST families, the location alone makes it impractical as a daily school.
What parents value
- –Full IB continuum - PYP, MYP, and Diploma - with CIS, MSA, and IBO accreditation. Class sizes of 15-20 are among the smallest of any school in the Jeddah region.
- –University lab internships from Grade 9, access to KAUST research events, and a co-curricular programme of 144 options for Secondary students. Scholarship results in 2024 reached US$10M in offers to graduating students.
- –Free for KAUST community members - a meaningful benefit for faculty and staff families who would otherwise pay international school fees of SAR 60,000-90,000+ per year.
Points of consideration
- –Admission is restricted to the KAUST community. Families not affiliated with the university cannot enrol their children regardless of fees or preference.
- –The campus is in Thuwal, 100 km north of central Jeddah - a daily commute of 60-70 minutes each way. For families living in the city, this is a practical barrier.
- –IB Diploma results are not published. At published fee levels (SAR 91,500 for Secondary), this is a gap that warrants a direct conversation with the admissions team before committing.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Years PK-KG1 | 4 | NaN |
| Elementary (Grades 1-5) | 6 | NaN |
| Secondary (Grades 6-12) | 11 | NaN |
Fees converted from SAR. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Admission Fee (one-time) | NaN |
| Monthly Tech & Materials Fee (K2-G5, per month) | NaN |
| Monthly Tech & Materials Fee (G6-G12, per month) | NaN |
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 interests.
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
Jeddah's international schools serve a highly diverse student body drawn from the city's large expatriate and local community. Contact the school for current enrolment details.
Leadership
School leadership
Contact the school for details.