Cities / Kuwait City / American Creativity Academy (ACA)
American Creativity Academy (ACA)
American/IB school with Hawally and Salmiya campuses offering an IB DP option for grades 11-12.
Curriculum
IB
Fees, annual
KWD 2k–5k
Ages
3 to 18
Pupils
~3,000
Founded
1997
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten 1 | 3 | KWD 2,210 |
| Kindergarten 2 | 4 | KWD 2,427 |
| Kindergarten 3 | 5 | KWD 2,427 |
| Grades 1-5 | 6 | KWD 3,528 |
| Grades 6-8 | 11 | KWD 3,981 |
| Grades 9-12 | 14 | KWD 4,516 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment fee | KWD 30 | |
| Registration fee | KWD 100 |
Reviews
- Two-campus Kuwaiti private school in Hawalli and Salmiya, founded 1997, running an American curriculum within an Islamic-values framework. Student body is reported as roughly 99% Kuwaiti.
- Teachers describe ACA as a school where "you'll be paid on time and expectations are non-existent" and where classroom management with conservative Kuwaiti students is the main challenge. Several teachers said they would not recommend it as one of Kuwait's better options.
- Salaries are reported as low for an American school in Kuwait and turnover is described as high. One ex-staff member said the Hawalli campus is better managed than the Salmiya one.
- Parent reviews are polarised. Critics flag gender separation, an Islam-and-prayer-led extracurricular programme, infighting between foreign and Islamic staff, and teachers whose English is weaker than the school markets. A long-tenured student described it as "amazing" with excellent teachers and principals.
- One parent account described a teacher who "yelled and berated" an entire class over a clicking pen and said this was framed as normal behaviour, with HoD-level English fluency questioned.
- Independent accreditation is a recurring concern in older reviews. The school is widely placed mid-pack rather than at the top of the Kuwait market.
Considerations
- Teacher experience and turnover. Teachers describe low expectations, low pay relative to peers, infighting between foreign and Islamic staff, and high turnover
- Religious and gender framing. Islamic values shape the day; some families value this, others describe gender separation and prayer-led ECAs as out of step with an American school
- Student culture. Reported student body close to 99% Kuwaiti, with classroom-management issues flagged by both teachers and parents
- Campus differences. Hawalli campus described by ex-staff as better managed than Salmiya
- Tier positioning. Repeatedly placed outside Kuwait's top two or three schools by teachers on r/Internationalteachers
Leadership
Sevag H. Kendirjian
Sevag H. Kendirjian has been with the American Creativity Academy since 2008, serving in multiple capacities including math and physics teacher, curriculum and IB coordinator, and Assistant Superintendent since 2014. Currently the Director of Education, he brings over 20 years of experience in the Kuwaiti education sector, specifically in delivering standards-based American curriculum integrated with local Islamic values. He is also a parent of two students at the academy.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools 02