American International School Riyadh, Riyadh | International Schools Guide

AISR is the established American option in Riyadh, with a purpose-built North Riyadh campus, IB Diploma alongside US accreditation, and a deep expat bench that gives long-staying families their first-choice American school.

Founded in 1963 and accredited by NEASC and CIS, the school runs Pre-K to Grade 12 with the IB Diploma layered on top of an American programme. Around 1,650 students from more than 60 nationalities, with embassy and corporate families well represented. Sport, theatre, and arts run thick, and graduates place across US universities.

Parents speak warmly about teacher quality and the breadth of the high school IB experience. The same parents flag fees that sit at the top of the Riyadh market and admin that can be slow on transfers and paperwork. The campus and resources draw consistent praise. Families weighing AISR against BISR usually choose by curriculum fit and university destination rather than perceived quality.

Year level	Age	Fee
Early Years (Pre-KG, until 1:15 PM)	3	SAR 63,164
KG-II to Grade 5	5	SAR 103,899
Grades 6-8	11	SAR 107,472
Grades 9-12	14	SAR 117,812

Year level

Age

Fee

Early Years (Pre-KG, until 1:15 PM)

SAR 63,164

KG-II to Grade 5

SAR 103,899

Grades 6-8

SAR 107,472

Grades 9-12

SAR 117,812

Item	Age	Fee
Application Fee (non-Saudi)		SAR 4,904
Registration Fee (non-Saudi)		SAR 16,551
Capital Fee (Pre-K to G8, non-Saudi)		SAR 17,777
Capital Fee (G9-12, non-Saudi)		SAR 25,745

Item

Age

Fee

Application Fee (non-Saudi)

SAR 4,904

Registration Fee (non-Saudi)

SAR 16,551

Capital Fee (Pre-K to G8, non-Saudi)

SAR 17,777

Capital Fee (G9-12, non-Saudi)

SAR 25,745

Frequently named as one of Riyadh's recognised top-tier schools alongside the British International School Riyadh, with a beautiful campus and strong facilities.
The most detailed online review, posted in 2023, scored the school and flagged serious concerns: students passing classes despite minimal work, teachers "allegedly forced to pass" failing students after parent complaints, and inconsistent discipline that drug incidents are addressed but cheating and plagiarism less so.
Same review reported the lowest MAP test scores in the region during one all-staff meeting, plus reported incidents of racism and misogyny against teachers and support staff with limited admin response.
Other concerns from the same source: alleged favouritism in dismissals, particularly of female teachers, no Learning Support or EAL programmes, and heavy teacher workloads with multiple unique preps.
High savings potential. Posters list AIS-R alongside Hong Kong International, Singapore American and the Beijing schools as among the highest-paying international postings.
Tuition runs roughly 44,000 to 110,000 SAR with an enrolment fee around 35,000 SAR, putting it firmly at the top of the Riyadh market.
One alumnus from the 2018 to 2024 era described it as a "great school" with "amazing facilities and teachers" worth the cost.

Facilities and pay. Campus, resources and teacher salaries consistently praised; one of the highest-paying postings worldwide.

Family fit. Parents and alumni describe AIS-R as the obvious expat-family choice in Riyadh.

Academic integrity. Detailed teacher review alleges students passed without earning grades after parent pressure.

Discipline and culture. Same review reports inconsistent enforcement and unaddressed racism and misogyny against staff.

Learning support gap. Reviewer states no Learning Support or EAL programmes.

Leadership. Allegations of opaque dismissals and weakness around female-teacher retention.

Cost. Fees approach 110,000 SAR for upper grades plus a sizeable enrolment fee.

Colin Boudreau