King Faisal School
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$12K - US$18K
Curriculum: IB · American
Age Range: 3-18
Students: ~2,100
Location: Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
Updated April 2026
In Brief
For families committed to the IB framework who want a school with deep roots in Riyadh and genuinely strong university placement, KFS is the best-value full-continuum IB option in the city - fees are a third of AIS-R's secondary level at comparable academic quality.
KFS occupies an unusual position in Riyadh's school market: primarily Saudi by design (95% Saudi nationals), but fully open to international families and operating the most established IB continuum in the Kingdom. Founded in 1991 by the King Faisal Foundation, it was the first Saudi school to offer PYP, MYP, and DP in a single institution. Families choosing it tend to be long-stay residents or Saudi nationals; it is not the typical corporate-relocation first call.
The Diplomatic Quarter campus is large and green, with facilities that go well beyond what newer schools offer - two 25-metre pools, a full-size football pitch, indoor sports hall, and dedicated STEM and 3D printing labs. Boys and girls are taught in separate sections from Grade 5 onwards; co-ed until Grade 4. The school runs both IB Diploma and American High School Diploma for Grades 11-12 via Cognia accreditation, giving graduates flexibility for both US and international university entry.
International families should go in clear-eyed: 95% of students are Saudi, which shapes the culture significantly. The school does not publish detailed annual IB results (the most recent public figure is a 92% pass rate from 2020). Class sizes average 25 - larger than most premium international schools in Riyadh.
What parents value
- –Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) plus American Diploma pathway from a single campus. Rare dual-qualification option for Grade 11-12 students.
- –Fees are substantially lower than BISR and AIS-R: SAR 67,500 for Grades 11-12 versus SAR 107,933 at BISR and SAR 117,812 at AIS-R.
- –Campus facilities among the best in Riyadh: 2 pools, full-size football pitch, STEM/3D printing labs, indoor sports hall. Track record of university placement at MIT, Caltech, King's College London, and Manchester.
Points of consideration
- –Predominantly Saudi student body (95%) - international families should visit and assess the social fit for their children.
- –No detailed IB results published publicly since 2020. A family choosing KFS primarily for IB Diploma outcomes should ask for current cohort data at the admissions meeting.
- –Average class sizes of 25 are above the premium international school norm in Riyadh.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool | 3 | NaN |
| Grades 1-9 | 6 | NaN |
| Grade 10 | 15 | NaN |
| Grades 11-12 | 16 | NaN |
Fees converted from SAR. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Academic Results
| IB Pass Rate | 92% |
Key results: IB Pass Rate 92%.
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 age group and 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
Riyadh's international schools serve a diverse community of families on corporate assignments and long-term residents. Contact the school for current enrolment details and nationality breakdown.
Leadership
School leadership
Contact the school for current leadership details.