American Baccalaureate School vs Kuwait Bilingual School 2
American Baccalaureate School and Kuwait Bilingual School 2 are both in Kuwait City, about 26 km apart. Both schools offer American programmes. American Baccalaureate School also offers Advanced Placement (AP), and Kuwait Bilingual School 2 also offers IB. Published annual fees are close, at KWD 2,650 - 4,810 for American Baccalaureate School and KWD 2,405 - 4,420 for Kuwait Bilingual School 2. Both take pupils from 3 to 18. Kuwait Bilingual School 2 is the larger school, with around 2,200 pupils to American Baccalaureate School's 1,081. Typical class sizes are 23 at American Baccalaureate School and 18 at Kuwait Bilingual School 2.
Abraq Khaitan, Block 6, Street #59, Ibn Zuhair Street, Kuwait. The campus is located in Kuwait. The facilities include over 100 classrooms, a networked library and media center, fully equipped science labs, four state-of-the-art computer labs, two full cafeterias serving hot meals, a gymnasium, and an indoor semi-Olympic size swimming pool.
Location
Al-Jahra City, Kuwait
Stages
Stages
Kindergarten; Elementary; Middle and High School
Stages
Kindergarten to Grade 12
School type
School type
Private, non-profit college preparatory school
School type
Private, independent, K-12 international bilingual IB World School
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
High school student body is 99% Kuwaiti.
Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
Inclusive educational environment with a Student Support and Inclusion Program
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school has American affiliation.
Country affiliation
Kuwait
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
The school week runs Sunday through Thursday. The school day begins at 7:30 a.m. and includes a daily 20-minute homeroom advisory period, followed by seven 48-minute instructional periods. Extracurricular activities occur after school.
School day structure
Elementary School hours are 7:30 am to 2:00 pm Sunday through Wednesday; Thursdays dismissal at 1:30 pm
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
*Application fees*
- Application fee (new applicants): KWD 50 (non‑refundable). - Registration fee (payable at registration): KWD 200 (non‑refundable).
*Tuition fees by year group (annual and per installment for the 2025–2026 academic year)*
- Standard tuition billing is in two installments with due dates shown as 31 August and 31 January for the academic year schedule above. Installment amounts are listed beside each grade above. - Cheques should be drawn payable to: "Oxford International for Educational Services." Payment dates and installment arrangements are subject to change per school policy. - Sibling discounts: first child—no discount; second child—KWD 100 discount; third child—10% discount; fourth child—10% discount.
*Boarding fees*
- No boarding/hostel fees are published. Boarding services are not listed as part of the school's fee schedule.
*Other costs and mandatory additional fees*
- Photo: KWD 10 (mandatory). - Locker (Grades 3–12): KWD 10. - PSAT exam (Grades 9–11): KWD 10. - Agenda/planner (Grades 3–12): KWD 7. - Textbook fees, consumable text fees, lab fees, course‑specific materials (e.g., oceanography book, culinary arts class), Windows laptop requirement (Grades 3–12), and school supplies for KG are additional charges that are not included in the annual tuition and will be billed separately as applicable. Transportation charges and extra‑curricular activity fees are charged separately. Specific amounts for these items are set per item/program and billed in addition to tuition.
*Refund information*
- Amounts paid to the school are non‑refundable for the application fee (KWD 50), registration fee (KWD 200), tuition fee, textbook fee, transportation charges, and extra‑curricular activities fees.
*Fee payment options and notes on payment methods*
- The published fee schedule specifies cheques to be drawn to "Oxford International for Educational Services." No alternative payment methods (credit card, online portal, bank transfer) are specified on the published tuition and fees schedule. Parents should use the cheque instruction as the named payee when submitting payment per the billing schedule.
Fee details
Application & assessment fees
- A non-refundable placement/test fee of KWD 50 is charged for admission assessments. - A registration fee of KWD 100 is required at acceptance.
Tuition fees by year group (per term and annual totals) — applicable for the 2025/26 academic year
- Kindergarten 1 (KG1): - First instalment (due before 01 Sep 2025): KWD 770. - Second instalment (due before 01 Jan 2026): KWD 770. - Third instalment (due before 01 Apr 2026): KWD 765. - Registration fee: KWD 100. - Annual total (sum of instalments + registration): KWD 2,405. - Ministry-approved total shown alongside: KWD 3,760.
- Kindergarten 2 (KG2): - First instalment (due before 01 Sep 2025): KWD 835. - Second instalment (due before 01 Jan 2026): KWD 835. - Third instalment (due before 01 Apr 2026): KWD 835. - Registration fee: KWD 100. - Annual total (sum of instalments + registration): KWD 2,605. - Ministry-approved total shown alongside: KWD 3,760.
- Elementary (Grades 1–5): - First instalment (due before 01 Sep 2025): KWD 1,010. - Second instalment (due before 01 Jan 2026): KWD 1,010. - Third instalment (due before 01 Apr 2026): KWD 1,000. - Registration fee: KWD 100. - Annual total (sum of instalments + registration): KWD 3,120. - Ministry-approved total shown alongside: KWD 4,774.
- Middle School (Grades 6–8): - First instalment (due before 01 Sep 2025): KWD 1,175. - Second instalment (due before 01 Jan 2026): KWD 1,175. - Third instalment (due before 01 Apr 2026): KWD 1,170. - Registration fee: KWD 100. - Annual total (sum of instalments + registration): KWD 3,620. - Ministry-approved total shown alongside: KWD 5,150.
- High School (Grades 9–12): - First instalment (due before 01 Sep 2025): KWD 1,440. - Second instalment (due before 01 Jan 2026): KWD 1,440. - Third instalment (due before 01 Apr 2026): KWD 1,440. - Registration fee: KWD 100. - Annual total (sum of instalments + registration): KWD 4,420. - Ministry-approved total shown alongside: KWD 5,665.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Instalment deadlines for the academic year are: First instalment due before 01 September 2025; Second instalment due before 01 January 2026; Third instalment due before 01 April 2026. - The school requires payment of the first tuition instalment immediately on acceptance; internal guidance states the first tuition instalment must be paid within 7 days of acceptance, and the admission policy also requires payment of the registration fee and first tuition instalment within a fortnight (14 days) from the result/acceptance announcement. Parents must follow the school's admission contract for the exact deadline that applies to their offer.
Boarding fees
- Kuwait Bilingual School operates as a day school; no boarding facilities or boarding fees apply.
Other costs and routine additional charges
- Uniform: School uniform is required; a separate PE kit (PE shirt, pants and shoes with the KBS logo) is required for PE days. Specific uniform items and replacement costs are handled through the school's standard supplier arrangements. - Educational trips and excursions: Bus and entrance fees for trips are charged per trip; parents are notified in advance for each trip and fees are collected as required. - Assessments and supplementary charges: Standard assessment/test fee (KWD 50) applies at admissions; individual course or activity fees (if any) are billed separately when applicable.
Refund and withdrawal policy
- Withdrawals after payment: If a student has not attended any school days, a KWD 100 administrative fee applies on withdrawal after payment. - No tuition refund is given if the student has attended even one day of classes.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The American Baccalaureate School uses the Common Core Standards. For grades K-8, there are grade-by-grade standards in English language arts/literacy and mathematics; for grades 9-12, standards are grouped into 9-10 and 11-12 bands. The standards are research-based, clear and aligned with college and career expectations, emphasize rigorous content and higher-order thinking, and mastery of the standards is essential for success in college, career, and life. They draw on international models and input from educators, researchers, assessment developers, professional organizations, parents and students, to prepare students for the global economy. A range of supports is provided for all students, including those with special needs and English language learners. The Diploma Program emphasizes strong foundations in English and Arabic literacy.
Curriculum details
International Baccalaureate (IB) framework guides learning across Kuwait Bilingual School 2. Early Years and Elementary School follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) in a bilingual English-Arabic environment, with inquiry-based learning, global citizenship, and student agency. The Middle School provides the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), promoting critical and creative thinking, intercultural understanding, personal growth, and service through inquiry and project-based learning, with digital literacy and social-emotional learning integrated. The High School offers two graduation pathways: the American Bilingual High School Diploma (Arabic and English), blending American standards with Arabic language, Islamic studies, and culture, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The school emphasizes multilingual communication, global citizenship, student agency, service learning, and technology-enabled learning environments that support university and career preparation. As an IB World School, KBS 2 integrates the IB Learner Profile and aims to prepare graduates for success in top universities worldwide.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Average class size is 20-23 students. ABS has a teaching staff of 229 individuals from over 39 countries.
Student teacher ratio
There are 2,200 scholars and about 200 teachers, yielding an approximate student-teacher ratio of 11:1.
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
The School Profile 2024-2025 shows graduates gaining admission to universities in the United States, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Examples of U.S. institutions include the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, UC Irvine, the University of Colorado, Michigan State University, Yale University among others. Kuwait institutions listed include Kuwait University, GUST, and the American University of Kuwait, and UK institutions include the University of Glasgow, Bristol University, City, University of London, and the University of Manchester.
Higher education progression
Graduates attend top universities worldwide.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered to high school students starting in their junior year, including AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP English Literature and Composition, AP English Language and Composition, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Biology. AP exams are held each May and can earn college credit or advanced placement depending on scores.
Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Eligibility and program fit. The school offers admission to both Arabic- and non-Arabic-speaking students. It provides a full English immersion program with an American-based curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 12, taught by Western-trained teachers. The school invites families to visit the campus and contact the Admissions Office for enrollment guidance.
2. Application materials and submission. The application form and the Parent Checklist for KG, Elementary and MSHS are available for download. Complete these documents and submit them to the Admissions Office together with the required items. The Registration Office is open Sunday to Thursday from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, and Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
3. Screening, transcripts and immunizations. New students must demonstrate an ability performance level within ABS programs and provide report cards and/or transcripts from previous schools. Satisfactory screening/testing is administered by ABS or the Oxford Learning Center. An immunization record or waiver must be on file prior to the start of school.
4. Admissions decision and waiting list. When the capacity of each class is reached, those meeting the above criteria but not admitted will be placed on a waiting list in case an opening occurs. Families will be contacted according to the stated criteria if space becomes available. Applications for the following school year must be resubmitted during spring registration.
5. Priorities for admission. New students will be considered for admission in descending priorities on a space-available basis: children with siblings currently in attendance; Kuwaiti children applying from an American School; American children applying from an American school; all other children applying from an American school. Admissions decisions take into account the capacity of each class and the ability to meet program requirements.
6. Special needs and program scope. ABS does not have the programs and resources to assist those children who have special academic, social or physical needs.
Admissions
1. Documentation: Complete the registration form signed by the parent/guardian. Required documents include birth certificate and vaccination records. Two passport-sized photographs; copies of the student's, mother's, and father's civil IDs; a copy of the father's nationality for Kuwaitis. Copies of the father's and student's passports and a valid residence for non-Kuwaitis; the previous year's report card; and any judicial decisions related to the student.
2. Admission Assessments: Personal interviews and assessments gauge the student's mental well-being and interaction capabilities. The student must be independent during the interview, with no parental interference. Academic evaluation tests in English, Arabic, and Mathematics are administered, tailored to the grade applied for, and a test fee of 50 dinars applies. Parents/guardians may not interfere or guide the student during the assessment, and any mediation may result in rejection and a required retest.
3. Post-Assessment Results: Successful candidates sign a Registration Contract and pay the registration fees and the first tuition installment within a fortnight of the result announcement. A medical file is created through the School Health Department, and the admission paper (Acceptance Notice) is obtained to facilitate transfer procedures from the previous school.
4. Waitlist Procedures: If applications exceed available spots, students may be placed on a waitlist. The criteria for waitlisting are a combination of academic performance, extracurricular achievements, and date of application. Students will be notified promptly if a spot becomes available.
5. Appeals Process: Parents or guardians may submit a formal appeal detailing grounds for appeal to the admissions department; the admissions department reviews the appeal and provides a response within 30 days. The process is designed to be transparent and fair.
6. Annual Review and Feedback: The admission policy is reviewed annually to ensure relevance and effectiveness, and a channel for feedback is available for stakeholders. Feedback helps inform updates to the policy.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
The school maintains a waiting list when class capacity is reached. Eligible applicants meeting the criteria will be placed on the waiting list and contacted in the event that an opening becomes available. For the next school year, applications must be resubmitted during spring registration. Openings are offered based on space availability and the ordering of the criteria set by the school.
Waitlist
When applications exceed available spots, students may be placed on a waitlist. The waitlist criteria combine academic performance, extracurricular achievements, and date of application. Students are notified promptly if a spot becomes available.