American International School of Kuwait vs Dasman Bilingual School

	A American International School of Kuwait Kuwait City, Kuwait	D Dasman Bilingual School Kuwait City, Kuwait
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KWD 2,650 - 4,531	Fees / year KWD 1,786 - 3,101
Age range	Age range 4 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), BTEC Qualification, SEN focussed
Pupils	Pupils 2,100	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 22	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Arabic
Opened	Opened 1991	Opened 1996
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Located in Salmiya, Kuwait (PO Box 3267, 22033). Mailing address: American International School Kuwait, Salmiya 22033. Courier address: American International School, Hamood Al-Naser Street, Medan Hawalli, Kuwait.	Location Sharq, Kuwait City, Kuwait. The campus spans seven buildings on a large private campus in the Sharq district, with facilities including two swimming pools, two auditoriums, football fields, indoor play areas for younger students, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, music rooms, computer and science labs, and a spacious cafeteria. It offers bilingual instruction in English and Arabic, blending the American and Arabic curricula.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten through Grade 12, organized into Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School.	Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, and High School (K-12).
School type	School type Private, independent, co-educational day school offering an IB Continuum and an American curriculum.	School type Private bilingual day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Special Needs Division; inclusive support through Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and vocational training.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation No formal country affiliation; based in Kuwait.	Country affiliation United States and Kuwait.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure AIS Kuwait uses division-based schedules across EC, ES, MS and HS. EC and ES gates open around 6:45 AM; EC dismissal around 1:12 PM and ES around 2:00 PM; MS/HS bus gate operations and regular dismissal around 2:25 PM (bus) or 3:00 PM depending on division. Elementary starts at 7:20 AM; High School starts around 7:40 AM.	School day structure School days start with a 7:00–7:30 a.m. drop-off for all divisions. Pick-up times vary by division: Kindergarten 12:50–13:15, Elementary 14:00–14:15, Middle School 14:15–14:30, High School 14:30–14:45, SEN (A, D, S) 12:55–13:30, and SEN/Vocational 13:30–13:45.
Bus service details	Bus service details AIS provides bus transportation. Families register with the Transportation Supervisor. Buses are staffed by licensed drivers. AIS maintains a Bus Procedure Manual and Transportation Maintenance Manual.	Bus service details Bus service with division-specific drop-off and pick-up times.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details —	Fee details Application and reservation fee - Non-refundable registration / tuition deposit: KD 100 (deductible from the first installment; reserves the student's place only until the first day of the school year). Tuition fees (annual and instalment breakdown by school division) - Pre‑K / KG1 / KG2: Annual tuition KD 1,786, payable in three instalments — 1st instalment KD 714 (due 01 Sep 2025 / first day of school), 2nd instalment KD 536 (due 01 Jan 2026), 3rd instalment KD 536 (due 01 Apr 2026). - Elementary (Grades 1–4): Annual tuition KD 2,784, payable in three instalments — 1st instalment KD 1,114 (01 Sep 2025), 2nd instalment KD 835 (01 Jan 2026), 3rd instalment KD 835 (01 Apr 2026). - Middle School (Grades 5–8): Annual tuition KD 3,006, payable in three instalments — 1st instalment KD 1,202 (01 Sep 2025), 2nd instalment KD 902 (01 Jan 2026), 3rd instalment KD 902 (01 Apr 2026). - High School (Grades 9–12): Annual tuition KD 3,101, payable in three instalments — 1st instalment KD 1,241 (01 Sep 2025), 2nd instalment KD 930 (01 Jan 2026), 3rd instalment KD 930 (01 Apr 2026). - Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision: Annual fee KD 7,185, payable in three instalments — KD 2,875 / KD 2,155 / KD 2,155. Resource Inclusion (RI) annual fee KD 3,910, payable in three instalments — KD 1,564 / KD 1,173 / KD 1,173. Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard billing schedule: three instalments with settlement dates shown as the first day of the school year (1st instalment) and fixed calendar dates for the later instalments — 01 Jan and 01 Apr. The full first instalment must be paid on the first day of the academic year. - The KD 100 deposit is non-refundable but is credited to the first instalment. Delayed payments may result in the school withholding the student's report cards until outstanding fees are settled. - Late registration: tuition is calculated from the student's first day at Dasman (no charge is applied for periods prior to joining). Public Authority (PAD) funding and associated timing rules are applied when applicable. Boarding fees - Boarding: Not applicable. Dasman Bilingual School operates as a day school and does not publish boarding or residential fees. Other costs and mandatory items - Crèche / KG waiting-room fee: KD 300 (non‑refundable; payable once on admission for the KG department). - Resource Inclusion (RI) sessions: KD 300 per session for one subject (weekly sessions across the year); this charge is payable in two instalments where applicable. - Textbooks and stationery: the school bookstore supplies required Arabic and English textbooks and standardized notebooks; parents who buy externally must match the school's specified items. Cost depends on selections at the school bookstore. - School uniform: uniform is mandatory and available for purchase at the school store; specific uniform pricing is not published in the school's financial policy. Refund and withdrawal rules - Withdrawal during the school year follows the Ministry of Education (Private Education Department) rules applied by the school: if withdrawal occurs after the first instalment due at the start of the academic year, the school is entitled to 40% of the annual fees; after the second instalment due (01 Jan) the school is entitled to 70% of the annual fees; if withdrawal occurs after the third instalment due date the school is entitled to the full annual fees. The KD 100 deposit is non‑refundable. Fee payment options and how invoices are handled - The school publishes a Parent Portal link (dasman.parents.isamshosting.cloud) for parents' access to portals and parent resources; invoices and fee administration are managed through the school's published financial policy and parent systems. Specific accepted payment instruments (for example, named credit card brands, bank transfer details or online gateway names) are not listed in the publicly posted financial policy documents. Notes on regulatory adjustments - Tuition and additional fee charges may be amended in line with decisions by the Ministry of Education – Department of Private Education or the Public Authority for the Disabled; any such amendments are applied to all students for the relevant academic year. (End of fees overview.)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum with the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). English is the language of instruction. Languages offered include English, Arabic (Language and Literature), Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL), and French for language acquisition. The curriculum is standards-based and aligned with Kuwait's Ministry of Education requirements; Arabic is studied through Grade 9 and Muslim students study Islamic Studies. Science follows the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and IB DP alignment; Mathematics aligns with CCSS; Physical Education follows The Ontario Curriculum Health and Physical Education. AIS emphasizes university preparation and provides pathways to leading universities around the globe.	Curriculum details The school uses a bilingual curriculum that integrates American and Arabic standards. The curriculum is accredited by CIS and NEASC.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results The school reports a 100% graduation rate. 55% of graduates pursue higher education at prestigious colleges and universities abroad (UK and US), while 45% continue their studies in Kuwait and the GCC. It is a licensed SAT exam center and a College Board-approved provider for AP exams. 90% of students take the IELTS exam through a British Council partnership, with an average score of 6.5 or above.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Many AIS graduates attend top universities worldwide, with pathways to leading universities around the globe.	Higher education progression Dasman graduates study at leading universities worldwide, including Harvard, MIT, University College London, and McGill, with placements in Medicine, Engineering, Business, Law, and Computer Science. Alumni pursue degrees across the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Kuwait, and beyond, with scholarships and global opportunities noted.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions 1. Make an Enquiry. The Admissions Team answers initial questions and guides families through the next steps. The unique nature of the programs and limited grade-level availability means families are encouraged to follow the steps to ensure their needs are met with care. 2. Visit Us. Experience Dasman Bilingual School by scheduling a campus tour. The Admissions Team offers daily tours at various times to explore facilities and meet members of the School Leadership Team. This visit provides firsthand insight into the school's bilingual environment. 3. Submit Your Online Application. Applications are accepted online only. Upload digital copies of key documents, including identification, academic records, and any relevant reports for special education applicants. Ensure attachments are clear and readable to avoid delays. 4. Assessment and Evaluation. After submitting the application, an assessment date will be scheduled and you will be notified by email. For international applicants unable to attend in person, remote assessments may be arranged. Assessment results are communicated within 2–3 working days. Assessments vary by grade level: Kindergarten uses an informal interview with KG Academic Staff, while Grades 1–12 require formal assessments in English, Math, and Arabic. Special Needs and Vocational applicants may require psychological assessments and classroom observations. 5. Admission Decision. The Admissions Team will notify parents of assessment results within 1 day for Kindergarten and 2–3 days for Grades 1–12. 6. After Acceptance. Upon acceptance, pay a non-refundable KD 100 deposit to secure the child's seat within two days of notification. Submit transfer documents from the child's previous school to the DBS Registrar's Office.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist The Admissions Committee may place the applicant on a waiting list.	Waitlist —
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