American International School of Kuwait vs Kuwait Bilingual School 2
American International School of Kuwait and Kuwait Bilingual School 2 are both in Kuwait City, about 32 km apart. Both schools offer American and IB programmes. Published annual fees are close, at KWD 2,650 - 4,531 for American International School of Kuwait and KWD 2,405 - 4,420 for Kuwait Bilingual School 2. American International School of Kuwait takes pupils from 4 to 18, and Kuwait Bilingual School 2 from 3 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 2,100 and 2,200 pupils. Typical class sizes are 22 at American International School of Kuwait and 18 at Kuwait Bilingual School 2.
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
Al-Jahra City, Kuwait
Stages
Stages
Kindergarten through Grade 12, organized into Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School.
Stages
Kindergarten to Grade 12
School type
School type
Private, independent, co-educational day school offering an IB Continuum and an American curriculum.
School type
Private, independent, K-12 international bilingual IB World School
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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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
No formal country affiliation; based in Kuwait.
Country affiliation
Kuwait
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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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
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
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
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
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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 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
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
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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
Many AIS graduates attend top universities worldwide, with pathways to leading universities around the globe.
Higher education progression
Graduates attend top universities worldwide.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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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
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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 Admissions Committee may place the applicant on a waiting list.
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.