Future Leaders International Private School – Rabdan vs Summit International School
Future Leaders International Private School – Rabdan and Summit International School are both in Abu Dhabi, about 15 km apart. Both schools offer American programmes, and Future Leaders International Private School – Rabdan also offers Advanced Placement (AP). Published annual fees are AED 23,000 - 28,000 at Future Leaders International Private School – Rabdan and AED 23,000 - 38,126 at Summit International School, which puts Summit International School roughly 20% higher. Future Leaders International Private School – Rabdan takes pupils from 3 to 17, and Summit International School from 4 to 18. Future Leaders International Private School – Rabdan is the larger school, with around 2,500 pupils to Summit International School's 1,740.
Al Maqta Street, Rabdan, Abu Dhabi, UAE (P.O. Box 56955).
Location
Sector-4, Street 19 in the Madinat Al Zayed Gold Souk & Post Office area, Abu Dhabi. The school sits in a central area of Abu Dhabi City. It comprises four buildings and includes a swimming pool, segregated play areas, a multi-use gymnasium and theater.
Stages
Stages
Kindergarten (KG 1–KG 2) and Elementary (Grade 1–4).
Stages
KG1 to Grade 12. KG1 and KG2 follow an Early Childhood 'learn through play' approach. From KG1-12 the curriculum is aligned with the California Common Core; Grades K-4 are co-educational and Grades 5-12 are gender-separated.
School type
School type
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School type
American-curriculum international school. It is co-educational in K-4 and gender-separated in grades 5-12.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
The student body includes 1,740 students representing 51 countries. The school describes a diverse mix of Middle Eastern, Asian, Pacific Rim, and Slavic expatriates.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
The Learning Support Department uses a whole-school approach to identify, plan for, implement, and monitor plans to meet the independent needs for specific learning difficulties or disabilities. It provides learning strategies to access the curriculum and collaborates with families to provide home strategies.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
United States (Virginia State Standards of Learning).
Country affiliation
United States – the school uses an American curriculum aligned with California Common Core.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is stated.
School day structure
School day structure
KG 1–KG 2: Monday–Thursday 7:30 AM–1:00 PM; Friday 7:30 AM–11:40 AM. Grade 1–4: Monday–Thursday 7:30 AM–2:45 PM; Friday 7:30 AM–11:50 AM. Morning drop-off from 7:20 AM; KG and elementary use different gates; late arrival slips issued after 7:50 AM.
School day structure
The school day typically starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends around 2:30 p.m. on most weekdays; Friday hours vary and may be shorter (some listings show a half-day or different times). The campus has a canteen where students can buy lunch.
Bus service details
Bus service details
INDIGO TRANSPORT; Bus information via br1-bustransportation@futureleaders.sch.ae; bus transportation fees published in the admissions packet.
Bus service details
The school provides a bus service via a contract with Seven Stars Transportation Company, delivering air-conditioned transport to various parts of Abu Dhabi. Registration is through sevenstarsschoolbus.com. The Bus Coordinator is Ms. Ariane Joy (sis@sevenstars.ae) and the main contact number is +971 2 671 3131 ext. 201-207-206.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Fee overview for Academic Year 2026–2027
Application and enrollment fees - Assessment / new-student application charge: AED 1,000 payable after the admission assessment; this amount is deducted from the first year's tuition. - Re-enrollment / re-registration fee for returning students (KG2 to Grade 7) to confirm a place for the next academic year: AED 1,000; this amount is deducted from the annual tuition.
Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-term amounts) — full details Note: Tuition is billed annually but payable in three equal installments; per-term figures below are the annual tuition divided by three.
- Grade 7: - Annual tuition: AED 28,000. - Per term: AED 9,333. - Books / uniform: not listed for this grade in the published fee schedule. - Bus fee (two-way): AED 5,000 where applicable.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition payment schedule (three installments): - 1st installment due: August 1, 2026. - 2nd installment due: December 1, 2026. - 3rd installment due: March 1, 2027. - All installment payments may be made by cheque, cash, card or bank transfer. - Books and uniform fees must be paid with the Term 1 fees (they cannot be deferred into later installments). Uniform fees are charged inclusive of VAT (5%). Bus fees are subject to seat availability and route feasibility; the school operates only a two-way bus service.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not provided; transport is offered as a separate two-way bus service (bus fee AED 5,000).
Other costs and routine extras - One-time or per-year items shown in the fee schedule: books fees (vary by grade), uniform charges (vary by grade), and the bus fee (AED 5,000 for two-way service). These specific amounts are listed above under each grade. - Bus service enrolment requires pickup/drop-off details and is provided subject to route feasibility and seat availability.
Refund information and withdrawal charges - Transportation fees are refundable if the bus service was not used. Other fees may be refundable if the associated items or services remain unused. Refunds and any retention on withdrawal are handled in accordance with ADEK regulations. The school's published fees policy identifies specific retention amounts for short-notice withdrawals (for example, a stated retention of two months' tuition in some short-notice cases) and confirms refunds follow ADEK guidance.
Fee payment options and bank details - Accepted payment methods: Cash, Cheque, Card and Bank Transfer. The finance office is available to accept payments during stated office hours. - Bank transfer details (for direct payments): - Account name: FUTURE LEADERS INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE SCHOOL BR1. - Bank: First Abu Dhabi Bank. - Account No: 4031005815093001. - IBAN: AE760354031005815093001. - Swift: NBADAEAAXXX.
Practical notes for payment handling - The AED 1,000 assessment/new-student and re-enrollment fees are deducted from the annual tuition (not additional to the published tuition once applied). Books and uniform fees must accompany the first installment. Refunds and any deductions on withdrawal will follow the school's fees policy and ADEK guidance.
Fee details
Application / registration fee
- Registration fee (per student): AED 1,000.
Tuition fees by year group (per term and annual totals, Academic Year 2025–26 — amounts in AED)
Note: the published fee schedule presents per-term instalments and the corresponding annual totals. Two columns of per-term figures are shown in the school's term schedule (the second set shows the reduced instalment amounts that appear alongside the standard instalments in the published table). The figures below list the primary per-term instalments (left-hand set in the term schedule) and the computed annual tuition (sum of the three term instalments). Registration fee (AED 1,000) is stated separately above.
- KG1: Term 1 AED 7,400; Term 2 AED 7,300; Term 3 AED 7,300. Annual tuition (sum of terms) AED 22,000; total including registration AED 23,000. Books AED 0; uniform AED 680; school bus (annual) AED 5,000.
- KG2: Term 1 AED 7,800; Term 2 AED 7,600; Term 3 AED 7,600. Annual tuition AED 23,000; total including registration AED 24,000. Books AED 0; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 1: Term 1 AED 8,895; Term 2 AED 8,965; Term 3 AED 8,965. Annual tuition AED 26,825; total including registration AED 27,825. Books AED 1,200; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 2: Term 1 AED 8,895; Term 2 AED 8,965; Term 3 AED 8,965. Annual tuition AED 26,825; total including registration AED 27,825. Books AED 1,200; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 3: Term 1 AED 9,634; Term 2 AED 9,707; Term 3 AED 9,707. Annual tuition AED 29,048; total including registration AED 30,048. Books AED 1,400; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 4: Term 1 AED 9,634; Term 2 AED 9,707; Term 3 AED 9,707. Annual tuition AED 29,048; total including registration AED 30,048. Books AED 1,400; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 5: Term 1 AED 10,549; Term 2 AED 10,617; Term 3 AED 10,617. Annual tuition AED 31,783; total including registration AED 32,783. Books AED 1,600; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 6: Term 1 AED 10,549; Term 2 AED 10,617; Term 3 AED 10,617. Annual tuition AED 31,783; total including registration AED 32,783. Books AED 1,600; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 7: Term 1 AED 10,549; Term 2 AED 10,617; Term 3 AED 10,617. Annual tuition AED 31,783; total including registration AED 32,783. Books AED 1,800; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 8: Term 1 AED 10,549; Term 2 AED 10,617; Term 3 AED 10,617. Annual tuition AED 31,783; total including registration AED 32,783. Books AED 1,800; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 9: Term 1 AED 11,090; Term 2 AED 11,160; Term 3 AED 11,160. Annual tuition AED 33,410; total including registration AED 34,410. Books AED 2,000; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 10: Term 1 AED 11,592; Term 2 AED 11,667; Term 3 AED 11,667. Annual tuition AED 34,926; total including registration AED 35,926. Books AED 2,000; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 11: Term 1 AED 11,592; Term 2 AED 11,667; Term 3 AED 11,667. Annual tuition AED 34,926; total including registration AED 35,926. Books AED 2,200; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
- Grade 12: Term 1 AED 11,592; Term 2 AED 11,667; Term 3 AED 11,667. Annual tuition AED 34,926; total including registration AED 35,926. Books AED 2,200; uniform AED 680; bus AED 5,000.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is scheduled to be payable in three instalments (payments at the beginning of each term). Bus fees are required at the beginning of the school year. The published fee notes state the three-term billing arrangement and that bus fees should be paid at the start of the year.
- Discount policy: Grade 1 and above: a one‑student discount is applied (published schedule shows a 7% discount category) and a siblings' discount is published (11%); an additional 2% discount is noted for a single full-year one‑time payment. Kindergarten students are subject to a special kindergarten discount as indicated in the published notes.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered at the school; boarding fees are not applicable. Summit International School operates KG–Grade 12 as a day school (no dormitory/boarding provision is published).
Other costs and routine extras
- Books / resources: grade-dependent book/resource fees are published alongside the fee schedule (examples: Books range from AED 0 for KG to AED 2,200 for Grades 11–12). Uniform: AED 680 (published as the uniform amount in the schedule). School bus: AED 5,000 (annual, published). External exam and standardized test fees are listed separately (IELTS, SAT, ACT, AP etc. — individual exam charges apply as published).
Refund information
- The published fee schedule and parent handbook set out billing instalments and registration requirements but do not present a separate universal tuition‑refund table in the fee schedule itself; fee refunds and related arrangements are subject to the school's policies and ADEK (Abu Dhabi education authority) regulations as applicable. The school's policy documents reference registration and enrolment procedures and ADEK approval of the fee schedule. Parents should note that discounts and timing (e.g., the additional 2% for one‑time payment) are explicitly set out in the published fee documentation.
Fee payment options (typical channels and context)
- The school's published fee documents show the amounts, billing schedule and ADEK approval. Common payment channels used by schools in Abu Dhabi include bank transfer (IBAN), debit/credit card, cash and cheques; these payment channels are widely used across UAE schools and are the typical mechanisms applied by school finance offices. The school's fee documents do not list a detailed, itemised list of payment methods in the public fee schedule; payments are administered by the school accounts/finance office.
External examinations and standardized test fees
- External exam fees (published separately) include standard charges for IELTS, SAT, ACT, AP and related optional/add‑on fees; the school's external‑exam fee overview lists those exam core fees and common add‑ons. Example entries from the school's published external exam list: IELTS (approx AED 1,470), SAT and ACT international fees and AP exam fees — see the external exam schedule for the full list of tests and charges.
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
American curriculum based on Virginia State Standards of Learning and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Arabic, Islamic, Social Studies and Moral Education are taught as MOE-required subjects. The program embeds UAE heritage and values throughout. Arabic and Islamic are taught within Native and Non-Native groups. French is offered as an extracurricular activity.
Curriculum details
Summit International School Abu Dhabi offers a North American curriculum aligned with the California Common Core from kindergarten through high school, delivered via a blended learning approach that uses online platforms and individualized learning paths supported by adaptive software and Chromebooks. Elementary School (Grades 1–5) follows California Common Core for English, Mathematics, English Social Studies, Health and Physical Education, Visual Arts, Music, and ICT; Science is guided by Next Generation Science Standards, while Moral Education, Arabic, Islamic Studies and Arabic Social Studies align with MOE guidelines under ADEK oversight, with alignment to UAE MOE Cycle 1 and adaptive software to meet grade-level progress. Middle School Curriculum follows California Common Core and is aligned with UAE MOE Cycle 2 requirements to prepare students for High School, with emphasis on English, Arabic, Islamic, Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Humanities; after three years of individualized learning, students complete Middle School. High School Curriculum follows California Common Core with four years of individualized learning; graduates meet California graduation requirements and UAE MOE graduation requirements, and are prepared for exams and postsecondary tests such as PISA, PSAT, AP, ACT, and SAT, with emphasis on Mathematics, Science, Entrepreneurship, Technology and Humanities. The school operates with co-educational classes in KG-4 and gender-separated classes in grades 5-12, and employs a blended learning ecosystem across all stages.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Graduates are prepared to enroll in the best and most appropriate international higher education institutions.
Higher education progression
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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
1. Complete the Student Application Form and provide all required documents. An experienced and dedicated admissions team supports ensuring the application meets ADEK documentation requirements. The school reserves the right to refuse admission based on seat availability or missing documents. Applicants may be asked for additional information if needed.
2. The applicant, accompanied by a parent or guardian, will be given the next available appointment to attend an interview and assessment led by a member of the academic team. The interview and assessments aim to learn about the applicant's character, skill set, and academic ability in English, Arabic and Math. In addition to grade-level information, the assessments gauge higher-order skills such as writing, critical thinking and problem solving. The results help establish the foundation of the personalized education portfolio for future students.
3. Upon completion of the previous two steps, the applicant will be scheduled to sit for aptitude tests in English, Arabic and Mathematics. These tests assess higher-order skills and help tailor the education portfolio to meet any special academic needs. The results inform decisions about appropriate grade placement and learning supports. The portfolio guides ongoing learning planning in collaboration with families.
4. Parents will be informed of the results within 2-3 business days of the test date via email. The principal and/or the respective section head will further interview the applicant and their parent(s) or guardian(s) to ensure understanding of the school's mission and vision, and readiness to engage in the learning process. The school aims to nurture 21st-century learner and leader skills to prepare students for lifelong learning.
5. As per ADEK directives, admission to the respective grade level requires meeting the age specified for the grade. The following age bands apply for admission: Pre-School 3-4 Years; KG1 4 Years; KG2 5 Years; Grade 1 6 Years; Grade 2 7 Years; Grade 3 8 Years; Grade 4 9 Years; Grade 5 10 Years; Grade 6 11 Years. These age requirements govern grade placement at FLIS-Rabdan.
Admissions
1. Prospective parents and students are encouraged to tour Summit International School, and an appointment must be made.
2. During the tour, a school representative will show facilities and discuss documents required, year/age requirements, fee structure, and school policies.
3. Priority is given to students who have a sibling at the school.
4. The school is located in Abu Dhabi at Sector-4, Street 19 in the Madinat Al Zayed Gold Souk & Post Office area.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
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Waitlist
A waitlist exists, when a space becomes available from the waitlist, the admissions team will contact families to arrange an assessment/interview.