Bahrain
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Al Raja School was founded in 1899 by Amy Zwemer as The Acorn School, Bahrain's first Western school. With support from the Reformed Church in America and the American Mission Hospital, a church and school building was completed in 1902. During the 1930s it expanded to include a formal boys section, becoming known as the American Mission School and serving students from KG to Grade 9. In 1994 the current campus was built, and the school gradually expanded to include Grades 10–12 in the early 2000s, with the first high-school graduates in 2008. Advanced Placement courses were added and Cognia accreditation (formerly AdvancED) was earned, and the school today operates as a bilingual K–12 institution with English and Arabic instruction.
The school serves about 660 students, almost all of whom are Muslim Bahraini. It offers dual Arabic and English instruction, reflecting its heritage as a long-standing Christian institution in Bahrain's Gulf region. The school celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2024, a milestone marked by a ceremony that included Bahrain's Minister of Education and alumni. The school emphasizes engagement with families as part of its mission.
The school maintains a PTSA (Parent-Teacher-Student Association) with a dedicated page on the school site that provides a calendar and a P/S Handbook. The principal notes that many former students return to serve on the Board of Directors, reflecting a closely connected school community. A major community milestone was the 125th anniversary celebration in 2024, which involved government officials and alumni and highlighted the school's connections beyond its campus. Project-Based Learning initiatives connect Grades 3–5 with local businesses as a model of community engagement. Extracurricular offerings that the school emphasizes include Model United Nations, Student Council, Robotics, Debate, and community service.
Al Raja School is a long-established K–12 school located in Manama, Bahrain. The school celebrated 125 years of history in 2023, indicating its origins in the late 19th century. The campus is based at Building 1940, Road 639, Block 306, in Manama (PO Box 1). The principal is Nicky Perfect. The school teaches in Arabic as a foundational language and offers an Advanced Placement program, indicating an English-language component within an American-style curriculum. The school's facilities and programs are organized into Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School, covering primary through secondary education. Arabic is explicitly referenced as part of the language of instruction, and AP information is provided on the site to support AP coursework.