United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
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· Reviewed by Aziza Francienne · B2C Marketing Manager
Summit International School in Abu Dhabi delivers the American Curriculum, strictly aligned with California Common Core standards, for students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The downtown, four-building campus features a regulation football pitch, a multi-use gymnasium, a swimming pool, and a theater. Instruction replaces traditional textbooks with a 1:1 Chromebook learning model and utilizes Exact Path adaptive software to create individualized learning paths based on NWEA MAP assessment data. A unique hallmark of the school is its unified "Climber" identity. Students, parents, and staff are all referred to as Climbers ascending "Mount Summit," and daily interactions frequently incorporate the school’s signature call-and-response motto, "To the Top!" Students begin in co-educational classrooms until Grade 4, transitioning to gender-segregated instruction from Grade 5 onward. The school provides a technology-driven, data-informed environment focusing on individual student growth, robotics, and strong core subject foundations.
Old Passport Rd, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Summit International School has 1,740 pupils, typical class sizes of 22, instruction in English.
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.
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.
American-curriculum international school. It is co-educational in K-4 and gender-separated in grades 5-12.
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.
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.
United States – the school uses an American curriculum aligned with California Common Core.
No religious affiliation is stated.
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.
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.
Annual tuition at Summit International School ranges from AED 23,000 to AED 38,126 for 2026/27.
Summit International School teaches American Curriculum for students aged 4 to 18.
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.
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.
A waitlist exists, when a space becomes available from the waitlist, the admissions team will contact families to arrange an assessment/interview.
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