Education for Expats in Saudi Arabia — 2025 School Fees & Rankings

TL;DR: Shortlist by curriculum + commute first, then verify licensing/accreditation and fees (full‑year, not just term 1). Secure seat + bus early, keep a clean document pack (passports, residency IDs, immunizations, previous school records), and ask HR for a written education‑allowance letter that matches the school’s invoice schedule. Use our checklists to avoid last‑minute scrambles.

How to shortlist in 30 minutes (decision tree)

1) Curriculum fit: Choose one primary track tied to your university destination or home‑country reintegration plan: British (IGCSE/A‑Level), US (HS Diploma + AP), IB (PYP/MYP/DP/CP), Indian (CBSE/ICSE), Filipino (K‑12/DepEd), Pakistani (FBISE), or Egyptian (Thanaweya Amma). 2) Commute & bus: Draw a 20–30‑minute commute circle around home/work. Long rides drain kids and parents; bus availability can be a tie‑breaker. 3) Licensing & accreditation: Confirm the school is licensed locally and—if relevant—accredited (e.g., CIS, NEASC/Cognia, IB World School, Cambridge/Edexcel). 4) Waitlist reality: Ask for today’s seat status by grade, bus seat status, and testing dates. 5) Fees & schedule: Request a full‑year fee sheet, payment calendar, bus/meal/uniform/technology charges, and exam fees. 6) Learning support: If you need EAL/ESL or SEN, ask for capacity, staffing, and intake policy by grade. 7) Trial visit: Book a tour during class hours; observe class sizes, playgrounds, science/labs, music/arts, and teacher language use.

Output: Create a Top‑3 with one stretch and two solid options; collect seat offers before you resign leases or book flights.

Curricula at a glance (British / US / IB / Indian / Filipino / Pakistani / Egyptian)

British (Cambridge/Edexcel → IGCSE → A‑Level). Linear depth with IGCSE (Y10–11) and A‑Level (Y12–13); strong for UK/Europe universities; predictable subject specialization from age ~16.

US (High School Diploma + AP). Broad course load with AP options; flexible admissions to North America and globally; focus on credits, GPA, and SAT/ACT (where used).

IB (PYP/MYP/DP/CP). Inquiry‑led with a global profile; IB DP (Years 12–13/Grades 11–12) is rigorous and widely recognized; verify subject group availability (HL/SL).

Indian (CBSE/ICSE). Strong math/science scaffolding; CBSE widely available; align with Indian university entry or global pathways via A‑Level/IB equivalence at senior years.

Filipino (DepEd K‑12). K‑12 cycle with Senior High specializations (e.g., STEM, ABM, HUMSS); useful for re‑entry to the Philippines and bridging to international programs.

Pakistani (FBISE). Federal Board with SSC/HSSC culminating exams; verify international equivalence notes with target universities if you plan global applications.

Egyptian (Thanaweya Amma). National curriculum with end‑of‑cycle exams; families often consider hybrid paths (e.g., IB/IGCSE school) for broad university options.

Language & bridges: Many schools offer EAL/ESL and mother‑tongue clubs; ask for language proficiency expectations at entry and bridge classes.

Age placement & equivalence (guide, verify with school)

Placement varies. Schools may place by age on cutoff date, previous curriculum, and readiness. Always ask for the placement policy in writing.

Admissions requirements & timeline (documents, tests, interviews)

Documents most schools ask for:

• Passports (student + parents/guardians), residency IDs, visa/entry documents.

• Birth certificate, immunization records, medical form (school’s template).

• Previous school records (transcripts, report cards), transfer/clearance letters.

• Photos, address proof (lease/compound letter), emergency contacts.

• Guardianship forms (who can collect the child).

Testing & interviews: Many schools run baseline assessments (literacy/numeracy), language screening, and behavioral interviews. Senior grades may require subject placement tests (e.g., math, science, languages).

Timeline (indicative):

• Nov–Jan: Research + tours; collect documents; notify HR about allowance.

• Feb–Mar: Applications + testing; waitlists clear; confirm bus.

• Apr–May: Offers issued; pay seat deposit; finalize allowance letter.

• Jun–Aug: Uniforms, devices, supplies, and orientation; update medical forms.

Tip: Keep a single PDF with all IDs, records, and forms; admissions teams process faster when your pack is complete.

Fees & the real cost of schooling (what families actually pay)

Core fees: tuition (by term or month), registration/enrolment, capital/seat fees (one‑off), technology/e‑learning, lab/science fees (secondary).

Recurring extras: bus, meals, uniforms, PE kits, exam fees (IGCSE/IB/AP), music lessons, after‑school clubs, learning support (EAL/SEN), field trips.

One‑off extras: assessment/testing, application, security badge, device (BYOD programs), debenture or corporate seat if applicable.

Reality check: Compare total landed cost for the year, not just “tuition”. Ask for invoice dates and whether VAT applies to any line items.

Negotiating points (families): sibling discounts, upfront‑payment discounts, waiving re‑enrolment fees for long‑term contracts, bundled bus + lunch packages, and exam‑fee caps.

Payment plans, sibling discounts & employer allowances

Payment cadence: termly (3×), trimester (3×), quarterly (4×), or monthly (10×). Match your employer allowance timing to this schedule.

Sibling discounts: Typical ranges 5–15% on the second/third child (varies). Confirm whether the discount applies to tuition only or to bus/meals too.

Employer allowances:

• Letter of guarantee: HR issues a letter stating annual limit, covered items (tuition only or tuition + bus + books), and who gets invoiced (company vs parent).

• Evidence discipline: Keep invoices, receipts, and attendance letters; companies audit mid‑year.

• Cap strategy: If the school fee > allowance cap, request salary‑sacrifice or split invoicing to avoid reimbursement delays.

Corporate seats/debentures: Some schools offer corporate seat programs; your employer buys reserved seats or pays a debenture for priority. Clarify transferability and refund rules.

City‑by‑city snapshots (Riyadh, Jeddah, Eastern Province)

Riyadh

• Where schools cluster: Northern districts and select central corridors; factor traffic and bus coverage.

• Commute strategy: Live inside the bus map or choose a school within 20–30 minutes by car.

• Activities: Strong after‑school sports (football, padel, swimming), debate/model UN at secondary levels.

Jeddah

• Where schools cluster: Along central/northern corridors; coastal commute patterns help—with caveat that event traffic spikes.

• Activities: Water‑sports options (swim, sailing, diving) plus strong arts/languages communities in many schools.

Eastern Province (Dammam/Khobar/Dhahran)

• Where schools cluster: Tri‑city area; many families choose housing near bus lines or short drives to minimize highway time.

• Activities: Cycling, beach sports, youth football, and STEM clubs are common.

Neighborhood names and specific routes vary. Confirm actual bus stops before you sign a lease.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) & inclusion

• Intake policy: Ask for the SEN handbook, admission criteria, and capacity per grade (waiting lists are common).

• Provision: Dedicated SENCO, IEPs, classroom assistants, OT/speech referrals, and exam accommodations.

• Fees: Many schools charge for specialist services; request a transparent fee table.

• Transition: Get records and recent assessments from your current school; align terminology (e.g., IEP vs ILP).

• Parent role: Keep a data diary of strategies that work; share it with teachers early.

Transport, lunch & safety (bus, drop‑off, allergies)

• Bus: Ask about routes, ride length, monitors, seatbelts, GPS/parent app, and incident reporting.

• Drop‑off/pick‑up: Plan buffer time; schools enforce ID checks and pick‑up lists.

• Lunch: Check allergy protocols, nut policies, and whether the cafeteria labels common allergens.

• Health: Confirm nurse coverage, medication consent forms, and routine health screenings.

Parent communications & school culture (apps, homework, assessments)

• Apps & portals: Most schools use parent apps for announcements, attendance, homework, and payment.

• Homework philosophy: Ask for time guidelines by grade and when to expect project spikes.

• Assessment cadence: Term reports, MAP/GL testing for benchmarking (where used), and parent‑teacher conferences.

Exams & university pathways (IGCSE/A‑Levels, IB, AP, CBSE, etc.)

• British track: IGCSE in Y11 and A‑Levels in Y12–13; universities weigh A‑Level results heavily; EPQ can strengthen applications.

• US track: AP courses/exams and GPA drive admissions; many universities are test‑optional but still value SAT/ACT in some cases.

• IB DP: Requires care with Higher Level choices; CAS/EE/TOK management is key.

• Indian track: CBSE Class X/XII boards; align optional competitive exam prep (e.g., JEE/NEET) with school workload.

• Other national boards: Verify equivalence and translation of transcripts for target universities early.

Counseling: Ask if the school has a university guidance counselor and whether they run parent nights for each pathway.

Mid‑year transfers & exit certificates (what to prepare)

• Transfer certificate and clearance letter from current school (fees paid).

• Latest report and any standardized test results.

• Medical form and immunizations (update if more than 12 months old).

• Guardianship & pick‑up forms (re‑issue for the new school).

• Device/apps: Return or de‑register old school devices to avoid account conflicts.

If relocating out of KSA: Request Transfer/Leaving Certificate well ahead; pick up originals of records; ask for a sealed envelope for the next school if required.

Checklists, worksheets & scripts (EN/AR)

A) School comparison sheet (copy to a spreadsheet)

• School | Curriculum | Accreditation | Max class size | EAL/SEN | Fees (tuition/bus/other) | Bus seat? | Commute mins | Seat status | Notes

B) Admissions document pack (save as one PDF)

• Passports • Residency IDs • Birth certificate • Immunizations • Medical form • Previous reports • Transfer letter • Photos • Address proof • Guardianship forms

C) Allowance planner (share with HR)

• Child | School | Academic year | Invoices due (dates/amounts) | Allowance cap | Employer pays to | Gap to family | Notes

D) Scripts you’ll actually use (EN/AR)

Admissions email (EN)

“We’re relocating to [city] in [month]. Could you confirm seat availability for [grade(s)], any assessment dates, and share your full‑year fee sheet (including bus, uniforms, exam fees)? We’re happy to complete baseline testing remotely if offered.”

طلب القبول (AR)

«سننتقل إلى [المدينة] في شهر [الشهر]. هل يمكن تأكيد توفر المقاعد للصف [الصف/الصفوف]، ومواعيد الاختبارات، ومشاركة جدول الرسوم السنوية بالكامل (بما فيها النقل المدرسي والزي والاختبارات)؟ يمكننا إجراء اختبارات أساسية عن بُعد إذا كان ذلك متاحاً.»

HR allowance letter (EN)

“Please issue an education‑allowance letter stating the annual cap, covered items (tuition / bus / books / exam fees), payee (school or parent), and the payment calendar aligned to the school’s invoices.”

خطاب مخصص التعليم (AR)

«نرجو إصدار خطاب بدل تعليم يوضح الحد السنوي، والبنود المشمولة (الرسوم / النقل / الكتب / رسوم الاختبارات)، والجهة المستفيدة (المدرسة أو ولي الأمر)، وجدول الدفعات المتوافق مع فواتير المدرسة.»

Bus seat request (EN)

“We’d like to reserve bus seats for [child/children] from [neighborhood]. Please advise route, timing, and whether a bus monitor rides our route.”

طلب مقعد الحافلة (AR)

«نرغب بحجز مقاعد الحافلة لـ[اسم/أسماء]. نرجو تزويدنا بالمسار والوقت ووجود مشرف/مشرفة في مسارنا.»

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