Al Maaref American SchoolAmerican School in Al Qusais 1، DubaiLast Updated: April 7, 2026

MAS delivers the American curriculum grounded in the California Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and Mathematics, and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science - a framework specifically designed to develop innovation and engineering thinking habits rather than rote knowledge acquisition. This is supplemented by UAE Ministry of Education requirements for Arabic, Islamic Studies, Moral Education, and Social Studies, making MAS a genuinely bilingual academic environment. The school is organized into four phases: Early Years (KG1-KG2), Elementary (Grades 1-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and High School (Grades 9-12). In the Early Years, the curriculum is play-based and inquiry-led, with dedicated STEAM integration, phonics, early Arabic, and Islamic values woven into daily routines. Children have access to a STEAM Lab, Mud Kitchen, Sand and Water Area, and Dramatic Play corners - a structured environment that reflects genuine early childhood methodology rather than an academic push-down. Elementary builds on CCSS foundations with a strong literacy emphasis across all subjects, and students participate in robotics competitions and entrepreneurship challenges from as early as Grade 3. Middle School introduces gender-separated classes - boys and girls are taught in separate sections from Grade 6 onwards - alongside a US standards-based grading scale that measures mastery rather than raw scores. The High School program is the most academically substantive phase. Students must complete 28 graduation credits over four years, with a minimum of six core courses annually. The school offers six Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which carry a weighted GPA boost and provide the opportunity to earn college credit via College Board AP exams with a score of 3 or higher. For Grades 11 and 12, dual-credit arrangements with Skyline University, American University of Sharjah, and Ajman University allow students to experience genuine university-level coursework before leaving school. MAS is also a certified testing centre for AP, SAT, and PSAT examinations. The KHDA's 2023-2024 inspection rated student attainment and progress as Acceptable across all phases and all core subjects - English, Mathematics, Science, Arabic, and Islamic Education. Inspectors noted that while students generally meet curriculum expectations, achievement is not strong in any phase, and internal and external assessment data do not always align. The PIRLS 2021 benchmark revealed an average score of 389, missing the school's target by 54 points - a significant gap that the school has acknowledged and is working to address through reading literacy initiatives. Independent learning skills are rated Acceptable across all phases, with inspectors noting that too many students remain overly dependent on teacher direction rather than taking ownership of their learning. For students of determination, the Learning Support Team provides differentiated instruction, targeted intervention, and curriculum modification. A Gifted and Talented (G&T) Enrichment Programme uses teacher nominations, assessments, and performance indicators to identify high-potential students and design individual enrichment plans. English Language Learner (ELL) support is available through small-group instruction and co-teaching. At the time of the 2024 inspection, only 19 students were formally identified with additional learning needs - a small cohort that may reflect under-identification rather than a genuinely low-needs population. University destinations are not publicly disclosed by the school, but the combination of NEASC/Cognia accreditation, AP coursework, SAT preparation, and dual-credit options positions graduates for admission to universities in the UAE, USA, UK, MENA region, and Australia.