Canadian International School

The foundation of everything at CIS is the Alberta Program of Studies, administered by Alberta Education and recognised by universities across North America and internationally. This is not simply a Canadian curriculum transplanted to the desert; it is a Tier-1 Alberta-accredited programme, meaning the school meets the highest standard of external validation that Alberta Education applies to international schools. The curriculum runs from KG1 through Grade 12, culminating in the Alberta High School Diploma - a credit-based qualification requiring 100 credits, with Grade 12 diploma examinations provincially administered and counting for 30% of the final grade in each core subject. The pedagogical philosophy is Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL), also described in the Alberta framework as Problem-Based or Project-Based Learning. Rather than passive instruction, students are presented with real-world problems and must draw on cross-curricular knowledge - mathematics, English, science, social studies, and ICT simultaneously - to construct solutions. This approach is closest in spirit to the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes, but delivered within a North American credit structure. Authentic Assessment runs throughout the year rather than concentrating evaluation at end-of-unit exams, which ADEK inspectors confirmed as Outstanding across every phase. The ADEK Irtiqa 2023-24 report is unambiguous about academic results. English attainment and progress are Outstanding across all four cycles - KG, Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3. Mathematics attainment is Outstanding in Cycles 1, 2, and 3, and Very Good in KG. Science attainment is Outstanding in Cycles 1, 2, and 3, and Very Good in KG, with progress Outstanding across all cycles including KG. These are not internal school assessments; they are independently verified by ADEK inspectors. The PISA 2022 results add an international dimension: CIS students in Grades 9-11 scored 562 in reading literacy (against an international average of approximately 476), 503 in mathematical literacy (above the international average), and 528 in scientific literacy - all exceeding the targets set for the school. PIRLS 2021 Grade 4 results were also above the international benchmark. For standardised MAP (NWEA) testing, results are more nuanced. English reading MAP results indicate acceptable attainment in Grades 3-6 and Grade 9, good in Grades 7-8, and very good in Grade 10. Mathematics MAP results are acceptable in Grades 3-6 and good in Grades 7-10. This gap between ADEK inspection judgements and MAP standardised scores is worth noting: it suggests that while classroom learning and teacher-assessed progress are strong, performance on external standardised tests in the lower and middle grades has room to grow. Core subjects include English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Art, Music, Health, Drama, ICT, and French. UAE Ministry of Education requirements - Arabic as a first or second language, Islamic Studies, and Arabic Social Studies - are delivered alongside the Alberta programme. At secondary level, the school offers a limited but meaningful suite of Advanced Placement (AP) courses: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, AP French, AP Drawing, and AP Microeconomics - a valuable bridge for students targeting US university admissions. Provincial Achievement Tests are administered in Grades 3, 6, and 9 to benchmark against Alberta provincial standards. Academic support is provided through a dedicated Student Support Services Department offering Speech Therapy, Literacy Support, and Counselling. Approximately 33 students of determination are enrolled, representing around 3% of the student body. The school has specialist-trained phonics staff in KG to Grade 3, literacy specialists in Grades 4-8, and a reading improvement coordinator for Grades 7-12. The ADEK report notes that students of determination make better-than-expected progress toward their targets. The gap in provision is at the other end: higher-attaining and gifted and talented students are identified as not always making the progress of which they are capable - a consistent finding across Arabic and English-medium subjects alike. University destination data is not published by the school, but the Alberta Diploma's recognition by North American and international universities is well established, and the AP course offering specifically targets students seeking US college placement.