The School of Research Science (US High School), Dubai
KHDA Inspection Report & Ratings
Last updated
Executive Summary
The School of Research Science US High School L.L.C is an American curriculum school located in Al Qusais, Dubai, serving students from Grade 9 to Grade 12. Founded in 2020, the school caters predominantly to Emirati students and received an overall DSIB inspection rating of Acceptable for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Students' achievement is relatively stronger in Islamic Education and Arabic, where attainment and progress are rated Good. In English, Mathematics and Science, students attain acceptable levels of knowledge, with critical thinking and problem-solving skills still developing. The school offers a range of curricular choices including Advanced Placement (AP) courses and an online credit recovery program to support graduation requirements.
The school demonstrates Outstanding provision in health, safety and safeguarding, and students show strong personal responsibility and appreciation of Islamic values and Emirati culture. However, governance was rated Weak, and the school faces challenges in maintaining consistently high teaching standards, developing leadership capacity, and ensuring measurable improvement outcomes across all subject areas.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
The School of Research Science US High School L.L.C Overall Rating
Acceptable for 2+ consecutive years
Dubai Focus Areas
These three pillars represent the Dubai education authority's priorities: ensuring inclusive practices, prioritizing student wellbeing, and meeting UAE National Agenda targets.
Provision and outcomes for students of determination are rated Acceptable. Leaders demonstrate commitment to an inclusive ethos and students with significant needs benefit from individual education plans (IEPs), though identification processes and intervention planning remain insufficiently developed. There are insufficient qualified learning support teachers to provide the individualized instruction that some students require. Students of DeterminationIEPsInclusive Education
The overall quality of wellbeing provision and outcomes is rated Good. Leaders share a clear vision for wellbeing, with policies implemented and creative initiatives embedded in response to survey data. Most students demonstrate a secure understanding of their wellbeing and exhibit positive attitudes, though staff wellbeing needs require more systematic attention through survey analysis. Wellbeing CommitteeStudent AmbassadorsOnline Safety
Overall school standards in the National Agenda Parameter are Acceptable. MAP benchmark data show weak to very weak attainment levels across subjects for both Emirati and non-Emirati students, though some improvement in Emirati students' science attainment has been noted. Leadership of the National Agenda action plan is rated Good, with appropriate timeframes and a focus on reading literacy. MAPPIRLSNational AgendaReading Literacy
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Islamic & Arabic Achievement
Students' achievement in Islamic Education and Arabic is a school highlight, with both attainment and progress rated Good, supported by enriched curriculum programs and strong instructional quality.
Outstanding Safeguarding
Health, safety and safeguarding arrangements are rated Outstanding, with rigorous procedures, comprehensive staff training, thorough CCTV monitoring, and effective school transport safety standards.
Islamic Values & Emirati Culture
Students demonstrate a Very Good understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture, actively participating in cultural events and showing extensive knowledge of Emirati traditions and history.
Career Guidance Support
Personalized support for senior students includes counseling resources, career guidance, and effective assistance through college application processes, representing a key strength of the school.
Reading Literacy Focus
A targeted reading improvement initiative, including library sessions and individual reading opportunities, is systematically closing gaps in reading standards across all grades.
Academic Performance Breakdown
The school's overall academic performance is Acceptable. Students of determination and high achievers are not always sufficiently challenged. External benchmark (MAP) data show weak to very weak attainment levels, lower than internal assessment results.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Led by Principal Jalilah Muhammad Dukes, the new senior leadership team places emphasis on inclusive education, literacy and student success. While relationships and communication are professional and supportive, leaders face challenges in maintaining consistently high standards, with self-evaluation lacking thoroughness and improvement plans focusing more on actions than measurable outcomes. High staff turnover has been a significant disruptive factor in the school's progress.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students' achievement is strongest in Islamic Education and Arabic, both rated Good for attainment and progress. English, Mathematics and Science are all rated Acceptable, with some improvement noted in English reading and Science practical work. External benchmark data (MAP) indicate weaker attainment than internal assessments suggest, particularly for Emirati students.
Personal Development
Personal development is rated Good, with students demonstrating strong personal responsibility, positive attitudes and respectful relationships with staff. Understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture is rated Very Good, with students actively participating in cultural events. Social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Good, though awareness of global diversity and world cultures remains limited.
Teaching Quality
Teaching for effective learning and assessment are both rated Acceptable. Most teachers demonstrate secure subject knowledge but are less consistent in understanding how students learn best and in differentiating tasks for different ability levels. The quality of written feedback is variable, and assessment data are not consistently used to personalize learning across all lessons.
Protection & Care
Health, safety and safeguarding arrangements are rated Outstanding, with thorough systems, comprehensive staff training, rigorous CCTV monitoring and effective school transport safety. Care and support is rated Acceptable; counseling and career guidance are strong, but procedures for identifying students with gifts and talents are not fully embedded, and punctuality remains a challenge.
Areas for Development
- •Raise students' achievement, particularly in English, mathematics and science.
- •Ensure adequate representation of all stakeholders on the governing body and compliance with statutory requirements.
- •Provide consistently high-quality teaching across all subjects and year groups.
- •Develop leadership capacity and management skills, ensuring middle leaders have clear performance targets and the necessary skills and resources to achieve them.
- •Ensure school self-evaluation is accurate and that improvement plans have clear measurable targets to raise the school's performance.
- •Ensure better support for students of determination by providing qualified learning support teachers.