American Curriculum

American Curriculum

American curriculum school can be specific to a state’s curriculum or be focused on Common Core State Standards. Common Core Standards establish clear, consistent guidelines for what every student should know and be able to do in Mathematics and English Language Arts from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Most schools with American curriculum begins with entry to Kindergarten at age 5. Students can study through to Grade 12, where they are awarded with a High School Diploma. A diploma earned from an American curriculum school, along with other admission requirements is accepted for entrance by all US universities and colleges.

Key Features

  • Pre-KG 2
  • Elementary Grades 1 – 5
  • Middle Grades 6 – 8
  • Secondary Grades 9 – 12

Graduation Requirements

Students follow the graduation requirements for Grade 12 as per their approved state’s curricula’s requirements earning a minimum of 24 credits in addition to the placement requirements as issued by Ministry of Education to ensure equivalency is achieved.

Compulsory Examinations

Students must successfully pass TOEFL with a pass mark no less than 500 on the paper-based test and a score of 172 on the computer-based test.

Some American curricula schools offer Advanced Placement courses which are weighted and assessed as per the qualifications established by the College Board (AP Courses).

How does a student achieve the Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma?

The following conditions for equivalency applies:

  1. Earn a minimum of 24 credits for a General Diploma or a maximum of 32 credits for an Advanced Studies Diploma.
  2. Students must successfully pass (Grades 10 – 12) at least 5 subjects from the prescribed list of 21 subjects AND obtain a minimum average of 60% per subject. Arabic Language and Islamic studies do not count as part of the 5 subjects. A list of these subjects is attached. A student is free to follow other course offered through the specified curriculum (not from the specified list) but these will not count towards the Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma.
  3. Students must pass the UAE Ministry of Education Arabic Studies exam in Grade 12. This can be taken as either Native Arabic Studies (for students of Arab Nationality as shown on their passport) or as Non-Native Arabic Studies (for students of non-Arab Nationality as shown on their passport).
  4. Pass the UAE Ministry of Education Islamic Studies exam in Grade 12 (Muslim students only). This can be taken as either Native Islamic Studies (for students of Arab Nationality as shown on their passport) or as Non-Native Islamic Studies (for students of non-Arab Nationality as shown on their passport).