Key takeaways
Where does my child go to school? That's the first question every expat family asks in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has the most options – British, American, IB – but waiting lists are real and fees run SAR 30,000 to SAR 100,000+ per year. Embassy schools cover specific nationalities. For compound families or those needing flexibility, WASC-accredited online schooling is an increasingly common alternative. The right answer depends on your assignment length, your child's grade, and what credential they'll need when you leave.
- Expat children in Saudi Arabia are not eligible for public schooling as a standard option; private schools and international schools serve the expatriate community.
- International schools in Riyadh and Jeddah follow British, American, IB, and other curricula; fees vary widely.
- The school year in Saudi Arabia typically runs from September to June, with a break during the month of Ramadan and a summer break from June to August. The weekend is Friday and Saturday.
- Admission requirements at most international schools include proof of previous schooling, a passport copy, and sometimes an assessment test. Application fees vary.
Contents
We are a US-accredited private international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
Public Schooling in Saudi Arabia – Not for Non-Saudis
Public schools in the Kingdom are government institutions funded and managed by the Ministry of Education. Instruction is in Arabic. The curriculum includes Islamic studies as a compulsory subject. Public schooling is free for Saudi citizens. For non-Saudis – including children of Saudi women married to expats in some circumstances – enrollment in government schools is generally not the standard route, and is practically not suitable for children who are not proficient in English and Arabic equally. Children of diplomats may have specific arrangements through embassy-coordinated programs.
This is not an obstacle. It simply means that for most expat families in Saudi Arabia, the decision starts with private international schools or accredited alternatives.
International Schools in Riyadh
According to GMI Research, the number of private schools in Saudi Arabia reached 7,337 in 2024 – an increase of 490 schools over 2023 alone, driven in part by growing demand from the expatriate community.
Riyadh has the largest concentration of international schools in the kingdom. The mix of curricula reflects the diversity of the expat community – American, British, IB, Indian, French, and others. A few schools that come up frequently in the expat community:
American international schools follow the US curriculum, including Advanced Placement coursework in secondary school. They typically run from kindergarten through grade 12 and issue a US-style diploma. Admission requirements usually include previous school records, an English language assessment, and an application fee.
British international school options in Riyadh follow the British program – IGCSE at secondary level and A-Levels for university preparation. IGCSE exams are externally assessed through Cambridge. These are a common choice for British expatriates and for families targeting UK universities.
Aldenham School Riyadh is one of the international schools in Riyadh with a British curriculum. Families should verify current fees, program details, and availability directly with the school.
IB programs are offered at a smaller number of international schools in Saudi Arabia. The International Baccalaureate is recognized by universities worldwide and is valued by families who anticipate international mobility after Saudi Arabia.
Fees at international schools in Riyadh and Jeddah typically start around SAR 40,000 per year for primary years and can reach SAR 100,000+ at the secondary level. These are general ranges – verify directly with each school before budgeting.
International Schools in Jeddah
Jeddah has its own cluster of private schools serving expat parents in Saudi Arabia. The city has a significant Western expat community connected to oil, finance, and logistics. Available schooling options include British curriculum schools, US curriculum schools, and IB programs. Families relocating to Jeddah rather than Riyadh should contact schools directly regarding enrollment timelines, as capacity varies by year.
Embassy Schools
Some nationalities have access to embassy-governed schools – institutions managed or affiliated with their home country’s embassy. These schools are governed by embassies and operate under their home instruction, typically outside the standard Saudi private school fee structure. Availability depends on nationality. Not all expat nationalities have this option in KSA. Families should contact their embassy’s education attaché or consular office for current information.
Compound-Based Schooling
Some of the larger residential compounds in Saudi Arabia – particularly those associated with Aramco in Dhahran and SABIC-linked communities – have on-compound educational facilities. These are typically US curriculum institutions, sometimes staffed by qualified teachers from the US. For families on compound assignments, this is often the most convenient option. Availability is tied to compound residency. You send your child to school and come home to the same compound. It works until the assignment ends.
Online Schooling for Expat Families
For families on remote compound assignments, in cities with limited international school capacity, or on assignment lengths that don’t justify disrupting a child’s existing American curriculum enrollment, accredited online school is worth serious consideration.
Legacy Online School is a WASC-accredited private online school founded in 2023, serving students from 30+ countries. Children study with qualified teachers in live group classes capped at 15 students, following a full or part-time K-12 American instruction provided by Florida Virtual School. 19 AP courses are available, and the school holds College Board Level I status – verifiable at school code 000114. AP exam scores from Legacy get accepted by 500+ universities in over 75 countries worldwide – a practical advantage for compound families whose children may apply to universities across multiple countries after leaving Saudi Arabia.
For expat families in Saudi Arabia, the practical advantages are clear. No waiting list. No commute from a remote compound. Enrollment can start in 48 hours. And when the assignment ends and the family moves – whether to Houston, London, or Abu Dhabi – the WASC-accredited transcript travels with them. Long-term education continuity without a long-term school commitment.
The full program spans online elementary school, online middle school, and online high school. Families can also explore summer school or part-time K-12 if full enrollment isn’t the right fit yet.
The Whitfield family arrived in Jeddah in February 2024 on an 18-month oil sector contract. Their son, aged 13, needed grade 8 – the compound school had no places mid-year. They enrolled in Legacy within a week. When the family relocated to Singapore in August 2025, the accredited transcript transferred without issue.
How to Find a School for Your Child – Practical Steps
Finding a school in the kingdom is not passive. Here’s how most expat families approach it:
Start before you arrive. Six to 12 months is not excessive – the best schools fill fast.
The curriculum question matters more than families expect. A child finishing grade 8 in a US curriculum school needs continuity, not a mid-track switch to IGCSE.
Ask about extracurricular activities. These matter for university applications and for your child’s social life on assignment. Most international schools in the Kingdom have extracurricular programs, though depth varies.
Advanced Placement availability is the detail most families check last. It should be first for any child targeting US universities.
Verify accreditation. Schools with American instruction should hold WASC, AdvancED, or equivalent accreditation. British schools should be Cambridge-affiliated for IGCSE. IB schools must be IB-authorized. These are not marketing claims – they should be verifiable on the accrediting body’s official website.
Top Tips from Our Expert
Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor at Legacy Online School
- If your child is entering grade 10 or 11 in Saudi Arabia and the local international school has limited AP options, consider adding one or two AP courses online. US universities expect to see AP coursework from capable students. The gap will show up in applications.
- WASC accreditation is what matters for American university recognition. Before enrolling your child at any school in Saudi Arabia or online, verify the accreditation at acswasc.org. This is a 60-second check that can save years of transcript complications.
- For families on compound assignments shorter than two years, online schooling often makes more financial sense than a full international school placement. Fees at international schools in Riyadh start at SAR 40,000 and up – see current Legacy tuition and fees for comparison. Compare the numbers against your assignment length.
- The month of Ramadan calendar adjustment affects school schedules at Saudi-based international schools. Online schooling schedules are set by the school – check how this is handled before enrollment.
- Virtual clubs and extracurricular activities are included in all Legacy plans and give students documented participation they can list on applications. This matters for university admissions when a student has been on compound assignments for two or three years.
We are a US-accredited private international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
