FAQs

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

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Students wishing to transfer between ISG schools should contact the admissions office at [email protected] to initiate the process.

Transfer applicants must apply for admission to the receiving school's admissions platform. Once the application is received, the admissions office will coordinate the transfer of documentation between the two schools.

Transfers are subject to a review of the student’s academic and behavioral standing at the current school as well as seat availability at the receiving school. Please note that a student must attend a minimum of one semester at the current school prior to a transfer.

Transfer applicants are not required to submit an application fee, but they are responsible for any differences in fees between the schools. Transfers will be subject to standard admissions and re-enrollment deadlines. Any outstanding government, medical, or financial enrollment requirements must be met prior to acceptance of the transfer.

 

Please note that an admissions assessment does not guarantee that a seat is available, nor that a child will be admitted, as availability of seats may be contingent on the withdrawal of current students. If a grade/year group is full, we will maintain a wait pool of accepted applicants. The wait pool is maintained for the applying school year (August-June) only. Applicants interested in the next school year will have to update the required documentation and re-apply.

When a seat becomes available, the admissions committee will review all candidates in the wait pool to consider each one in context of one another for placement, according to, but not limited to, the following factors: good academic and behavioral standing as evidenced by prior records, attendance, confidential reports, admissions assessment results, gender, English language proficiency and an ISG sibling.

Waitlist updates will be sent to families at the end of March and May.

The admissions committee makes the final decision on grade level and class assignment. Decisions are made after careful consideration and based on all application documentation, assessments and individual student needs.

New students without previous school records will be placed according to chronological age and/or testing. The school reserves the right to reassign students upon receipt of previous school records and/or test results. The principal or designee will make decisions pertaining to grade placement.

After the assessment process is completed, the applicant status will be updated to one of the following statuses, and families will receive an decision notification via email:

Offer: The applicant is accepted for admission to ISG. The applicant will be advised of the next steps for enrollment.

Waitlist: The applicant is accepted for admission to ISG. However, due to the high demand of seats, a place is not currently available. If a seat becomes available, the applicant will be notified. The student will remain on the waitlist until a seat becomes available or until the family indicates the applicant should be removed from the waitlist.

Declined: The applicant is not accepted for admission to ISG. Either the applicant did not successfully pass the admissions review, or ISG is unable to meet the needs of the applicant.

ISG welcomes applications from students of all nationalities who are able to meet the demands of an academically challenging curriculum. In making admissions decisions, places are offered to those applicants whose experiences and records indicate that they will succeed in our school’s academic program.

ISG also seeks to ensure an appropriate match between a prospective student and family and the mission and philosophy of the school.

We take into account whether applicants have siblings already enrolled in the school, while also considering the gender mix in the grade level, which helps achieve a diverse student body. 

Selection for entry is based on a combination of academic criteria and the potential of each individual child. Admissions decisions are made after careful review of the student file and assessment results by the school admissions committee. Decisions are made in the best interests of the student and the existing student population.

While ISG staff are well-trained, differentiate inside the classroom and offer interventions to support individual student needs to the best of their ability, unfortunately, we are unable to accept students who require significant special education support or services. This includes students whose applications indicate significant behavioral, social, emotional or academic needs.

If upon receipt of school records or present observations and testing, it becomes apparent that a student requires special services that ISG does not provide, parents will be notified. The school reserves the right to exclude a child for failure to satisfy the entrance requirements of this policy. ISG does not offer a gifted/talented program. 

Additionally, all students attending ISG must be fully toilet trained in order to uphold ISG’s child protection policies and to maintain a clean and healthy learning environment.

The assessment process varies depending on the grade level your child is eligible to enter.

Kindergarten 1 and 2/Foundation Stages 1 and 2/Year 1

Applicants sit a one-on-one, age-appropriate assessment that measures numeracy, language skills, motor skills and conceptual understanding. Applicants in this age group will be invited to attend a classroom visit. A family interview may be required upon request of the admissions committee. Assessments for this age group must be conducted in person. 

Grade 1/ Year 2

Applicants sit a one-on-one, age-standardized assessment in English (reading and writing) and math. Applicants in this age group will be invited to attend a classroom visit. A family interview may be required upon request of the admissions committee. Assessments for this age group must be conducted in person. 

Grades 2-8 / Years 3 - 9

Applicants sit a set of standardized tests (NWEA MAP or GL) in math, reading and language usage. Additionally, they will complete a writing assessment and an interview at the school. The standardized tests (MAP or GL) are adaptive tests, meaning that they adjust based on the student’s responses and create “a personalized assessment experience that accurately measures performance." This testing enables the admissions committee to make the most successful placement for each individual student. A classroom visit or family interview may be required upon request of the admissions committee.

Overseas candidates are encouraged to submit current standardized test scores completed within the last six months. Remote assessments may be given under certain conditions. Please contact the admissions office for further details. If an applicant is assessed remotely, they will complete the interview portion of the assessment online before the file is reviewed for admission.

Grades 9-12 / Years 10-13

Applicants submit standardized test scores taken within six months of the application. If no test scores are available, the applicant will sit a set of standardized tests (NWEA MAP or GL) in math, reading and language usage. A writing sample, student interview or family interview may be required upon request of the admissions committee.

Overseas candidates are encouraged to submit current standardized test scores completed within the last six months. Remote assessments will be given under certain conditions. Please contact the admissions office for further details.

Each school has a slightly different start time. Students are expected to arrive between 7:30-7:40 am. Classes start between 7:50 and 8:00 am and run until 2:30 pm. After school activities run throughout the week from 2:30-3:30.  Sports training for middle school and high school students run on their own schedules during the week and occasionally on the weekends too.

Parents are an important part of our ISG family and we offer a number of ways parents can engage with us.  Each school has a parent volunteer group that helps organize and support larger events throughout the year such as International Day, bake sales and seasonal celebrations. In our elementary classes, teachers often request support from parents for special celebrations during the year. Please see your school’s handbook for information about joining the school’s parent volunteer group.

Yes. Activities include art, programming, mindfulness, yoga, board games, chess, public speaking, Model United Nations, debate, fun with math, dance, zumba and much more. We make sure to include activities that engage students, develop their interests, explore their creativity and learn new skills.

Middle school and high school students also have the option of joining sports that include volleyball, football, badminton, basketball, table tennis, cross country and swimming. Teams go on to participate in competitions against other schools in the district and the Kingdom, with some overseas travel for competitions on occasion.  We have a strong athletic program with world-class facilities on offer. Intra-school and inter-school competition sees many of our students compete in different parts of the GCC region.  ISG offers a range of after-school activities to our students, and we encourage everyone to get involved. 

Music, drama and art classes provide ISG students with an outlet to express themselves, with guidance from passionate staff. Arts exhibits, performance opportunities and international exchanges offer growth opportunities away from the classroom, exposing students to cultural and curricular challenges.

ISG students are encouraged to join established clubs or start their own groups that attract similar-minded peers. More information about after-school activities can be found on the schools' pages.

Only ISG Jubail offers a bus service for a fee. ISG does not offer school transportation to the other ISG campuses. Most residential compounds offer daily transportation to and from school, and some even offer transportation when students have after-school activities. Please check with your employer and compound to see if this is a service they support. Alternatively, parents may arrange private transportation.

The American School Dhahran (ASD) and the British School Dhahran (BSD) have cafeterias that offer daily lunch options including hot meals, salads, soups and vegetarian meals. Lunch on campus is approximately SAR 15. At BSD, students who are in FS1 - Year 2 are asked to bring their lunch each day. 

Both ASD and BSD also have a Starbucks vendor on site with drink options available to senior students, parents and staff.  

ISG Dammam students have access to a Joffrey’s kiosk that sells snack items. 

ISG Jubail offers a daily lunch option including a meal, side and drink. The lunch option is approximately SAR 15. ISG Jubail students also have access to a Joffrey’s kiosk that sells snack items.

Sara Village School students must bring their lunch to school each day.

The ISG dress policy is outlined in our student handbooks and reviewed each year.  Please make sure you are familiar with our current requirements before your child begins the school year.

British School of Dhahran (BSD) and  Sara Village School (SVS) require students to wear a school uniform each day.  BSD school uniforms may be purchased from ZAKS uniform store. SVS uniforms may be purchased at SVS. Please make arrangements to purchase your child’s uniform in advance of their start date. Information about the school's uniform is in the handbook.  

While the American School Dhahran (ASD), ISG Dammam and ISG Jubail do not have uniform requirements, they do have a dress code, which can be found in their school handbooks.

ASD and ISG Dammam students are required to wear school-branded physical education clothing for P.E. classes and competitions. ASD PE uniforms can be purchased from ZAKS uniform store. ISG Dammam PE uniforms may be purchased at the school. ISG Jubail students must wear athletic clothing during PE class.

Yes. ISG is a proud member of some of the most recognized educational networks and organizations in the world including:

  • Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA)
  • The Council of International Schools (CIS)
  • British Schools of the Middle East (BSME)
  • Association of the Advancement of International Education (AAEI)

ISG schools are recognized by the world’s top education accreditation bodies:

  • All our ISG schools are accredited by The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS)
  • British School Dhahran and Sara Village School are accredited by British School Overseas (BSO)
  • American School Dhahran and ISG Jubail are authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).

Applicants who meet the application deadlines for the first and second admissions rounds will receive a decision by the published decision notification date. For rolling admissions, once an application is complete and any additional requirements are met, we aim to give you an acceptance decision within ten working days.

ISG accepts students who meet the Saudi Ministry of Education (MOE) age requirements. Kindly check this table to see which grade your child will be enrolled in. If your child is applying to Kindergarten, Foundation Stage, or Year 1, your admissions specialist will confirm the appropriate grade placement based on MOE age guidelines.

ISG offers limited learning support. Kindly contact the admissions office to discuss your specific requirements.

For students entering elementary and primary school, no. We cater to students who are non-English speakers and to students who have a basic use of English and will work with them on improving their language skills. Since we assess older students, it becomes increasingly important that they have a strong use of the English language.  We will assess your child's English language skills during the application process.