Qatar is increasingly an international center, and a major investor in education, with one of the highest concentrations of international campuses for major US universities. This focus on education has also led to a number of highly capable high schools, meant to prepare students to attend those self-same colleges. In this article then, we’re going to explore some of these high schools, to see what they offer, and what differentiates them. There is a great variety in what is offered, in both curricula and school structure. Different students need different levels of support, and thrive in different circumstances; our goal here is to showcase what those options are, so you can see which are best for your unique circumstances. Let’s jump right in!
The Best Private High Schools in Doha
We are only going to cover private high schools in this article. All of the best high schools, preferred by both Qataris and ex-pats alike, are these private high schools. There are public high schools of course, but most students with an option choose one of these private institutions.
ACS Doha
Originally known as American Community Schools, this is part of a larger collection of schools, originally based in the UK and offering an American-style educational experience. They serve students in grade K-12, and offer an International Baccalaureate curriculum to their high school students. Students may decide if they wish to pursue this, or a more standard American high school diploma.
Students not in the IB program may still take IB coursework, or have the option to take AP courses. Graduation requirements for the school mimic those of many US high schools; English, math, science, history, foreign language; all the core academic subjects colleges want to see. This is a good option for students who are looking for an American-style educational experience in Qatar.
Tuition varies by grade level, and is currently 80,465 QAR annually for high school students. Some extracurricular activities require additional expenses. Applying to the school may be done entirely online. This requires the online form, teacher recommendations, and transcripts. Students will also need to prove nationality; students from Arab countries are required to take Arabic as a language, for example, though the school’s main instructional language is English.
Park House English School
This is, as the name suggests, an English school based in Doha; founded in 1994, it was acquired by an international educational conglomerate in 2015. It is accredited as a British school. The school only goes through sixth form, and the GCSEs; students will need to transfer elsewhere if they wish to pursue A-level coursework.
The curriculum followed is standard to English schools, and serves to educate students up to age 17. They do offer a number of unique opportunities, including an exchange program with other ISP schools in other countries. This is not required, but is a good way to gain experiences other schools do not offer.
Tuition rates vary based on year in school, for sixth form students it’s QAR 52,423. There are some additional fees as well. Applications to the school must be submitted online. In addition to the online form, you must provide a copy of your most recent transcript, and the child’s residency permit for Qatar. Admissions are very selective, with far more applicants than they have spaces.
Doha College
This is a British International school, based in Qatar, and serves students between the ages of 3 and 18. It is regularly ranked as one of the best independent schools in the entire Middle East. They follow a British educational model, culminating in 6th form and the GCSEs; they do not offer A-level coursework. Notable for an independent school, they release their GCSE results, so you can see how they measure up to other institutions; you may see these online here.
They also show off the success of their students in college admissions. Being a British school, most students choose to matriculate in the UK, but they also have impressive admissions results elsewhere, including to a number of elite colleges in the US. Their curriculum covers all the academic basics, and gives students some freedom to explore academically as well.
Doha College is the only not-for-profit British school in Qatar. Their fees vary by year; they are currently 29,947 QAR annually for 6th form students. This is one of the lower rates charged by schools in Qatar. Applications open in November; their due date depends on grade; those for 6th form are due by May. The application must be done online; once you complete the online application you are invited to take an admissions assessment. Applications are very academically competitive.
Arab International Academy
Founded in 2016, the AIA offers education to students in grades K-12. It offers an International Baccalaureate curriculum, for both the middle and high school years, and is pioneering the curriculum for its elementary school as well. The program is offered primarily in Arabic, though there is an English language option, this is primarily a school for Arabic speakers, both Qataris and those from elsewhere in the Arab world.
Application to the school must be done online; you may apply to any grade level. The application requires an online form and transcripts from your previous school; they will also request a recommendation directly from your previous school. They do also require Qatari ID cards, and copies of your passports for international students. Applications are competitive.
Swiss International School of Qatar
This is a school which offers an International Baccalaureate curriculum to students aged 3-18. It offers a truly multilingual curriculum as well; students learn in both English and French for their entire time at the school, and they have support for German language students as well. In addition, they are partnered with a sister school in the French speaking region of Switzerland.
Lower school classrooms are coed, while academic classrooms in the secondary school are separated by gender, though the school as a whole, and things like lunch and physical education are still coed. All students participate in the IB diploma program. Some students are required to study Arabic, and Muslim students are mandated to take Islamic studies; this is required by the Qatari government, and is provided by the school.
Fees for the school vary by grade level. For students in the diploma program, they are 74,017 QAR annually. Additional fees may be assessed for some activities or extracurriculars. Applications to the school may be submitted online. These require the online form, the student’s most recent transcripts, immunization forms, and ID documentation. Applications are accepted for all grades; students wishing to join the second year of the IB Diploma program must have completed the first year elsewhere.
Qatar International School
Founded in 1977, this was one of the very first British international schools in Qatar, and has been offering excellent education ever since. The school is accredited by British School Overseas, run by the UK government. Instruction is fully in English, and it offers both GCSE and A-level testing; many British Schools in Qatar do not go through the full A-Levels, but QIS does.
Most of the faculty and staff at the school previously taught in Britain, and the school does its best to exactly replicate a standard British education. You may find their exam results online, they are quite proficient at turning out high scoring students, with the majority earning either an A* or an A.
Fees for QIS vary depending on year; for students in years 12-13 the cost is 49,050 QAR, with some additional fees as well. Students may apply for the school online. All students are welcome to apply, but they prioritize students who already have siblings at the school, those with an English background, and those with outstanding school reports. In addition to the online application, you must also submit your prior transcripts, and residency documents for Qatar.
American School of Doha
This school was founded in 1988 by the American ambassador to Qatar, to serve the needs of the international community in the country. Currently, around 38% of students are US nationals, 10% are Qatari nationals, and 52% are from other countries. There are approximately 650 students in the high school.
The school offers a fairly standard American high school curriculum. They have both a suite of AP courses, and an IB curriculum option; students may choose which they avail themselves of. The school focuses on preparing students for college; many of their students apply to and attend colleges in the US, though other international colleges are supported as well.
Fees vary by grade level; for high school they are 79,305 QAR annually. Applications to the school are reviewed on a rolling abscess; they do not have any strict admissions deadlines. Once you apply online, you will be invited to take an assessment based on your application factors. They do have a prioritization for who gets admitted; US embassy staff and corporate partners have priority, as do US passport holders and the children of US military commanders; the full list may be found on their website.
The Cambridge School – Doha
This school was founded in 2001, and provides an education based on the English model. It offers instruction through the GCSEs and A levels, with examinations by the Cambridge International Exams Board. Some of the teaching staff is from England, but that is not a requirement to be hired; the student body comes from all over the world. The primary language of instruction is English, though courses are also offered in Arabic.
Fees are assessed by grade level, for years 12-13 they are currently 40,350 QAR annually, along with a number of other additional required fees. Admissions to the school is done on a rolling basis. Forms must be submitted online; once this is done, students will be invited to take an assessment. Students will be invited to join the school based on the results of this assessment. There is no automatic promotion between grade levels at the school; it is based on academic performance.
A Note on Applications and Fees for Doha Schools
Many of the international schools in Doha exist primarily to serve the children of expats employed in the country, though a significant number of Qatari students attend most of them as well. For this reason, private schools in Qatar often operate slightly differently than those in other countries, especially western countries.
First, while some have strict application schedules, many offer rolling admissions, so that students who move in the middle of an academic year aren’t left stranded. They also accept applications outside of normal grade transitions; since students are constantly circulating, they are more likely to have seats open at irregular intervals.
The higher ranked schools do tend to have strict admissions timelines, but students who arrive outside of these may apply to a school they perhaps prefer less, and then transfer to a more prestigious school. This is not something you could pull off in New York or London, but works well here.
Further, pretty much none of these schools offer any form of financial aid. Tuition must be paid either by the parents directly, or by the parent’s employer, many of whom have agreements with one or more of these schools.
These schools also have curricular requirements set by Qatar’s government, namely that Arab students need a certain amount of instruction in the Arabic language, and that Muslim students take Islamic studies courses. Students who are not from these backgrounds do not need to comply with these requirements.
Final Thoughts
Doha is a fast-growing and cosmopolitan city, at the center of an industrial and economic boom. Qatar’s government has made a major push to embrace education; this can be seen both in the rapid growth of universities in the country, and in the strength of some of these high schools. There are unique concerns for education in Qatar, but high school students in the country have many great opportunities available to them.
We hope this article has given you needed insight into some of the best high schools in Qatar, and whether or not any of them are right for you. Of course, each high school has unique opportunities and culture, and each student has unique needs. If you are looking for more personalized advice, or have more detailed questions about the high school selection process, then schedule a free consultation with us today. We have a long experience helping students get into excellent high schools, and are always happy to hear from you.
