Summit International School

Sector-4, Street 19 in the Madinat Al Zayed Gold Souk & Post Office area, Abu Dhabi. The school sits in a central area of Abu Dhabi City. It comprises four buildings and includes a swimming pool, segregated play areas, a multi-use gymnasium and theater.

KG1 to Grade 12. KG1 and KG2 follow an Early Childhood 'learn through play' approach. From KG1-12 the curriculum is aligned with the California Common Core; Grades K-4 are co-educational and Grades 5-12 are gender-separated.

American-curriculum international school. It is co-educational in K-4 and gender-separated in grades 5-12.

The student body includes 1,740 students representing 51 countries. The school describes a diverse mix of Middle Eastern, Asian, Pacific Rim, and Slavic expatriates.

The Learning Support Department uses a whole-school approach to identify, plan for, implement, and monitor plans to meet the independent needs for specific learning difficulties or disabilities. It provides learning strategies to access the curriculum and collaborates with families to provide home strategies.

United States – the school uses an American curriculum aligned with California Common Core.

No religious affiliation is stated.

The school day typically starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends around 2:30 p.m. on most weekdays; Friday hours vary and may be shorter (some listings show a half-day or different times). The campus has a canteen where students can buy lunch.

The school provides a bus service via a contract with Seven Stars Transportation Company, delivering air-conditioned transport to various parts of Abu Dhabi. Registration is through sevenstarsschoolbus.com. The Bus Coordinator is Ms. Ariane Joy (sis@sevenstars.ae) and the main contact number is +971 2 671 3131 ext. 201-207-206.

Summit International School Abu Dhabi offers a North American curriculum aligned with the California Common Core from kindergarten through high school, delivered via a blended learning approach that uses online platforms and individualized learning paths supported by adaptive software and Chromebooks. Elementary School (Grades 1–5) follows California Common Core for English, Mathematics, English Social Studies, Health and Physical Education, Visual Arts, Music, and ICT; Science is guided by Next Generation Science Standards, while Moral Education, Arabic, Islamic Studies and Arabic Social Studies align with MOE guidelines under ADEK oversight, with alignment to UAE MOE Cycle 1 and adaptive software to meet grade-level progress. Middle School Curriculum follows California Common Core and is aligned with UAE MOE Cycle 2 requirements to prepare students for High School, with emphasis on English, Arabic, Islamic, Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Humanities; after three years of individualized learning, students complete Middle School. High School Curriculum follows California Common Core with four years of individualized learning; graduates meet California graduation requirements and UAE MOE graduation requirements, and are prepared for exams and postsecondary tests such as PISA, PSAT, AP, ACT, and SAT, with emphasis on Mathematics, Science, Entrepreneurship, Technology and Humanities. The school operates with co-educational classes in KG-4 and gender-separated classes in grades 5-12, and employs a blended learning ecosystem across all stages.

The school's counseling program focuses on three domains: social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students. The social domain develops self- and other-understanding, interpersonal communication, and contribution to a caring community; the emotional domain builds mindfulness, decision making, problem solving, goal setting, and critical thinking; and the behavioral domain supports self-awareness, self-identity, and transitions to post-secondary learning. Program delivery includes individual and group counseling, peer mediation, class discussions, Lunch Bunch Sessions, and an anti-bullying program, with parent guidance and collaboration with teachers and tailored action plans. The Student Council Hub and various student-life elements integrate SEL into daily school life. A Mental Health Guide for Parents is available in Arabic and English to support families.,”

The school operates a dedicated SEN Department within Summit International School, with an inclusion-focused model that provides individualized, evidence-based support for students of determination and other students with additional learning needs. Identification can be initiated by any staff member; a Pre-Observation Record and formal observations lead to an SEN assessment conducted by the inclusion team, with involvement from the school psychologist and a Behavioral Specialist. Students may be placed on a Wave System (Tier 1–3) with corresponding interventions, including intensive Tier 3 support. Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are developed by a team (SENCO, School Psychologist, Behavioral Specialist, Reading Coach, Student Teachers, and Parents) and include academic, social-emotional, and behavioral goals, accommodations, and progress tracking. The SEN framework also includes an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) and differentiation guidelines, with ongoing collaboration among staff, students, and families; there is a Learning Support Department within the school to implement these plans. The documents describe an inclusion model rather than a standalone specialist SEN institution.

The school does not publish documentation describing a dedicated English as an Additional Language (EAL) program. Public information shows an international teaching staff including native Arabic, English, and French speakers, indicating language diversity among staff, but no explicit EAL program or staff dedicated solely to EAL services is listed. Therefore, explicit EAL provisions are not publicly disclosed in the school's materials.

Mental health and wellbeing are positioned as core aims of the school, with a policy framework to promote mental wellness, raise awareness, and provide accessible support services. The counseling service offers individual and group sessions, psychoeducation for staff, guidance lessons, and connections with the Head of Inclusion, and is led by the School Counselor; training for staff on mental health awareness and intervention is outlined. The policy emphasizes confidential, safe, and personalized counseling, crisis management planning, and partnerships with external mental health organizations to expand options. Referrals and assessments are described, with clear processes for parental consent and student consent where appropriate. Regular monitoring, training, and evaluation of mental health initiatives are planned, and there is a clear pathway for parental engagement and external referrals when needed.

A designated safeguarding lead (Principal) and a safeguarding team (including the School Counselor and School Nurses) oversee safeguarding, aligned with Wadeema's Law and UAE safeguarding expectations. The policy outlines the safeguarding team members by name and role, and requires staff training, data confidentiality, and mandatory reporting of safeguarding concerns. Staff and school are required to report suspected abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities and to the Child Protection Center within 24 hours; the policy provides a flow for reporting and escalation. Roles and responsibilities are detailed for the Principal, staff, and parents, with explicit guidance on maintaining confidentiality and taking immediate action when safeguarding concerns arise. There is also a formal flow chart for reporting safeguarding concerns and Appendices outlining signs of abuse and reporting steps.

1. Prospective parents and students are encouraged to tour Summit International School, and an appointment must be made.

2. During the tour, a school representative will show facilities and discuss documents required, year/age requirements, fee structure, and school policies.

3. Priority is given to students who have a sibling at the school.

4. The school is located in Abu Dhabi at Sector-4, Street 19 in the Madinat Al Zayed Gold Souk & Post Office area.

A waitlist exists, when a space becomes available from the waitlist, the admissions team will contact families to arrange an assessment/interview.