Parent's Review of Universal American School in Dubai, UAE

What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)

Universal American School

In what town or city is this school located?

Dubai

How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)

American - mainly Arabic students

What grade levels are represented at this school?

PreK - 12

How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)

Bus. Very long bus rides.

How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?

Excellent brand new facilities. Lots of extra-curricular activities.

What has this school done to help your child transition from the curriculum in your home country into the curriculum in your new country? Are there programs to prepare your child for repatriation?

Nothing. There is no such program in place.

How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?

There is a PTO which keeps in touch with parents by email. Some parents are really trying because there are not a lot of options for english speaking expat kids in Dubai.

What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?

This school is run and owned by ESOL. It is a for profit school and it shows. This year several classes were taught solely by interns with no teaching background. Some classes just didn't happen because there were no teachers and kids sat in study halls instead. This happened to our daughter's grade eight music class. Her mornings consisted of CAS classes (supposed to be community service but it was just survival babysitting), music (study hall), spanish (taught by an intern who simultaneously taught another class in another room), and computers. Avoid this school if you can. Its all glitz, not education and your child will have a difficult time making the grade when you move. Expect tuition to rise 15 percent each year.

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