The American Community School (ACS) is an independent, coeducational day school which offers an American educational program from early years program (age four) through grade 12 for students of all nationalities. The school was founded in 1955. The school year comprises two semesters extending from end of August through mid-January and from mid January through early June. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Organization: The school is governed by a seven-member board of trustees elected for two-year terms by the Parents’ Organization of the American Community School of Amman, the sponsor of the school. Membership in the organization is automatically conferred on the teachers and the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the school. The school is not incorporated in the United States or Jordan, nor has it been designated as tax-exempt in either country.
Curriculum: ACS provides a rigorous U.S. standards-based curriculum, including Common Core and NGSS, among others. Instruction is in English; Arabic, Spanish, and French are offered as additional languages. The Advanced Placement program is offered in high school in foreign languages, arts, math, science, social studies, and English and culminates in the AP Capstone.
Faculty: In the 2022-2023 school year, ACS has 193 total staff including 88 teachers, 47 of whom are U.S. citizens, 18 host-country nationals, and 23 third-country nationals representing 10 nationalities including: Lebanese, Norwegian, Russian, Irish, Trinidad, Canadian, British and South African.
Enrollment: In school year 2022-2023, enrollment is approximately 785 (EY-grade 12). Of the total student population, 371 are U.S. citizens; 165 are Jordanians; and 232 are other nationalities.
Facilities: ACS is located in modern, purpose-built facilities in the suburbs of Amman on about six acres of land. There are over 70 large classrooms that are climate controlled with AC and heating. Class sizes vary for appropriate use, but most are about 100 square meters. Rooms include purpose-built and modern science labs, and numerous innovation and creation spaces. A future-focused middle/high school learning commons is designed with collaborative spaces, teaching spaces, quiet spaces, an online learning center, a sound proof production and creation studio, and a small cafe. The elementary school learning commons also provides teaching, collaborative, and quiet spaces. The school also has a large playing field and two smaller areas, a wooden gym floor, yoga and Pilates exercise spaces, a multi-use gym space, a fitness center equipped with both functional space and modern weight equipment, a 150-meter indoor exercise track, and a 25-meter/six-lane swimming pool. There is also a theater with more than 500 seats. In addition, ACS is a wireless campus with multiple fiber optic lines with stable access. The school supports a bring-your-own-device program in the middle and high schools. Grades K-4 classrooms are equipped with iPad carts. Grade 5 classrooms are provided with 1:1 chromebooks. There is also a film and recording studio along with equipment to support these activities.
Finances: About 96% of the school’s income derives from tuition and registration fees. Annual tuition rates are as follows: early years program: $9,030, kindergarten: $12,740, grades 1 – 5: $15,880, grades 6 – 8: $20,000, grades 9 – 12: $25,000, bus: $1,910 round trip, capital fund assessment fee: $7,500 (non-refundable, non-transferable), registration fee: $3,600 per child or $5,700 per family (non-refundable, non-transferable.) All fees are payable in U.S. dollars. (All fees are quoted in U.S. dollars.)
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (2023 Special Needs-Jordan, Amman) for this school to learn more about their capability to support students with exceptionalities.
This Fact Sheet is intended to provide general information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further of A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information. Information and statistics are current as of September 2022 and are provided by the school.