Bahrain School is a United States Department of Defense school located in Juffair, Manama, Bahrain.
Contents |
The school is operated by the Bahrain International School Association (BISA) with the United States Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and takes students from Kindergarten to Twelfth grade. Graduating seniors can earn an American diploma or an International Baccalaureate diploma.
Bahrain School is the only DoDEA school in the Persian Gulf area. The closest DoDEA school to Bahrain School is George C. Marshall School in Ankara, Turkey. It provides education primarily to the children of the United States Navy stationed in Bahrain, but historically about half of the student body has been local enrollment: Bahraini, ARAMCO, diplomatic personnel. The Navy dependent population declined in July 2004 when dependents were sent home due to security concerns. In July 2009, dependents were again authorized to return to Bahrain. Enrollment for SY2009-2010 was 503 students: 138 in Grades K-5 and 365 in Grades 6–12. Enrollment for SY10-11 was approximately 650.
Bahrain School is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to offer an American diploma. The College Board authorizes Bahrain School to offer Advanced Placement courses: Calculus AB, Microeconomics, Chemistry, Physics, and Spanish. In 1982, the school became the first in Bahrain to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma under the accreditation of the International Baccalaureate Organization.[1]
The annual tuition fees for SY2009-2010 are $23,496 for Kindergarten through Grade 6, $24,732 for Grade 7 through Grade 8, and $25,968 from Grade 9 through Grade 12. There is also an annual building levy of about $1200 (BD 455) to the Bahrain International School Association.
Bahrain School participates in the Bahrain Island League for sports: basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, track, cross-country, and badminton. Its most notable rivals are Ibn Khuldoon National School, Bayan School and the Modern Knowledge School.
Bahrain School used to compete in EMAC, the Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference. Because of security concerns in the region, it became increasingly difficult to receive Navy security clearance for EMAC destinations. Bahrain School had to cancel their attendance at tournaments on many occasions. Understandably, EMAC did not support the school's continued membership under such conditions.
However, Bahrain School's athletics teams continue to travel each year to participate in DoDEA tournaments in Europe. The boys and girls teams that traveled in SY2009-2010 were cross-country, tennis, basketball, and soccer. The cross-country girl's team usually excels in running. Students also travel to Europe to participate with DoDEA in Model United Nations, Model U.S. Senate, Creative Connections and LinguaFest.
The school offers a wide variety of extra-curricular activities for all grade levels. Students are also invited to participate in several DoDEA Music and Drama festivals held in Europe, which include Honor Band and Choir which takes place in Bad Kissingen, Germany.