King's Academy

King's Academy
Location
Madaba, amman
Jordan Jordan
Information
Type Private, boarding
Motto Floreat Scientia
Religious affiliation(s) None
Established 2007
Headmaster John Austin
Gender Co-educational
Enrollment online
Athletics co-educational curricular activities
Mascot The Lion
Website www.kingsacademy.edu.jo

King’s Academy (Arabic Translation: "كينغز أكاديمي") is an independent, co-educational private day and boarding school for students in grades 9 through 12 that opened its doors in August 2007 in Madaba-Manja, Jordan. It is named in honor of King Abdullah II of Jordan and seeks to fulfill His Majesty's vision of producing "a new generation of enlightened and creative minds".[1] King Abdullah attended high school at Deerfield Academy in the United States as there was no school of comparable standing in Jordan when he was a boy, but his son Crown Prince Hussein enrolled in the new school's second incoming class (2008). The new school's first headmaster, Dr. Eric Widmer, was a former headmaster of Deerfield.[2]

The primary language of instruction at King's Academy is English. Both Arabic speaking and non Arabic speaking students are required to study Arabic. The Academy is a member of the G20 Schools group.[3]

Location and campus

The King’s Academy campus is unique in the Middle East. Designed by renowned Egyptian architect and Director of the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London Khaled Azzam, the campus and buildings are constructed on an extensive 575-dunum site (144 acres) and comprise some 33 major buildings. These include state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and a 50,000-book library, a multi-faith spiritual center and garden, dormitories incorporating faculty family apartments, and an auditorium that seats 700 people.

Athletic facilities

The athletic facilities include a semi-Olympic swimming pool, tennis, swimming pool, squash, handball and basketball courts, and cardio and weight training facilities. There is also an outdoor sports stadium, that includes a full-size football field, two additional football fields and a track.

King Abdullah II Spiritual Center

The King Abdullah II Spiritual Center is a multi-faith spiritual center that is available for use to all members of the school community, regardless of their religious preference. Both the indoor prayer room and the open-air courtyard are available for use at all times by students, faculty, staff and campus visitors.

The Abdul Majeed Shoman Auditorium

The Abdul Majeed Shoman Auditorium holds 700 people and is the location of both school and community events including, concerts, student recitals, plays and dance performances. Students and faculty members gather here for weekly school meetings.

The Sheikh Jabir Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Administration Center

The Sheikh Jabir Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Administration Center opens its doors to visitors and campus residents alike, serving a variety of the community's needs. Prospective students and their families first become acquainted with the Academy through the Office of Admissions, located in the north wing of the building. The Office of the Headmaster and the University Counseling Office are also located in the Al-Sabah Center.

The HRH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library

The HRH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library is designed to accommodate 50,000 volumes. The building is outfitted with wireless internet, reading tables and study spaces, including a circular reading room (Rotunda) that overlooks the campus.

Student body

The King’s Academy campus was built to accommodate 600 students, of which about 75 percent are boarding students. Boarding students can choose to be either week-day boarders (returning home for the weekend) or full-time boarders.

For the 2014-2015 academic year, 518 students were enrolled at the school, representing some 36 countries in the Middle East and around the world. Of these students, 45 percent are female and 55 percent are male.

The school draws students from diverse ethnic, geographic, religious and economic backgrounds, and between 15 and 30 percent of King’s Academy’s tuition revenue has been set aside for financial aid, in addition to an endowment fund for scholarships. Approximately 40% of students receive financial aid.

Academics

The school’s curriculum is based on the American Advanced Placement (AP) program. Students intending to attend a Jordanian university or gain certain professional licenses in Jordan can obtain a certificate of Tawjihi equivalency in lieu of taking the national Tawjihi examination. The primary language of instruction at King's Academy is English but the study of Arabic is required of all students, throughout their years at King's.

The academic departments at King's Academy are:

The Academy is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS). It is a founding member of Global Online Academy (GOA), a member of the G20 Schools group, and is a Round Square school.

Co-curricular activities

All King's Academy students participate in three afternoons a week of a major co-curricular activity and one afternoon a week of a minor co-curricular activity. These activities include community service, yearbook, performing and visual arts, sports, the school newspaper (called The Rexonian) and Model United Nations (KAMUN).

Community service

Community service is strongly encouraged. Students volunteer to help teach English to children, work with refugees, assist in clean-up projects and work with non-profit social service organizations on environmental, educational and social welfare issues. Each year a community service fair is held to encourage students to participate in community service programs during the summer months.

Sports

King's Academy has a strong focus on athletics as part of its co-curricular program. The school competes in both local and international leagues. Competitive sports offered during the 2014-2015 fall, winter and spring seasons include:

The school also offers a number of recreational programs, where students work to develop skills rather than compete against other schools. These include:

Board membership

International Advisory Board members:

Board of Trustees

Legal Counsel to the Board of Trustees

Round Square

In 2010, King's Academy became the first Arab school to gain full membership in the global Round Square organization, an association of more than 100 schools on five continents that allows students to travel across the world and participate in community service, exchange programs and adventuring. Since becoming a Round Square school, King's Academy has held three regional conferences and hosted some 600 student and adult delegates from 53 schools across the globe during the 2014 international conference.[4]

Arabic Year

In 2011, King's Academy initiated a new program called Arabic Year at King's Academy (AY), which offers American and international high school students one year of intensive Arabic study, cultural immersion and experiential learning. The program provides AY students with two classes of intensive Arabic each school day as part of a standard load of college preparation courses. In addition, students enjoy extensive outings and trips in Jordan and other countries of the region.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.kingsacademy.edu.jo/
  2. ↑ Paumgarten, Nick. "Our Far-Flung Correspondents: Deerfield in the Desert". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑

External links

Coordinates: 31°45′12″N 35°50′53″E / 31.75325°N 35.848142°E