Best International Schools in Amman: 2026 Guide for Families

Quick answer: what are the best international schools in Amman? Amman has a deep choice of IB, American and British schools. The American Community School offers AP courses, International Community School follows the English curriculum to A Level, and Mashrek International School runs all three main IB programmes. Annual fees run from roughly JOD 5,000 to over JOD 20,000.

Last reviewed: October 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Searching for the best international schools in Amman quickly turns up a long list, because the Jordanian capital has one of the most developed private school sectors in the Middle East. Diplomatic, humanitarian and development work keeps a steady flow of international families arriving, and many Jordanian families also choose international programmes, so the leading schools are large, well resourced and often oversubscribed in popular year groups.

That makes the choice harder rather than easier. Rather than naming a single winner, this guide explains how to judge which school is best for your family, looks at the curricula on offer, and profiles five strong schools across the American, British and IB systems, with indicative fees in Jordanian dinars and the extras worth budgeting for.

Amman for international families: areas and commutes

Amman is a city of hills, and that shapes daily life more than many newcomers expect. Families working for embassies, United Nations agencies and NGOs tend to live in West Amman, in areas such as Abdoun, Dabouq, Khalda, Sweifieh and Um Uthaina, which are relatively close to most diplomatic missions and many of the international schools. Central areas such as Jabal Amman and Shmeisani are older and denser, with shorter distances but heavier traffic.

Several of the best-known schools sit on larger campuses on the western and southern edges of the city. Dabouq hosts schools such as Mashrek and Amman Baccalaureate School, Na'our to the south-west is home to International Community School, and King's Academy is further out at Manja on the King's Highway, about 30 to 40 minutes from West Amman. School-run traffic on the main roads and circles can turn a 15-minute drive into 40, so most families pick a neighbourhood and a school together.

Jordan is also a stable base in a complex region, which is one reason organisations choose it for regional offices. Families on regional roles often stay longer than they first planned, so continuity to graduation becomes a real consideration.

Curricula available in Amman

American curriculum and Advanced Placement: offered at the American Community School, which teaches to US standards with around 20 AP subjects, and at King's Academy, which blends an American liberal arts education with Middle Eastern history, language and culture.
English National Curriculum, IGCSE and A Level: taught at International Community School and New English School, with Cambridge and Edexcel examinations.
International Baccalaureate: available at Mashrek International School (PYP, MYP and Diploma), Ahliyyah & Mutran School (all four IB programmes), Amman Baccalaureate School and several others.
SABIS system: the International School of Choueifat in Amman follows the SABIS Network model from kindergarten to Grade 12.
Jordanian Tawjihi: the national secondary certificate, which many bilingual private schools teach alongside or instead of an international programme.

What makes a school "best" in Amman

For a family on a three-year posting, the best school is usually the one that matches the curriculum of the last and next school, with a manageable commute. For Arabic-speaking families or those staying long term, a bilingual IB school that keeps Arabic strong may be the better fit. Families aiming at US universities may lean towards AP, while those targeting the UK will value A Levels or the IB Diploma. Community matters too: some schools have a mainly expatriate population, others a mainly Jordanian one, and both can be excellent for different children.

Five international schools in Amman to shortlist

American Community School

ACS, on Abdul Rahman Khalifeh Street, is a non-profit day school offering an English-medium US curriculum from its Early Years Program at age 4 to Grade 12. It began in 1955 with twelve pupils and now reports 646 students, 205 of them in high school, from more than 50 nationalities, with mostly expatriate and certified teachers. The high school offers around 20 AP subjects plus the AP Capstone Diploma, and the school is accredited by the Middle States Association until December 2027. Facilities include a 25 m pool, a 500-seat theatre and three maker spaces. It holds a 4.0 rating from 9 reviews. ACS suits families heading to North American universities or moving between American schools.

International Community School

ICS is a non-profit, co-educational day school for ages 3 to 18 with more than 700 students from over 60 nationalities. It follows the English National Curriculum, adapted to its context, with teaching in English by UK-qualified teachers, and senior students take IGCSE and A Level, while many also sit the SAT for North American applications. It is accredited by COBIS and CIS, a member of BSME, and rated "Good with Outstanding Features" by BSO. The semi-rural campus in Na'our is about fifteen minutes from most embassies. Rated 4.6 from 5 reviews, it is a natural first visit for British-curriculum families.

Mashrek International School

Established in 1992, Mashrek is a private, bilingual, co-educational IB World School accredited by CIS. It runs the IB Primary Years Programme from Pre-KG to Grade 4, the Middle Years Programme from Grade 5 to 10 and the Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12. It has grown from 172 to about 1,500 students from more than 26 nationalities on a large campus in Dabouq. It is rated 4.7 from 6 reviews. Mashrek is a strong fit for families who want a full IB continuum and an environment where Arabic and English both matter.

King's Academy

King's Academy, at Manja on the King's Highway, blends an American-style liberal arts and sciences education with Middle Eastern history, traditions, language and cultural values. It teaches in English, offers boarding and puts emphasis on close teacher-student contact and leadership. It holds a 4.0 rating from 4 reviews. Because of its distance from West Amman, it works best for boarding pupils or families who live south of the city, and it is particularly worth a look for teenagers who would thrive in a residential community.

Ahliyyah & Mutran School

Ahliyyah & Mutran grew out of two schools founded by British missionaries, a girls' school opened in 1926 and the Bishop's School for boys added ten years later, and is governed by the Arab Evangelical Episcopal Church Council. It has more than 1,950 pupils across sites in central Amman and is authorised for all four IB programmes. Teaching is in Arabic through Grade 5, switching to English from middle school, with French, German or Chinese as a third language. It suits Arabic-speaking families and long-stay expats who want strong Arabic alongside an international diploma.

International school fees in Amman

Fees are not published on these profiles, so the ranges below are indicative and based on typical fees at Amman's international schools. Ask each school for its current schedule.

Early years places typically cost roughly JOD 5,000 to JOD 10,000 a year. Primary fees at the leading schools run roughly JOD 7,000 to JOD 15,000, and secondary fees roughly JOD 10,000 to JOD 20,000 or more, with the American and British schools serving mainly expatriate families generally at the upper end. Boarding at King's Academy adds substantially to day fees.

Currency risk is low for many families. The Jordanian dinar has been pegged to the US dollar since 1995 at about 0.709 JOD per USD (roughly 1.41 USD per dinar), so fees quoted in JOD carry little currency risk for dollar earners. A fee of JOD 15,000 is roughly USD 21,000, and that figure should stay stable through the school year.

Application and assessment fee: non-refundable, paid when you apply.
Registration or enrolment fee: a one-off charge for new pupils.
Capital or development levy: charged annually or on entry at some schools.
Deposit: a refundable seat deposit to hold a place.
Transport: bus fees vary by area and can be significant for campuses in Dabouq, Na'our or Manja.
Uniforms, books and meals: often billed separately.
Exams: AP, IGCSE, A Level and IB Diploma entries are extra.
Devices and trips: laptops and residential trips, particularly in secondary.

Practical advice for Amman families

Apply early for popular year groups. The leading schools are large but in demand, and entry points such as kindergarten and the start of the IB Diploma can fill months before the August start. If your posting is confirmed, apply to two or three schools at once and ask where your child sits on any waiting list.

Decide how much Arabic matters. Some schools teach almost entirely in English with Arabic as a subject, while others, such as Ahliyyah & Mutran and Mashrek, build Arabic into the core. For non-Arabic speakers, ask about Arabic as a foreign language groups; for Jordanian or Arab families, ask how the school handles the Tawjihi equivalency.

Map the commute before choosing a house. Visit at school-run time and check bus routes. A house in Abdoun with a school in Manja or Na'our can mean an hour a day in the car, while choosing housing near the school can give your child back time for sport and friends.

See the full Amman ranking

For ratings and reviews of every school we list in the city, see our Best international schools in Amman ranking, and use it to build a shortlist for your visits.

More guides to schools in Amman

Frequently asked questions

Which international schools in Amman offer the IB Diploma?

Several do, including Mashrek International School, which runs the PYP, MYP and Diploma, Ahliyyah & Mutran School, authorised for all four IB programmes, and Amman Baccalaureate School in Dabouq. Families who prefer alternatives can choose AP courses at the American Community School or A Levels at International Community School.

Are international school fees in Amman paid in dinars or dollars?

Most schools invoice in Jordanian dinars. Because the dinar has been pegged at about 0.709 JOD per US dollar since 1995, a fee of JOD 10,000 stays close to USD 14,100, which makes budgeting simple for families paid in dollars. Ask whether registration fees, deposits and bus charges are included in the quoted figure.

Where do expat families live in Amman for school?

Most international families live in West Amman, in areas such as Abdoun, Dabouq, Khalda, Sweifieh and Um Uthaina, close to embassies and to many campuses. Schools in Dabouq and Na'our are reachable within about 15 to 25 minutes outside peak times, while King's Academy at Manja is a longer drive and suits boarders.