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Address: West Yas, Zone K, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Website: www.westyasacademy.sch.ae
Email: admissions@westyasacademy.sch.ae
Telephone: +971 2 885 7001
Gender: Co-educational
Teaching language: English
Curriculum: American
Ages: 3 to 14
Background
West Yas Academy is an American-curriculum school located on Yas Island and first opened its doors to students in August 2016. The school is a part of Aldar Academies, one of the UAE's largest providers of leading private education with seven schools across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. West Yas Academy is the first in the Aldar community to teach the American Massachusetts State Curriculum – the most highly regarded and successful public school curriculum in the United States.
Teaching staff at the academy are internationally qualified, globally aware and benefit from a Continuous Professional Development programme to enhance their knowledge and further develop their teaching skills while using the latest pedagogy techniques. At the same time, teachers strive to impart recognition amongst students of the importance of the UAE’s national identity, local values, heritage and culture.
Curriculum
The American Massachusetts State Curriculum draws on a rich history of academic excellence and rigour and has historically benefited from proximity to and interaction with higher education institutions such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The US approach combines student-centred planning with interactive teaching methods to produce a broad and balanced education. The curriculum is supported by a robust emphasis on co-curricular and extra-curricular pursuits which helps foster well-rounded students. West Yas Academy offers AP (Advanced Placement) classes during the high school years, which are courses taught using university-level syllabi that can later be accredited to a degree programme in US and Canadian universities (as per the liberal arts tradition).
The curriculum will provide students with guidance and preparation for taking the SAT (the standardised examination required by US university admissions). Where appropriate, students can take the school's enhanced Arabic and Islamic Studies syllabus, preparing them for the unified Ministry of Education examinations.
Graduates of West Yas Academy will receive the American High School Diploma, which is the standard qualification for entry into US universities and colleges. This qualification is recognised by leading institutions across the world.
Fees
For the 2022/2023 academic year, West Yas Academy's annual fees range from AED 52,470 in KG to AED 63,280 in Grades 9 to 12.
From the principal
"Welcome to West Yas Academy, a leader in innovative and adaptive education for the 21st century.
"Our students follow the renowned Massachusetts State Curriculum which offers a dynamic and challenging approach to learning. Because we aren’t bound to an old-fashioned, restrictive syllabus we are able to develop our content and pedagogy to match the needs and interests of our students here, now and in the future. We develop aptitudes and abilities in the usual broad range of disciplines but also specialise in creative technologies such as Engineering Computing, Robotics, Electronics, and Art. Our students learn calculus but also cookery, English but also entrepreneurship. The High School Diploma they obtain is welcomed in universities around the world and the skills and attitudes they develop are solid foundations for life.
"Visit our superb facility, meet our outstanding international staff and talk to our happy students – see and be the West Yas difference!"
– Mr Steve Lewis, Principal