Admissions

For your child to be eligible for admission and continued enrollment at TKS, they must:

• Be a resident of the KAUST community
• Meet the age requirements for their grade
• Possess the level of English required for the grade
• Demonstrate the ability to be successful, with limited learning support, in a rigorous academic environment.

Your child’s grade level at The KAUST School (TKS) is determined by several factors, including:

• The student’s age as of August 31 of the intended school year. 
• The curriculum followed at the previous school or country of origin
• The academic trajectory and courses completed

To assist you in identifying the appropriate grade level for your child at the time of application, please refer to the placement charts provided below.

• We have developed an age-grade conversion chart to provide you with an initial indication of the grade level your child will likely be placed in when joining our school:
  • Grade Level Placement Chart
• We have developed a country equivalent chart to better explain the naming conventions of grade levels at TKS in comparison to the equivalent names in some other countries:
  • Country Grade Level Comparison.

•  In the Early Years (PK, KG, G1) placement is based on the student’s age as of August 31 of the intended school year. 
• TKS reserves the right to place students based on grade levels already completed at an internationally accredited school.​ Recognized international accreditations include CIS, WASC, MSA, NEASC, COBIS, IB, and US, UK, or Australian state schools.​
• In all other cases, grade placements are made based on age, previous school records, academic assessments, and/or social-emotional needs.
• Grade 9 -12 entry time depends on credits / semester courses and therefore timing matters
• Students must not turn twenty before graduation

Final grade level placement will be confirmed by our Admissions team after a thorough review of all submitted application materials.

English Language support is offered in PK - Grade 5. Beginning in Grade 5, TKS will assess the level of English in the application process. By Grade 6, students must demonstrate the ability to successfully access the curriculum in English without additional English support.

Students must be up to date with their immunizations before starting at TKS. Immunization requirements are based on the Saudi Ministry of Health schedule. The KAUST School Health Office checks the records of all incoming students and advises what, if any, immunizations are required for admission.

• Learning and Behavioral Support
  • Learning Support is available for students with mild-to-moderate learning needs, however, the academic requirements remain the same for all students. 
  • TKS offers Speech and Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy as appropriate
  • Exceptions apply only for those who join us through the Pathways Program. If additional support is required that exceeds the standard level of service provided in the school, the school may require parents to fund some or all of the costs associated with this. This cost will be determined by the level of individualized service needed by the student, subject to the recruitment of suitable staff and specialized resources.
• TKS is Unable to Admit:
  • Students who have medical needs that can not be addressed by our teaching staff
  • Students with significant behavioral needs that cause concern for the safety of themselves or others
  • Students who can not access any percentage of the mainstream curriculum within their banded age group 

• We strongly recommend that your child join the school at the beginning of a semester. The last day for new students to join TKS is March 31.
• We accept applications throughout the year, but encourage parents to apply:
  • By May 15 for August start dates
  • By November 15 for January start dates

• Applications made after these dates will  be delayed due to school holidays.

  •  View TKS Academic Calendar

In determining grades TKS uses a strict cut-off date of by August 31 of the academic year for which they are applying. 

• 4 years of age – Pre-Kindergarten
• 5 years of age – KG
• 6 years of age - Grade 1

No, TKS admits students throughout the year, with a last starting date as March 31. It is recommended for high school students to start at the beginning of each semester due to graduation and credit requirements.

After a completed application is submitted, the Admissions team processes and reviews the application.

Emails are sent acknowledging receipt of the application and will contain information about the next steps. Parents have access to all the application information in their admission portal account.

All applications will be assessed during the admissions process and this may include on site or online assessments. Assessment and selection criteria include a review of report cards, grades, transcripts, recommendations, and standardized test results from the current and two most recent academic years.

No, all applications are processed and offered a place if eligible. Offers remain valid for one year, and academic records need to be updated every six months to maintain an open application. If grades come full, waiting pools will be employed. Those students who are already on campus will be given priority.

Grade-level placements take into account the child’s previous academic background (i.e. have they already completed the same grade in an IB school or equivalent), their academic progress, and social and emotional factors.

If you are already on campus, school tours are available by contacting the Admissions Office at +966 12 808 6810.

Yes, beyond expenses associated with PE uniforms, school supplies, and IT & Materials Charge for laptops for Grades 6-12, TKS offers a number of required and/or optional learning experiences that families should plan for.

Examples include school trips for arts, athletics, academic subjects, and additional activities for students during the KAUST Winter Enrichment Program week.