DESCRIPTION

Welcome to The American School of Doha, and thank you for visiting our website. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this exciting school dedicated to the learning and development of each and every child in our care. In these pages you will learn about ASD’s mission and vision, which are centered on learning and form the basis of all our decision-making. I hope that by spending time on our website, you will gain a better understanding of the school’s view of learning, admissions, student opportunities, community activities, strategic planning, and much, much more.

What you will find when you visit ASD is a vibrant school community of exceptional educational professionals, recruited from around the world, who are committed to delivering an excellent American-style education in an international setting with over 70 nationalities represented in the student body. ASD was established in 1988 by the U.S. Embassy and prominent members of the Qatari community to meet the growing needs of students in Doha, and more than 25 years later, ASD has become one of the premier American international schools in the world. The diversity of cultures and backgrounds in our community is an exciting strength of the school, and the world-class facilities provide the best possible spaces for our committed teachers and coaches to inspire and educate students to become positive, active global citizens. Technology, music, art, physical education, theater, library, classroom and common spaces all communicate a message that learning is the core purpose and highly valued at ASD. With the support of the Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors, the Leadership Team and the highly supportive parent community, ASD provides the comprehensive programs and education which are second to none in the region.

Our values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Compassion guide our actions and promote a culture of inclusiveness and engagement. Our focus on student learning in a safe, secure environment ensures that each of our students is encouraged to reach his or her potential each day. And our focus on community development to support student learning means that ASD can be your lifeline here in Doha.

Thank you for taking the time to consider ASD as a potential student, parent or employee, and I look forward to welcoming you personally to our school.

High School

Welcome to the high school section of the American School of Doha's (ASD) web page. ASD is an exciting and energizing place which strives to develop students who are well prepared to make a difference in society.

The academic program is a challenging and engaging American college preparatory system, supplemented with Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program for students seeking to challenge themselves to a higher level.

To enrich student life, ASD offers a variety of organized activities and sports as well as school socials and spirit-building activities. As a member of Middle East South Asia Conference (MESAC), the ASD Dragons travel to and compete in academics, arts, and athletic events throughout the Middle East and the Gulf States region.

In recent years, the ASD Model United Nations delegation has also participated in conferences in Singapore and Beijing, and has regularly taken part in a local M.U.N. event at Georgetown University in Qatar.

The faculty consists of exceptional educators focused on helping ASD students grow, and develop into caring and compassionate citizens who are well prepared to meet the challenges of life beyond high school.

We encourage you to explore the ASD web page, and ask that you please contact us if we may be of any assistance to you.

Middle School

Middle school is a unique time in a young person’s life. There are changes, anxieties, celebrations, trends, questions, and more all rolled-up (or so it seems) into one big roller-coaster ride! To navigate this ride successfully, students need personal and academic support as they move forward.

ASD's middle school lives its philosophy of “Work Hard, Play Hard!” One part of this involves working diligently and putting forward our best efforts when we are in the academic realm...when we "Work Hard." We also want to have an equal emphasis on developing talent, interests, and skills in our growing co-curricular programs by becoming engaged in all of our unbelievable school activities...when we "Play Hard." It is the balance of these two approaches, which makes our school such an exciting place to grow and learn.

With over 70 different nationalities enrolled in our student body, we are incredibly fortunate to be able to celebrate diversity within our school and our Qatari community. While in the middle school, students are provided with opportunities to discover more about their host country and engage with their local communities through collaborative visits, service opportunities, and ecological projects. Middle school also hosts a ‘Qatar Culture Day’ where Qatari citizens and long-term residents are invited to share their experiences growing up here in Qatar twenty to forty years ago! It’s a tremendous event, and we are grateful for the overwhelming support we receive from our host community.

The middle school years are important in the emotional and intellectual development of teen-agers. When our students move on to high school and beyond, we believe that they will be fully prepared to transition into the next level of academic rigor successfully. Our hope is that they will reflect back upon these years with a sense of enjoyment, accomplishment and pride.

We look forward to another great year.

Upper Elementary

Enriched by 486 students hailing from over 45 different countries, the upper elementary school is focused on improving student academic learning, as well as developing students' social and emotional readiness through our school values of Honesty, Responsibility, Respect, and Compassion. Our students, who range in age from eight to eleven years old, have mastered the basic skills and knowledge of lower elementary school, and will further develop and refine the higher level thinking skills necessary for success not only in the upper elementary, but also for middle school.

Guided by ASD’s mission, vision and five strategies, it is our goal to have all students meet and or exceed ASD's standards and benchmarks. In all subject areas, we emphasize academic rigor and high standards through inquiry based teaching and learning which is designed to have students gain in-depth understanding of concepts and skills. Our academic program is further enhanced by our efforts to prepare students to be positive, active global citizens in an ever changing world through service learning opportunities, advanced use of classroom technology, and authentic learning experiences.

In addition to our core learning experiences, we offer a wide range of extra-curricular experiences such as after school sports, activities, academic support, special events, field trips, and many other school-wide activities like our Halloween Carnival and Qatar Sports Day.

At ASD, our students are provided with opportunities to learn in a truly dynamic community. In the upper elementary, our students laugh, play, make friends, solve problems, and bring out the best in one another.

We look forward to a wonderful year full of fun and learning for your child in the upper elementary, where everyone is welcome and appreciated.

Lower Elementary

Welcome to where it all begins...

The lower elementary school is firmly rooted in the strong belief that learning is built upon a strong foundation, and that making connections to previous experiences creates meaningful life-long learning. Our commitment to ASD’s mission, vision and five strategies, keeps us focused on our goals of assisting all students in their journey to becoming positive, active global citizens, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and understandings essential for succeeding in a changing world, and supporting them as they strive to meet and exceed the ASD standards.

Through authentic, inquiry based, and hands-on learning experiences, students are encouraged to pose thoughtful questions, willingly explore disciplines, solve real life problems, express ideas and opinions, consider alternative points of view, share ideas with others, and use technology as a learning tool. Ample time is provided for the consolidation of both knowledge and skills, with an emphasis made on developing each student’s ability to articulate their understanding. Your child’s school year is a personal journey marked by numerous celebrations of success and marked growth.

Social and emotional student development is as important to us as the academics. Empowering students to become independent, contributing members of our community is a top priority in the lower elementary school. Our school’s values of Honesty, Responsibility, Respect, and Compassion lay the foundation for life in the lower elementary school community. Students are engaged in a variety of service projects throughout the year, aimed at developing active compassionate global citizens.

Mission

The American School of Doha is committed to the intellectual and personal
development of our students, inspiring them and empowering them to become positive, active global citizens.

Vision

ASD is a future-focused community where learning is…
collaborative
fun and engaging
extended beyond walls
creative to foster innovation
sustained by responsible practices
data-informed and evidence-based
authentic, solving real-world problems
encouraged in a technology-enhanced environment
ASD is...where students are encouraged to extend their own learning

Identity Statement

The American School of Doha is an independent, U.S. accredited, college preparatory
school, committed to providing educational excellence, through a standards based,
internationally enriched American curriculum, serving a multicultural student body.