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Esol Education’s American School of Bahrain (ASB) has commenced enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year, offering children in Bahrain a top-tier international education within its state-of-the-art campus.

With an expansive 60,000 square meter campus catering to 1200 students, ASB will be home to one of the most advanced learning environments in Bahrain. Located in Wadi Al Buhair, near the Bahrain National Stadium, the premium K-12 American preparatory school is set to open its doors in September 2020 with a challenging standards-based US curriculum, leading to the option of an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in Grades 11 and 12, designed to meet the highest standards of international education,

ASB is a joint venture between Esol Education and Elm Education Fund (Elm), a Bahrain-based education platform, established by Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Elm establishes and co-invests in world-class educational institutions in partnership with leading global operators.

‘Local demand for high quality education continues to rise with private school enrolment growing at almost twice the rate of public school enrolment in recent years,’ explained HE Khalid Al Rumaihi, Mumtalakat CEO.

‘The American School of Bahrain is a promising venture for Elm and Mumtalakat as it addresses the changing needs of an ever-changing world, from the skills for tomorrow to quality academic and vocational education,’ he added.

ASB will be the newest addition to the Esol Education global family of schools, leveraging its 43-year track record of establishing and operating leading international schools, serving 10,000+ students.  

“American School of Bahrain will follow Esol Education’s longstanding tradition of providing an exceptional, holistic and challenging education. With the multiple pathways of the IB Diploma and American High School Diploma, our graduates are welcomed at leading universities around the globe, including Oxford, MIT, Harvard, NYU as well as the University of Toronto and McGill University. We look forward to providing these outstanding opportunities to the students of Bahrain,” said Dave McMaster, ASB’s Founding Director.

ASB is designed to facilitate innovation, academic excellence, international mindedness and happiness, fostering students who will be leaders within their communities and beyond. The school’s facilities include technology-enabled classrooms, STEAM Labs (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and maker spaces. A multi-level library, equipped with the latest digital resources, will serve as a research space and learning hub, while art studios, music rooms and performance spaces build visual and performing arts skills. ASB’s sizeable athletics complex boasts excellent sporting facilities, with a swimming pool, large indoor gymnasium, basketball courts, regulation-sized soccer field and a 400-meter track.

“Over the past forty-three years we have built a strong reputation of educational excellence in the world of international education. The Esol Education schools enjoy the benefit of our longstanding relationships with accreditation partners, top universities, and teacher development and recruitment organizations,” shared Walid Abushakra, Esol Education’s Chairman and Superintendent.

“These connections, together with our experienced leadership teams, empower Esol schools to become leading centers of education in their communities, equipping our students with the essential skills they need to excel at top universities worldwide and in their chosen careers,” he added.

Established in 1976, Esol Education currently operates nine schools across five countries, and is the largest operator of international American schools in the world. The planned opening of the new school in Bahrain will be a major milestone for the organization, following closely after its entry into East Asia in 2016 with the opening of American School of Hong Kong (ASHK), as well as Dunecrest American School and Fairgreen International School in Dubai in 2018. Each Esol Education school is a close-knit community, bringing families together with the values of multiculturalism and dedication to helping students discover their individual talents.

American School of Bahrain will open its doors in 2020. The school has already been gaining a great reputation as an exciting, future-forward schooling option for parents in Bahrain who are looking for a warm, tight knit community school, where students are happy, collaborating and learning together. Here is a handy guide to frequently asked questions by parents inquiring about the school.

 1. Where is the school located?

The school has secured a 17 acre plot for its campus, located in Rifaa, very close to the Bahrain National Stadium

2. When will the new school open?

The school admissions office is already open and accepting applications, and the school opens with its first year in September 2020.

3. Will it be accredited?

This is an important question parents need to ask about all US curriculum schools, and the good news is: yes, the new school will gain accreditations by

            •  Middle States Association (MSA)

            •  Council of International Schools (CIS)

            •  International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)

4. What curriculum will ASB follow?

The school will offer US curriculum delivered primarily by a North American and international faculty. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) will also available as an option for students in Grades 11 and 12. 

5. How will this school be different?

The school will include a cross-curricular STEAM program, which is exciting, as it goes beyond the regular Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) with an added ‘A’ for Arts, providing a balanced approach. Innovation and sustainability will also play an important role. Student wellness and happiness will also be a key component of the school’s program, with a focus on healthful living, positive learning attitudes and student voice.

6. What grades will be available?

The school will be a full-fledged Pre-KG to Grade 12 school, opening with Grades Pre-KG to 8 in September 2020, with Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 being added in subsequent years.

7. How many students in the school?

At full capacity, the current campus of 60,000 sq.m. with 19,260 sq.m. built up area will have a student strength of 1200, with plenty of room to expand in the future. 

8. What facilities does the school include?

The school’s campus is an advanced facility focused on connectivity and open spaces. It has been designed in line with modern teaching standards, with naturally lit classrooms and wide spaces to encourage student collaboration. Here’s what the campus will include:

            •  Technology-enabled classrooms

                                    •  STEAM Labs

                                    •  Maker spaces

                                    •  Library and Learning Hub

                                    •  Athletics Complex 

                                                •  Swimming Pool

                                                •  Large Indoor Gymnasium

                                                •  Basketball Courts

                                                •  Regulation-sized Soccer Field

                                                •  400-meter track

9. What are the fees?

The starting fees in Pre-KG are BD 3145 ranging to BD 6200 in Grade 8.

10. Who is the founding body of ASB?

This is singularly the most important question parents need to ask about any new school they are enrolling their child in!

The school is being established by Esol Education. Esol is the world’s largest operator of American international schools, with an experienced leadership team, and a 43-year track record of establishing and running successful international schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Cairo and Lebanon. 

Esol’s Chairman, Mr. Walid Abushakra explains, “Our connections with accreditation partners and top universities, our ability to attract the best international teachers, together with our experienced leadership teams, empower Esol schools to become leading centers of education in their communities, equipping our students with the essential skills they need to excel at top universities worldwide and in their chosen careers.”

With 30 years of educational experience in the K- 12 school sector in Canada and overseas, Dave McMaster is the Founding Director of American School of Bahrain. Joining the organization in Bahrain from September 2018, Dave is leading the formation of American School of Bahrain during its pre-operating years, in advance of the official school inauguration in September 2020.

Dave has a proven track record in leading and operating schools and delivering programs tailored to the individual environment and its students’ needs. Dave’s authenticity as a leader in education is a recognised force in motivating students, parents, staff and management to continually advance the status quo, ensuring the very best in education provision and learning.  He has a proven track record in leading and operating schools and delivering programs tailored to the individual environment and its students’ needs. With a lifelong passion for education, Dave believes strongly that building a school culture based on mutual respect, happiness and setting high, but realistic expectations will ensure a successful and fruitful education for students. Dave has always stressed the importance of what he calls the ‘smile index’ as a barometer in determining the success of a school. Dave has extensive experience at recruiting, hiring and retaining top international educators and feels this is the key to success in building a new school and providing the opportunity for all students to reach and exceed their potential.

To learn more about Dave, visit