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US (American) Curriculum

US (American) Curriculum

Academic Levels, Assessments, and Future Pathways

Introduction

This guide provides an overview of the U.S. curriculum, covering school stages, academic standards, and assessment methods. It outlines the expectations at each educational stage, from early childhood to high school, highlighting the academic and personal skills the U.S. curriculum is designed to develop.

Designed to support informed decision-making, the guide helps parents and students explore educational pathways that align with individual interests, strengths, and future goals. It also underscores the Knowledge and Human Development Authority’s (KHDA) ongoing commitment to fostering globally minded learners who will contribute meaningfully to Dubai’s sustainable development.

US Curriculum Schools

The U.S. curriculum places a strong emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and student-centred learning with a clear focus on preparing students for college and university entry. Schools adopt a standards-based curriculum, aligned to a specific U.S. selected state, commonly New York, California or Massachusetts. The selected state’s learning standards define the content, and skills students are expected to learn and master at each grade level.

While the former Common Core State Standards are no longer implemented as a standalone framework, many of their elements have been integrated into individual states’ revised and updated standards. A small number of U.S. curriculum schools in Dubai use the AERO (American Education Reaches Out) standards, which are specifically designed for American international schools overseas.

To ensure students have a valid graduation diploma which will allow them to access colleges and universities, all U.S. Curriculum schools must be accredited by an approved US accrediting body, such as NEASC (New England Association for Schools and Colleges), MSA (Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools), or WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges).

Kindergarten (Ages 4–6)

  • The formal academic curriculum begins at age 5, which matches KG2 in Dubai.
  • At this stage, students begin to develop foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, science exploration, and communication, with an emphasis on independent learning and problem-solving.
  • The curriculum in KG1 follows a U.S. Pre-K curriculum, nurturing social skills, communication, early literacy and numeracy, physical skills and learning through play and guided exploration.
  • Learning in Kindergarten is largely play-based, with a strong emphasis on social-emotional development, oral language, and learning through meaningful, hands-on experiences.
  • The curriculum is aligned with the Kindergarten standards from the school’s selected U.S. state, and the Pre-K (KG1) approach builds towards those standards.

Elementary School (Ages 6–11)

Grades 1–5

  • Core focus on English Language Arts, reading, science and mathematics.
  • Social studies, physical education, and the arts follow selected U.S. state standards or AERO standards.
  • Teaching integrates subject areas through hands-on projects and inquiry-based learning.
  • Student choice, independent learning and active involvement in learning are daily expectations.

Middle School (Ages 11–14)

Grades 6–8

  • Advanced reading comprehension, high quality writing, oral communication and research of informational text, and strong foundational numeracy across disciplines, including pre-algebra
  • Increased subject-specific learning, with emphasis on practical science labs, creative arts, and digital literacy.
  • Introduction of electives may begin in Grade 8, allowing students to explore personal interests (e.g., coding, performing arts).
  • PSAT 8/9 may be used as a readiness benchmark prior to entering High School.

High School (Ages 14–18)

Grades 9–12

  • Students complete a combination of required core and elective subjects to earn a High School Diploma.
  • Required subjects for a valid High School diploma include English, Mathematics, Sciences, US Social Studies, Physical Education, Modern Foreign Languages and Visual/Performing Arts.
  • Additionally, students must meet the UAE requirements for Arabic, UAE Social Studies and Islamic Education.
  • All students must earn the minimum number of credits gained in Grades 9-12, to be awarded a valid High School diploma. Some students will earn additional credits as preparation for their chosen career.
  • All students must be given the opportunity to choose electives each year, with options that reflect their interests and align with national priorities—such as Artificial Intelligence, Space Science, and other emerging fields.
  • The academic year in U.S. curriculum schools is typically divided into two parts (semesters) rather than three terms as is typically found in other curricula.
  • Assessments take place during the semester and at the end of each semester. These include coursework, internal exams, external curriculum assessments, and other exams if required for UAE equivalency (e.g., SAT, TOEFL).
  • Students have opportunities for Advanced Placement courses once they meet the prerequisites, and complete AP examinations in each course. These assist students in gaining access to the very best universities globally.
  • Student transcripts reflect letter grades (A–F), percentages, Grade Point Average (GPA), and completed credits for all four years, grades 9-12 Universities evaluate student transcripts when making decisions for admission.
Assessments and Reports
  • Letter grades and teacher comments are used in early grades, reflecting student growth. Percentages are gradually introduced, along with letter grades, for older students. High School students earn credits when passing grades are achieved, with all grades forming their GPA (Grade Point Average),
  • Cumulative assessments include projects, tests, and presentations.
  • The formal, completed high school transcript includes all courses attempted, grades, GPA, course summaries, and accreditation seal, used for college or university admission.
Standardised Assessments

Purpose: To measure student achievement against national or international benchmarks, support instructional planning, and drive school improvement.

Common Tools Used in Dubai U.S. Curriculum Schools:

MAP (Measures of Academic Progress)
  • A computer-based, adaptive assessment developed by NWEA
  • Assesses reading, mathematics, and language usage from KG2 and sometimes science from Grade 3.
  • Conducted three times per year
  • Tracks student growth over time against selected state or AERO curriculum standards, and identifies learning strengths and areas for improvement
  • Provides percentile achievement levels and RIT – Rasch Unit Test - scores to compare performance with NWEA norms.

MAP is widely used by U.S. curriculum schools in Dubai as a reliable tool to benchmark student achievement and progress at set intervals each year.

PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT – National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
  • Standardised assessments developed by College Board
  • PSAT 8/9 is used in middle school or Grade 9 in high school to evaluate student performance levels in literacy and mathematics.
  • PSAT 10 is used by some schools to evaluate student performance in line with grade level expectations. NMSQT is also used in a few schools for scholarship qualification (U.S. nationals)
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
  • Standardised university admission test accepted internationally
  • Tests mathematics and evidence-based reading and writing
  • Required for UAE high school equivalency for entry to some universities
Graduation and University Readiness
  • A High School Diploma is awarded upon completion of credit requirements.
  • School Counsellors play a distinct role in all four years of High School, guiding students in choosing courses, and preparing them for potential careers. Counsellors also assist with university applications and career planning.
  • Accreditation is required for a US High School diploma to be considered valid by most universities.
  • Standardised tests such as the SAT or TOEFL are often used for UAE university equivalency, in addition to a valid US High School diploma
  • Students moving from one school to another in High School may be able to transfer credits from the learning and achievement in their previous school.
Enrichment and Electives
  • Volunteering, service learning, and extracurricular activities enhance personal growth and are a requirement set by some schools for graduation.
  • Electives ranging from arts and media to advanced sciences and technology, including both core subjects and general courses
How does the curriculum prepare students for University?
  1. Rigorous and Standards-Aligned Curriculum
    • High school students follow a credit-based system requiring completion of core academic subjects (English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies) and a range of electives.
    • The curriculum is aligned with recognised U.S. state standards or AERO, ensuring academic continuity and relevance to university entry requirements.
    • Courses are for one semester or one year, across Grades 9–12, increasing in rigour and allowing students to demonstrate academic growth and subject mastery over time.
  2. Emphasis on Advanced Coursework
    • Many schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses in subjects such as Calculus, Biology, and World History. These are high level courses and include College Board external examinations.
    • Successful completion of AP courses may lead to university credit or advanced standing depending on the U.S. or international institutions.
  3. College Counselling and Application Support
    • Schools provide dedicated counsellors who:
      • Guide students in selecting appropriate courses aligned with their career aspirations, and ensuring they meet all credit requirements to graduate.
      • Assist with the university application process,
      • Support in preparing personal statements, recommendation letters, and transcripts
      • Offer workshops on interview preparation, and career exploration
    • Development of a Comprehensive Student Profile
      • The U.S. curriculum emphasises the whole child, encouraging students to engage in:
        • Community service and volunteering
        • Clubs, leadership roles, and extracurricular activities
        • Internships and career-related projects
      • These experiences are valuable for university applications, especially in systems that adopt holistic admissions criteria (e.g., U.S., Canada).
  5. Official Transcripts and Accreditation
    • Transcripts list GPA, grades, course descriptions, accreditation and school seal, in order to be accepted by universities globally.
    • Schools are accredited by recognised U.S. accreditation agencies (NEASC, MSA, WASC), ensuring diploma validity and institutional recognition.
  6. Equivalency for UAE University Admission
    • For students seeking local university access, schools support the Ministry of Education equivalency process, which typically requires:
      • SAT Mathematics (minimum score currently 440)
      • TOEFL/IELTS
      • Completion of Ministry-required subjects (e.g., Arabic, Islamic Education, UAE Social Studies
Resources and Accreditation

Useful Links

Note- three examples of state curriculum frameworks are shown, but schools across Dubai have selected additional states as well.

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