Greenwood International School (GIS) is a private K-12 school located in Muhaisnah 1, Dubai. The school first opened its doors on September 2006 and currently caters to over 990 students (up 70 on the year) – 80 percent of whom are Emirati. The remainder come from mainly British and American families. Greenwood is mixed gender up until Grade 4. Girls and boys are separated from Grade 5.

The school has 74 teachers (down 15 over last year), and a teacher-student ratio of 13:1 – good for a UAE based school.

The school follows an American curriculum aligned with Florida and US Common Core standards with subjects taught in English. Students are prepared to sit the SAT exam and core subjects from grade 9 include English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Humanities (Including Islamic Studies, Civics, Geography and History), Science (Physics, Chemistry or Biology), Arabic and PE.

Graduate students receive the US equivalent High School Diploma. All students are required to take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills.

As of 2013-2014 the school received the KHDA inspection rating of Good, the fourth year in a row it has done so.

The KHDA report highlights the school’s good leadership team who set a clear direction and who show good capacity to plan for improvement; Outstanding student understanding of Islamic values and their local, cultural and global awareness from KG through to Grade 12; the Outstanding progress in English by KG students; and Outstanding personal and social development at the high school level including behaviour, attitudes, and work ethic.

The 2011/12 KHDA report highlighted a need to pay more attention to children with special needs – a note also on its 2012/2013 report. This is being addressed. Currently 2% of the student body (2014) are recognized as having some from of SEN requirement and the school has recently initiated a support team for SEN students. The school had engaged an external provider for this who provide “extensive inclusion” of students with SEN in mainstream lessons. Teachers’ skills in differentiation have not yet however reached the point of being able to meet the needs of all learners.

As a recommendation, the school needs to enhance the use of technology to support learning, particularly as a tool to challenge high and low achievers.

The school has good facilities. Classrooms are equipped with computers, smart boards and projectors. School facilities also include science labs, computer labs, a music room, art room, prayer rooms, libraries, medical clinic, canteen, and outdoor playground and play areas.

School fees range from 16,000 to 24,600 AED per year depending on the student’s grade year – good value compared to other Good rated US curriculum schools in Dubai.