GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi | Fees, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

I went to this school from 2013 until 2020. I can say it was a fun experience. I wish I could have stayed longer, but unfortunately, we moved to Switzerland.

I am extremely dissatisfied with the current rating of the school, which accurately reflects several grave concerns. The leadership is notably ineffective, displaying a lack of proper management and a disregard for both students and parents. This poor leadership has cultivated a toxic environment that is not conducive to learning or personal growth.

One of the most alarming issues is the high incidence of bullying within the school. Cases of bullying are rampant, and the school management consistently fails to address or stop these incidents. This negligence creates an unsafe and hostile environment for students, severely impacting their mental and emotional well-being. The school’s inability to effectively handle bullying is a significant failure in its duty to protect and support its students.

The educational standards at the school are also alarmingly low. The curriculum is outdated, and the teaching methods are ineffective, failing to engage students or cater to their individual learning needs. This has resulted in a significant decline in academic performance and overall student development. It is evident that the school does not prioritize academic excellence or student success.

Furthermore, the administration’s attitude towards parents is deeply concerning. There is a clear lack of respect for parents’ concerns and needs. Communication is often one-sided, and feedback from parents is frequently ignored or dismissed. This lack of collaboration and respect undermines the school-parent relationship, which is crucial for a child’s educational journey.

In addition to these issues, the school fees are exorbitantly high, especially when compared to the market prices for similar institutions. The high cost is not justified by the quality of education or the facilities provided. Parents are paying a premium for an education that is substandard and does not meet their expectations or the promises made by the school.

Overall, the combination of poor leadership, low educational standards, rampant bullying, disregard for parental input, and excessive fees makes this school an unacceptable choice for any concerned parent. There is an urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address these issues. The school must take immediate action to improve its leadership, enhance educational quality, effectively address bullying, respect parents’ concerns, and ensure that its fees are commensurate with the value of education provided. Only then can it begin to rebuild trust and offer a supportive and effective learning environment for its students.

A great experience for my boys who started attending here in 2016; the staff is wonderful. I would like to thank GAA for one of the best educational opportunities I have enjoyed. They are very dedicated in their roles as instructors and staff. Every instructor is full of energy and knowledge, and bringing that into the classroom makes each class dynamic and supportive. The administration’s open-door policy and willingness to listen to parents’ concerns and suggestions demonstrate its dedication to continuous improvement and student success. This consistent communication with families increases contact between school and home.

Based on our experience, this school faces significant issues that severely impact its performance and the quality of education it provides.

**Leadership Problems:**
* The school’s leadership appears poorly managed, lacking focus on meeting student and parent needs. This likely contributes to the school’s poor performance and reputation.
* The leadership team may not be making decisions in the students’ and community’s best interests, instead prioritizing their own agendas or interests.
* A lack of accountability and transparency from the school’s administration erodes trust with parents and stakeholders.

**Educational Standards:**
* The school’s educational standards are subpar, failing to provide students with a high-quality learning experience.
* This could be due to an outdated or inadequate curriculum, poorly trained or unmotivated teachers, a lack of resources and funding, or a culture that does not prioritize academic excellence.
* Students are likely not achieving their full potential and may fall behind peers at other schools.

**Parent Engagement and Fees:**
* The school does not seem to respect or accommodate parents’ needs and concerns.
* School fees are excessively high, especially given the poor quality of education. This places a significant financial burden on families, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds.
* A lack of transparency surrounds how these fees are calculated and how funds support student learning.
* Parents likely feel unheard and that the school is not acting in the students’ and community’s best interests.

Overall, this school is failing on multiple fronts and requires significant reforms and improvements across its leadership, educational standards, and engagement with parents and the broader community. Addressing these issues should be a top priority to provide students with the high-quality education they deserve.

We had two wonderful years at GAA. The school seemed so big in the beginning, but it turned out to have a tightly knit community. My favorite part of my experience as a GAA parent was enjoying numerous events, from Iftar to musicals, to international days, etc. The Elementary Library has also made a huge impact on our family as we got to participate in several reading events. My children also had wonderful field trips and athletic opportunities, as well as developed friendships. We will do our best to build on what was learned in the swimming program, specifically on the school swimming team. As a parent, I benefited from several events for parents, including a course on positive parenting. Finally, we are thankful to each and every teacher who has worked with my boys; to counselors, assistants, bus service workers, secretaries, directors, and, in general, all administrators and the Parent Support Group. Due to your well-coordinated hard work and efforts, my boys and we, as parents, have learned and enjoyed so much. My boys have enjoyed a safe, friendly, and academically rigorous school environment. Thank you all very much.

Simply love the school! This is our 6th year in GAA. My son has been here since KG. We were so lucky that the teachers were always so good with him and supportive; they see each child’s needs. I love how they care to build their mental health and character. Last year, my son, in grade 3, got to be on stage, and he did a TED Talk, which went amazingly. It was such an experience at his age. He worked so hard before he presented, and he got to learn from his teacher about body language and how to use it. Also, I love how they care for Arabic and Islamic studies in the school, and it is one of the strongest things so far in elementary school.
Simply, whenever I ask my son about school, he says, “I am so happy, and I love my school.” He couldn’t wait to return from summer vacation.

Our kids love the school, its activities, and the amazing teachers and staff.