American Community School of Abu Dhabi

The US curriculum school was founded in 1972 on a campus near the Japan Oil Company off Sheikh Zayed the First Road, by the US diplomatic mission and representatives of major oil companies. In 1975 the campus moved to its current location on Sultan bin Zayed Street - a site donated by President Sheikh Khalifa and further extended by him in 1989. This allowed ACS to add a high school and more extra-curricular offerings, including media centres, a theatre, a dance studio and multipurpose rooms.

The school is a facility consisting of several classrooms equipped with computers. Buildings include two libraries, a cafeteria and snack bar, music rooms, science labs, IT centers, a TV production studio, two indoor gymnasiums and two fields. The outdoor facilities include a soccer, football and softball field and a swimming pool. Cramer Field, located behind the school gym, is constructed of Astroturf, an artificial grass. Because of its capacity, ACS hosts several athletic tournaments, particularly those of the Middle East South Asia Conference (MESAC).

The school has several instructional programs divided by age group. The initial level is the elementary school program from Kindergarten to grade 5. The middle school program consists of grades 6 to 8. The Middle School offers core subjects and two to four (depending on grade level) electives that the students choose.

The high school consists of grades 9 to 12. Starting in 2007, ACS started to offer the IB Diploma program consisting of a wide variety of International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. Since 2018, it offers a selection of AP (Advanced Placement) classes. Students are also given a wide range of elective courses to choose from. To graduate from ACS, students must have at least 25 credits at the end of four years. Along with the general requirement of 25 credits, students are required to obtain a certain number of credits in particular areas of study; 10 hours of community service are also required of ACS high school students each year. Community service at ACS is extensive, and consists of a wide range of student-driven and organized efforts, as well as a number of established organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).

The student body consists of approximately 1100 students. About 57% of the students are from the US, 10% from Canada, and 3% from the UAE itself. The rest of the students are from 60 other nations.

• Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the chief executive of Mubadala Development Company

In 1975, Santa Claus arrived at ACS by helicopter; coming down to the school campus. Soon after the event, a popular celebration was created known as "Breakfast With Santa" starting at the beginning of each December, every year. Breakfast with Santa has been a tradition at ACS ever since.

• 1976 - Astronauts Vance Brand, Thomas Stafford and Donald Slayton of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
• 1982 - Alex Haley, author of Roots, visits ACS – one of many authors who have met with pupils
• 1983 - Mohammed Ali
• 2017 - Alfred Worden and Allyson Felix

Jane Goodall also visits ACS often.

Extra curricular activities include music, art, drama, choir, robotics, soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, badminton, swimming, cross country, track & field, golf, fitness training, digital photography, multimedia, Model United Nations, debate & forensics, academic games, audio production, and a wide variety of other activities based upon student interests[1]

ACS is a member of MESAC, a regional conference allowing its students to meet and compete against students from other MESAC schools, in both athletic and non-athletic events. The school was formerly a member of the Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference (EMAC).

ACS has also hosted The MS Arts Invitational, featuring band, drama, choir and art.

• Americans in the United Arab Emirates

• ACS