Our Legacy

The American School of Dubai was organized by the Dubai Petroleum Company in affiliation with International Schools Services in September 1966, to provide schooling for the children of their expatriate personnel from the United States. The school opened in an apartment on the Deira side with 11 students and two teachers.

• 1971: The school had grown to a student body of 103 with eight teachers, a Principal, and a part-time administrative assistant. A library program began with a volunteer librarian three days a week. 
• 1972: There were 135 students instructed by nine regular teachers. The name of the school at that time was The American Community School.
• 1973: The enrollment surpassed all expectations when 274 children presented themselves for instruction.The school's name at that time was The Dubai Petroleum Company American School.
• 1975: During that year, the school conducted a self-study for accreditation and was visited by an evaluation team from Middle States and Southern Associations of Colleges and Secondary Schools. As a result of this visit, the school was accredited by those organizations.
• 1976: The school year opened with over 500 students and a staff of 45. The school term began its first year under its new name, the Jumairah American School.

• 1982: The Board also authorized purchase of 15 Apple IIe computers to begin a program of computer instruction during 1983-84.
• 1984: The junior high Grades 7 - 9 became eligible for membership in the National Junior Honor Society.
• 1986: A preschool (K1) program opened with two classes of three and four year olds.

• 1991: The school year saw a boom in the school's enrollment and the addition of Grade 10. The administration staff was expanded to include a teaching Principal for the elementary school (K1-6) and for the secondary school (7-10). The school had a grand celebration for the 25th anniversary.
• 1992: The school's name was changed to The American School of Dubai (ASD). 
• 1993: The school year marked the first year that a complete K1 through Grade 12 program was offered at ASD. 
• 1995: ASD was granted full accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools for another ten years. 
• 1996: Having continued to grow in enrollment, ASD added a third Principal and adopted a Middle School program. The new structure consists of the elementary school (Grades K1-5), middle school (Grades 6-8) and high school (Grades 9-12). 
• 1997: The school year saw the completion of the new library / media center.

• 2001: This year was the first year for students to wear uniforms. 
• 2004: The government of Dubai, through official decree, made ASD a school onto its own. ASD was no longer under the official umbrella of Dubai Petroleum Company, but managed by an official, appointed Board of Trustees.
• 2006: The American School of Dubai celebrated its 40th anniversary. The campus almost reached full capacity, with 945 students consisting of 49 nationalities. ASD employment figures stood at, 5 administrators, 93 teachers and 60 support staff.
• 2007: The first ASD's Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) was established, and has been successful in building partnerships through transparent communication. 
• 2009: A year of firsts and lasts. ASD celebrated past traditions while looking forward to the future at the new Al Barsha campus. By the end of the school year, there were 1,015 students and 144 faculty and staff.

• 2011: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited ASD's new campus in Al Barsha. ASD completed the 2012-2016 strategic plan, and refined its identity, mission statement, and core values. Ultimate Class Competition (UCC) began this year. 
• 2013: Standards Based grading was adopted in the middle and high schools, additional technology and learning coaches were hired, and construction began on a Student Broadcasting Studio.
• 2015: Enrollment reached 1,760. Dr. Brent Mutsch announced his upcoming retirement and Dr. Paul Richards was named superintendent to begin service in the fall of 2017. 
• 2016: First INSPIRE Week—this expanded the opportunities for ASD students to travel, experience, serve, and contribute to the world around them. 
• 2017: ASD celebrated its 50th anniversary with a number of events to honor its past, present and future. Parents, faculty, staff, alumni and friends attended the 50th Anniversary Gala, a welcome reception and alumni social, and visited to old campus (JAS). ASD launched the new Falcon logo.
• 2018: ASD won the Expo 2020 Sustainability Champions Competition 2018.
• 2019: ASD was the recipient of the Zayed Sustainability Prize (ZSP) Global High Schools Category (MENA Region) Award 2019. We also won the SchoolsCompared.com Best American Curriculum School of the Year 2019 award.

ASD launched its new PreK program that allowed entry for three-year-old learners into an active K-12 community.