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Post by OAS on Sept 10, 2013 3:28:47 GMT
I'm a new hire waiting for the visa to arrive. While the agent forwarded the details of my children to Dhahran School, they sent us a letter indicating they will place my 10 year old (DOB Sept 8) in 4th that she has already completed from an American School (ISG) in Jubail and is currently enrolled in 5th grade in USA. We are very concern about it even thinking not to join Aramco in case they do not place our child in 5th grade when we arrive there. Does anyone know how flexible the school staff is regarding the age policy while placing children in the school? pls advise.
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Post by vpainter on Sept 10, 2013 3:37:39 GMT
Age is the guideline. Although, they do test the children, ask for your daughter to be tested, that you want her in the 5th grade. Although, Aramco schools are better than 60% of all private schools in the U. S. and are better than 90% of public and private schools in the U.S. Do consider where she can be successful and not struggling if the schools she has attended are not on the same level as the Aramco schools.
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Post by Hadia on Sept 10, 2013 4:43:55 GMT
Our experience with moving here with elementary aged kids is that the Saudi Aramco Schools were a full year ahead of the US grades in terms of content. Other moms have said the same thing to me, and not just North American. Our kids were placed in the age-appropriate grades, but quite frankly might have done better if started with the previous grade. They had a rough first year of catch-up; it took that whole year to get adjusted. When you factor in all of the activities, sports and clubs, and school expectations, it was a fast-paced year. The schools here are quite firm on the age issue being the grade placement factor. Once you are in Kingdom, you can have your child assessed at the school, but if you are very stuck on the notion of the grade level issue, you should rethink whether moving here is the right choice, because that's an argument you aren't likely to win, unless your child has truly mastered all of the grade content.
This is meant as candid advice. It's not unusual for kids to be in the same situation as yours due to age on Aug 31. It is not a unique situation, hence the age rule. And rules are big here, as a means to manage a very large, diverse community coming from various locations, such as school systems and curriculum leveling.
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Post by EBMoore on Sept 12, 2013 16:04:54 GMT
Thank you Hadia. You explanation gives a very practical idea of what to expect. I had not read on the forum that the schools are that much farther ahead. This is a good thing to know and to plan for. If nothing else, this makes me even more convinced Aramco is the place for us as the compeion for University places is so difficult and my kids would have an even better chance of gaining admission with such good schooling.
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Post by amerioca on Sept 14, 2013 16:58:13 GMT
We are considering a move to Dhahran but would like our children to continue with their Portuguese (dad American, mom Brazilian). Does anyone know if there are Portuguese classes either in school or available elsewhere?
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