American School of Doha

ADMISSIONS GUIDECelebrating 25 Years of Excellence

R E S P E C T / H O N E S T Y / R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y / C O M P A S S I O N

ASD MISSION

The American School of Doha is an independent, U.S. accredited, college preparatory school committed to providing educational excellence through a standards-based, internationally enriched, American curriculum, serving a multicultural student body.

The American School of Doha is committed to the intellectual and personal development of our students, inspiring and empowering them to become positive,active global citizens.

ASD IDENTITY STATEMENT

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF DOHA

FUN

CREATIVE

AUTHENTIC

INNOVATIVE

COLLABORATIVE

DATA-INFORMED

TECHNOLOGY INFUSED

and EXTENDS BEYOND WALLS

ASD is a vibrant learning community where learning is...ASD VISION

RESPECT / HONESTY / RESPONSIB IL ITY / COMPASSION

ASD MISSION

ASD VALUES

ASD VISION

We truly appreciate your interest in our school. The American School of Doha is a learning focused school. ASD is a school where the feel of community is real, where students learn and develop in a safe, nurturing, creative atmosphere; where dedicated educators teach in a professional manner; and where administrators realize that caring is as important to the heart, as knowledge is to the mind. The American School of Doha offers an educational program from early childhood through twelfth grade to over 2100 students representing more than 68 countries. ASD is one of the only schools in Qatar to offer both the Advanced Placement (AP) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) diplomas, which provides students with choices in their preparation for colleges and universities. Ninety-eight percent of our graduates move on to colleges and universities of their choice around the world. Beyond the classroom, students are actively encouraged to pursue a wide range of co-curricular activities, as well as become active global citizens through a commitment to community service. The information in this booklet will assist you to complete the ASD admissions process. Our process is designed to be a thoughtful exchange of information in order to determine whether our school will be the right fit for the student and his/her family. We strive for our communication to be clear, welcoming, helpful and responsive. As you browse through our admissions guide, and questions arise, please feel free to contact our Admissions Staff directly using the information outlined below. Should you be visiting Doha or arriving soon, we encourage you to contact our office via email or by phone, in order to make arrangements for a school tour.

We look forward to meeting you and assisting your family with your transition to Doha, and to our school community.

Sincerely,The Office of AdmissionsAmerican School of Doha P.O. Box 22090 / Doha, Qatar+974-4459-1511

Step on to the ASD campus and step into a future that’s destined for success.

OPPORTUNITYGateway to

Apply to ASD

When a student applies to the The American School of Doha, we use our Mission, Vision, Values, and

Admissions policy to determine whether our school will be the right fit for the student and his/her

family. We want to make sure the student will have a successful experience at ASD - and beyond. To

apply, visit our website at http://www.asd.edu.qa or scan the QR code above.

The American School of Doha is open to receive applications from all students, regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnic background. Applicants will be screened and admitted or denied admission through the admissions process by the designated divisional admissions committee. Qualified students are those that meet specific criteria as outlined. Qualified students will be accepted in accordance with the described priority sequence.

1. Academic Achievement: Admission assessment tests may be waived when current standardized assessments are provided, and demonstrate grade appropriate academic standards achieved; along with report card documentation, recommending advanced level placement at the previous accredited school with similar curriculum.

2. Emotional and/or social problems: Applicants must not have social or emotional behavior or discipline problems as documented by reports from previous schools. Students having exceptional needs that cannot be addressed with the available resources of ASD will not be admitted.

3. Results of admission testing: An on-site assessment will be provided. Students in grades (3-12) may also submit a current standardized assessment in lieu of an on-site assessment.

4. English Proficiency: In grades (6-12), a student may be denied if she/he has not attained a satisfactory level of English for the age appropriate grade placement. No student will be admitted in grades (9-12) who may be in need of ESL support.

The Office of Admissions invites candidates for assessments and reviews applications on a “rolling admissions” basis. Qualified students will either be admitted or placed in our waiting pools based on seat availability and the following Board policy prioritization sequence:

1. Qualified students of siblings accepted or currentlyattending ASD.

2. Qualified students of families whose tuition and fees are paid directly to the school by a corporate sponsor. *(as defined below)

3. All other qualified students based on date of application.

*A corporate sponsor is defined as a corporation whoguaranteed a portion of the bank loan in 2007 in order to fund the school expansion.

ASD Admission Policy

Prioritization

GATEWAY TO YOUR FUTURE

Click here for Aladdin video Click here for Anything Goes video Click here for Beauty and the Beast video

STEP ONE: Contact the Office of Admissions We welcome your questions and look forward toassisting your family as you explore ASD as a learning focused school. We encourage you to contact our office via telephone at +974 4459 1511 or email at admissions@asd.edu.qa.

STEP TWO: Make an Online or On-Campus Visit The ASD website offers detailed information about our school and the admissions process. Online visitors can access our website at http://www.asd.edu.qa. From the home page, you can select and view information about each division (High School, Middle School, Upper Elementary, Lower Elementary). You can also find information about curriculum, programs offered, photo galleries, student/parent handbooks, and more!

On-campus visitors can schedule a tour or visit our Office of Admissions

One of the best ways to gain a feel for our community is by visiting our campus in order to gain a true picture of how it might feel for your child and

family to be a part of ASD. For this reason, we encourage families to schedule a trip to Doha and make an appointment with the Office of Admissions for a campus tour. If you have not previously completed the Online Inquiry Form and received an Application Packet, you may do so on that day. During your visit, we will refer to the application contents and explain the application process, as well as our school programs, services, and daily routines. We also welcome any questions you may have before, during, and after your visit about ASD and our school community.

STEP THREE: Complete the Online Iquiry Form The first step towards being considered for enroll-ment to ASD begins with submission of the online inquiry form. This form provides the applicant with his/her date of application, and our office with demo-graphic information about your child which enables us to send along our Application Packet. Applicants for admission to ASD are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible, as applications are accepted beginning on August 1 of each year.

Application Process

GATEWAY TO YOUR FUTURE

Application Process

Click here for Aladdin video

STEP FOUR: Complete and Submit the Application Forms Application forms must be completed and submitted in full in order for a file to be considered and/or processed. This includes the paid application fee of 500 QR.

STEP FIVE: Admission Evaluation and Assessment Students apply to ASD from many different countries with a wide range of educational systems and curriculums. Therefore, an applicant’s age, previous academic report cards, evaluative testing and a review of all pertinent educational documentation are used to ensure that students are a match for our school, and are placed in the appropriate grade level. Applicants are invited for an admission assessment based on Board policy priority and seat availability.

Grades PK through 2 After the Office of Admissions makes an initialreview of the completed application, applicants from prekindergarten through 2nd grade must go through an evaluation that assesses skills in reading comprehension, mathematics, writing, and/or academic readiness skills. These face to face assessments will take place with our Lower Elementary Counselors and/or teachers during our large group assessment sessions in the spring of each year, as well as throughout the academic year based on seat availability.

Grades 3 through 12 Candidates applying for grades 3 through 12 will take the Measurement of Academics Progress (MAP) assessment. Students will be assessed in both reading comprehension and mathematics, as well as asked to write an essay. Under approved conditions, this test can be scheduled and taken remotely from the student’s current school. Students in grades 3-12 may also submit current standardized assessment scores which may be used in place of the MAP assessment.

STEP SIX: Notification of Application Status Offer of Placement if your child meets all Admission criteria and qualifies for acceptance, you

will receive a formal Acceptance Letter from the Director of Admissions and can begin to anticipate becoming a part of the ASD community! This letter will be followed by a tuition invoice that outlines associated costs of enrollment. You will also receive a welcome letter from the Principal of the division that your child will attend, which will outline the remaining steps leading up to enrollment.

Wait Pool If a candidate meets all Admissions criteria and qualifies for acceptance in a grade level or program that has reached capacity, then he/she will be placed in a waiting pool for that particular academic year. Notification will be sent to the parents by the Director of Admissions. Due to the school’s admission policy, an applicant’s position in the wait pool may change as subsequent applicants qualify and are placed into the waiting pool based on our Board policy prioritization sequence and date of application. If a seat becomes available, parents will be notified and receive a formal letter of acceptance from the Director of Admissions. If it is determined that a seat will not become available during the requested school year, parents will be notified in writing. If a candidate is interested in being considered for the following year, the parent must reply to the notification and the file will be moved forward for consideration during the current admission season. A candidate’s file must be kept current with all academic documentation. Further evaluations may be needed.

Denial An applicant may not qualify for acceptance when there are concerns about behavior, achievement, social/emotional stability; when English language proficiency is not commensurate with the grade level applying, or ASD’s ability to offer a program to adequately meet an individual student’s learning needs. Notification of the denial will be sent to the parents from the Director of Admissions.

R E S P E C T / H O N E S T Y / R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y / C O M P A S S I O N

In order for a applicant to move forward in the admission process, he/she must have a completed application submitted to the Office of Admissions. This includes an application form, photo, copy of passport, physical, immunization records, academic records, and confidential recommendations, and documentation of paid application fee.

Photo of Applicant, Photocopy of Passport, Qatari ID• One photograph of the applicant (3X4 cm) and/ or electronic• One photo copy of passport (cover page, picture page, vital information page with expiration date• Copy of Qatari ID/Residency permit; if the residency permit is in process, the permit must be presented to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible

Academic Records• A minimum of three years of most recent school records/report cards (when the student is old enough to posses them); showing courses taken and results. High school applicants must provide transcripts of all semesters completed and all work in progress at the time of application.• School records from non-English speaking schools must be officially translated into English. If the school does not have a standard form for school records, then we ask for a written narrative which describes the current achievement level of the student.• Standardized achievement assessments and/or psychological-educational evaluations. Failure to disclose these records at the time of application may result in inappropriate placement, academic struggles, and/or ultimately in a request to withdraw from ASD.• Confidential recommendation forms completed and submitted by the applicant’s current school.

Application Fee• A 500 QR non-refundable application fee per student is due upon submission of the application. This may be paid in cash, check, card, or bank transfer (see application for transfer details). A receipt and/or transfer documentation must be provided to the Office of Admission.

Key School Dates

2014 2015

AUGUST 1First day of new

Admission season

AUGUST 26First day of school

for students

OCTOBER 3-11Eid Holiday Break

DEC. 18 - JANUARY 3Winter Break

JANUARY 24Semester Two Begins

MARCH 19-28Spring Break

JUNE 11Last day of school

for students

Application Requirements

JANUARY 24Semester Two Begins

MARCH 19-28Spring Break

JUNE 11Last day of school

for students

The American School of Doha values health and well being. Our programs encourage an active, healthy lifestyle that includes physical exercise, regional, and international travel, with involvement in service learning activities. As a condition of admission, all students must undergo a physical examination using the prescribed form found in our application packet. This form must be signed, stamped, and dated by the examining physician (not the parent) and submitted with the application. Our Board policy 7.701 regarding Vaccination and Immunization states, “ Each student admitted to ASD must present a copy of the original “Certificate of Immunization” such as the World Health Organization certificate attesting to the immunizations the student has received. These immunizations must be current. The record will be kept by the school nurse who will advise the administration and parents whenever further immunizations are Required.”

The immunization requirements are as follows (also see chart below): 1. A series of 5 Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus vaccinations 2. A series of 4 Polio vaccinations 3. A series of 3 Hepatitis B vaccinations4. A vaccination suite (2 doses) of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) 5. Mantoux (Tb test)/or BCG

Tuberculosis Screening This screening is required for all students entering ASD. The requirement can be met by a Mantoux (Tb) test taken within the past 12 months of the application. If there has been a previous positive TB test, then a chest x-ray taken within one year of the application must be presented.

Exceptions: The Mantoux (Tb) test or chest x-ray are waived only if the student has had a BCG vaccination within the last 5 years (documentation needed), or they have been treated for Latent Tb as indicated in certifiable medical records.

Immunizations Required by ASD (minimum required doses)

DPTPOLIO

HEPATITIS BMMR

TB TEST / OR BCG

1 2 3 4 5

Health & Wellness

Our goal is to provide support and services to all students who meet our admission criteria so that each learner achieves and enjoys learning within the regular academic program with minimal assistance or accommodations. While all students are registered in mainstream classes and academic programs, ASD provides support services for children with minor learning challenges and divisionally appropriate support for those without English as their first language. Whenever possible, any support services that your child may require are determined and communicated before the admission decision is confirmed. If your child is currently receiving special services such as learning resource instruction, remedial teaching, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, or seeing an educational specialist outside of the regular classroom, please advise us at the beginning of the application process. Qualified students will be provided services on the basis of records received, previous placement, current assessments, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), psycho-educational evaluation, and the Admission Committee’s recommendation, which can be made up of the Admissions Director, Principals, Counselors, Learning Specialist, or ESL teachers.

Learning Support The Learning Support program provides academicsupport for those students with learning challenges. It is a broad based program, offering support to students in areas of need and remediation, as well as providing strategies and accommodations to classroom teachers and parents. Students in the program may receive support in both a “pull out” model or “push in” which takes place in the regular classroom setting. All students are registered in regular classes and must be able to access and benefit from the curriculum with minimum support.

ELL Support ASD offers support in English as an additional language for students in first grade through eighth. The program offers learners an enriched, language immersion education in which English is the primary language of instruction. An academic level of English proficiency is our ultimate instructional goal.

• The number of places in the ASD ELL program is limited • ELL applicants must have a positive performance record from their previous school• An ELL admissions test may be required for a student who is a non-native speaker of English• Places in the ELL program may be held specifically for priority 1 and 2 candidates

GATEWAY TO KNOWLEDGE

Support Services at ASD

GATEWAY TO KNOWLEDGE

Annual school fees consist of tuition and capital fee. For successful applicants, a non-refundable, non-transferable registration fee will also be invoiced upon acceptance.

• Parents are responsible for prompt payment of all school fees, regardless of whether fees are paid by the parent or his/her employer

• All tuition and fee payments are due and payable prior to the start of each academic semester• If payments are not made within two weeks of the due date, a student may not be permitted to attend class• A full term tuition fee will be assessed for the semester during which enrollment

occurs,regardless of when it occurs within the semester• Tuition is billed on a yearly basis for those students sponsored by a company. Individuals are billed on a semester basis • Should a student withdraw, tuition fees will be reimbursed on a quarter basis. Refunds are not granted to students of corporations or organizations; rather the tuition will be transferred to a new incoming student.

• Fees may be paid by:• Bank Transfer• Check• Credit card (in ASD Business Office during normal business hours)

School Fees

FEE SCHEDULE:

To confirm the applicable

Tuition and Capital Fees, please

consult the yearly School

Policies and Fees document

link under Admissions at:

http://www.asd.edu.qa/page.

cfm?p=984

QUESTIONS & COMMENTS:

Questions and comments

regarding tuition or fee

payments should be addressed

in writing to the Deputy Director

or by phone to the Business

Office at +974 4459 1572

How does ASD place students coming from schools that have a different academic year, such as those in the Southern Hemisphere or British system? A student coming from a country such as Australia, for example, will complete a grade/year in December. If that student applies to ASD and enters during the second semester, then he/she would enter the grade level that he/she just completed in Australia. A student is not promoted to a given grade level without completing the first semester of that grade level. Students who apply from a British system will be placed according to age and the number of years that submitted school records indicate. Please refer to our grade level document, located within the admission packet.

When will application no longer be accepted or processed for a given school year?The American School of Doha has a rolling admissions process, meaning that we will continue to process and admit students as seats become available. If a grade level or support program is at capacity, then an application for admission can be received, but will not be processed until space becomes available. Towards the end of each semester, pending applicants and those in our qualified waiting pools are asked if they would like to have their applications/files rolled over to be considered for the next school year.

How old does my child have to be in order to apply for the pre-kindergarten program?Students must turn four years of age by August 31st of the year in which they intend to be admitted.

When should I submit an application for admission to ASD?Make initial contact with the Office of Admissions and complete the Online Inquiry Form as soon as you think that a move to Doha and/or ASD may be in your future. Your plans do not need to be secure in order to complete the initial inquiry. It is always best to begin the admissions process as early as possible. The admission season begins on August 1 of each year.

Do I need to have all my application documents submitted?An application file is incomplete and will not be reviewed until all supporting documentation has been received by the Office of Admissions.

Does the school offer admissions priority to some applicants?Yes, please refer to the prioritization structureoutlined in this document (see page 3) or visit ourwebsite at: http://www.asd.edu.qa

Can we meet with an individual principal, teacher or counselor during our tour/visit to the school?Due to the high number of applicants each year, and to ensure that learning is not compromised, applicants cannot always meet faculty or staff outside of the Office of Admissions. If there are questions that we cannot answer, then we will do our best to arrange for a separate meeting in order to respond to any questions or concerns raised by a visiting family. We welcome your visit and we look forward to providing you with an individualized tour.

Frequently Asked

Questions

We look forward to meeting you and assisting your family.

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF DOHA

PO Box 22090, Doha, Qatar

Tel: +974 4459-1501 / www.asd.edu.qa