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The ISA is Located in Northern Virginia, about 25 miles from Washington DC.
Main Campus (Grades 2 - 12)
8333 Richmond Highway Alexandria, VA 22309
Phone #:(703)780-0606
Fax #:(703)780-8639
West Campus (Grades Pre-K - 1)
11121 Pope's Head Rd Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone #:(703)691-0000
Fax #:(703)691-0454
E-Mail: ISAAdmission@gmail.com
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The Fast Facts
| Student Enrollment (as of 2007)
933 Students
522 Girls
411 Boys
28% Student from Saudi Arabia
More than 30 countries represented |
Teachers:
124 Teachers
4% PhD degrees
24% MA degrees
65% BA degrees
7% Diploma |
Campus Facilities
Fairfax and Alexandria locations
Main Campus in Alexandria:
10.6 acres with
154,000 sq. ft.
Full gymnasium
Playing fields
Cafeteria |
| Tuition / Fees
Pre-Kindergarten - $5000
Kindergarten - $5000
Grades 1 - 12 (Saudi Students) - Free
Grades 1 - 12 (non Saudi) - $2500
Bus Transportation for grades 1 -12
$2000/year for the first student
$1500/year for the second student
$1000/year for any additional students within the family
(ISA has 22 buses and transports over 600 students each day)
Lunch:
$640/year |
Athletics
Member of the Northern
Virginia Independent
Athletic Conference
Basketball league
Volleyball league
Soccer league
Girls and Boys Varsity and Jr. Varsity teams |
Student Life
Field Trips
Plays
Honor Roll
Spelling Bees
Sports
Field Day
Poetry Contests
Quran Contests
Community Service
National Honor Society
Model UN |
Membership/Accreditation
- Commission on International and Trans- Regional Accreditation (CITA)
- Southern Association of Colleges And Schools (SACS)
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History
Founded 1984 |
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The Mission of the Islamic Saudi Academy is to enable students to excel academically while maintaining the values of Islam and proficiency with the Arabic language. The Academy endeavors to provide a caring, challenging and supportive learning environment where students can achieve their highest potential while exhibiting civic responsibility and multicultural appreciation. (TOP)
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The Our Vision of ISA will be the premier educational institution for the Saudi and Muslim community for grades PreK-12 in the United States. (TOP)
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- Create opportunities for our students to embrace, internalize, and practice the moral values established in the Holy Qur’an and the exemplary life of our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S.)
- Provide a safe and stimulating learning environment that promotes an atmosphere of cooperation, trust, and dignity.
- Encourage students to serve others both within our school and in the larger community.
- Teach and promote respect and appreciation for cultural differences and the natural rights of mankind.
- Nurture and inspire creativity, self-direction, self-discipline, and self-esteem.
- Instill a thirst for knowledge.
- Develop critical thinking and practical application skills needed for life-long learning.
- Promote physical and mental fitness through athletic participation while emphasizing sportsmanship and teamwork.
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 The Islamic Saudi Academy was founded in 1984 with the support of Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the former Saudi ambassador to the United States. ISA originally went from Pre-K through 8th grade only, but by 1990 grades 9 through 12 had been added. The physical location of the school changed several times over the years. Currently, the main campus, which is home to grades 2 to 12, is in the old Mt. Vernon High School on Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia. The Saudi government, which in large part funds the school, owns a second campus which is in Fairfax on Popes Head Rd. That campus houses the Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade classes. Future plans for the school include building a larger school on the Fairfax campus that will host all grades.
The population of the Academy has grown and leveled off over the years and ISA now maintains a student population between 900 to 1000 each year. Approximately 125 teachers work at the school on a full time basis.
ISA received its first accreditation in 1990 by SACS and has maintained full accreditation status ever since. In 2005 ISA received an "exemplary" rating from the SACS accreditation team. (TOP)
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The Governance of ISA lies with the Director General, who is appointed by a Board of Directors to oversee the daily operations of the school, including all administrative and educational matters. The honorary chairman of the board is the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States. In 1984, the Board established the original charter for the Academy and laid out its purpose and mission. The school receives the majority of its financing through the Saudi government, with some additional funding coming via tuition fees for non-Saudi students. (TOP)
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The Curriculum of the Islamic Saudi Academy is fully bilingual, with all students learning English and Arabic. The education system is primarily an American-based curriculum with additional classes in Islamic Studies and the Arabic language. Graduation requirements are stringent and allow ISA graduates to be accepted into virtually every American and Middle Eastern university.
The Alexandria building is divided into a Primary School for 2nd graders, a Girls' School for grades 3 to 12 and a Boys' School for grades 3 to 12.. Second grade classes are mixed. Elementary coordinators oversee grades 3 to 6 while Grades 7 to 12 are under the umbrella of the High School Administration. The school day runs from 8:00 to 3:00 and is divided into eight 50-minute class periods. One period is set aside for lunch and prayer, the other seven periods generally include Islamic Studies, Arabic, English, Social Studies, Science, Math and various electives such as PE, Health, Art and Computer.
ISA offers English Language Arts, Arabic Language Arts, Science, Math, Religion, and Social Studies which include U.S. History, Human Geography, Global Studies, and Civics. Social Studies are also offered in the Arabic language as well. ISA offers a variety of electives, such as computer programming, web design, graphic arts, economics, and fine arts. Classes in Physical Education and Health are offered as well. The school has strong enrollment in the Advanced Placement program, which includes Calculus, Physics, English, Biology, Chemistry, American History and Human Geography. ISA has an excellent ESL (English as a Second Language) and ASL (Arabic as a Second Language) program
The Academy is pursuing the International Baccalaureate diploma program and hopes to implement that by the year 2011.
ISA prepares students for entry into American, as well as international universities and colleges. After graduating from ISA, over ninety per cent of our students go on to attend American universities, including such elite institutions as MIT, Georgetown, Princeton and Stanford University. The school also actively promotes relationships with local universities, such as the George Washington University, George Mason University, and American University by taking students on campus and inviting college representatives to speak at the school. Over the past five years, students have received over a million dollars in college scholarships from American universities. (TOP)
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In addition to its academic program, ISA offers a variety of extracurricular activities Extracurricular Activities for its students to experience. ISA has a thriving after-school sports program. The school is a member of the Northern Virginia Independent Athletic Conference (NVIAC) and participates in its basketball and soccer and volleyball leagues. Our coaches and their colleagues in the Conference have built a solid relationship based on mutual respect, teamwork and sportsmanship. ISA students and coaches alike value the sports program not for victories, but for the relationships they have been able to foster with other teams.
ISA sponsors a chapter of the National Honor Society. In addition to community service projects, the ISA National Honor Society organizes and sponsors an annual Career Day to promote education and career development for young men and women. This event brings prominent members of the DC community to speak to students. Recent speakers have included university faculty, as well as professionals in medicine, law, engineering, and computers, and US government officials.
ISA annually participates in regional and national science competitions. The ISA Science Fair is held in late winter and is judged by a team comprised of faculty members and outside specialists in math and science. ISA has had a number of students receive awards at the district and regional level.
ISA students have traditionally participated in national school programs and events that promote leadership and citizenship. For many years ISA students have been active members of the Model United Nations Club, which promotes understanding of world affairs and communication between cultures. Over the years, ISA students have won numerous awards for their participation in school debates. Every year the school sponsors student participation in the Presidential Classroom Program.
Other extracurricular activities include Student Government Association, It's Academic Team, Future Business Leaders of America, Newsletter Club, Yearbook Committee, Community Service Organization and Drama Clubs.
ISA actively participates in local and national community service projects. In recent years ISA has raised money for victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Tsunami, and the Pakistani earthquake. Money was raised for the United Way, Help the Homeless, the American Cancer Society and other charity organizations. ISA has also fostered relationships with a number of area primary and secondary schools, including private institutions as well as public schools in the District of Columbia and Montgomery County. In partnership with area schools, ISA has visited school campuses, made presentations and participated in pen-pal exchanges. ISA seeks to promote understanding among students from various backgrounds.
ISA is a prominent member of the Mt. Vernon community and values its relationship with its neighbors. The school regularly coordinates with members of the business community, as well as the local police and fire departments.
Since its beginning, ISA has encouraged its staff to participate in events and activities that foster professional growth and awareness. Every year the school sends staff and faculty to various educational conferences throughout the United States, as well as attending local regional educational meetings. ISA offers teachers professional development courses on-site through University of Virginia and George Mason University. Additionally, Arabic language courses are offered after school for both staff and community.
ISA staff welcomes the opportunity to share their experience in bicultural education and to participate in workshops, task forces and committees on the local and national level. ISA administrators have participated in committees for Fairfax County Public Schools and have appeared on the "DOE Hour" classroom cable channel. Other outreach efforts have included talks by ISA staff at local elementary, middle and high schools.
Since its establishment, the Islamic Saudi Academy has viewed its relationship with the community and culture as vital to the mission of the school. ISA not only promotes respect and mutual understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims, and Arabs and Americans, it strives for its staff and students to uphold tolerance, honesty, integrity and compassion, qualities that represent the best of both American and Arabic cultures.
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