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About
ISA
 The
Islamic Saudi Academy was founded in 1984 as a bilingual English-Arabic
school with a dual American and Middle Eastern curriculum.
The academy has two campuses, with Pre-K - 1st grade at the
campus in Fairfax VA and grades 2-12 at the main campus in
Alexandria, VA. The Alexandria campus is divided into Girls'
and Boys' Schools. Girls and boys attend class together in
second grade and are separated in third grade. The school
day runs from 8:00 until 3:00 and is broken into eight fifty
minute periods, including one period for lunch and prayer.
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, our students have received over a million dollars in
college scholarships from American universities.
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 offers
English Language Arts, Arabic Language Arts, Science, Math,
Religion, and Social Studies which include U.S. History, Global
Studies, and Civics. Social Studies are also offered in the
Arabic language as well. ISA offers a variety of electives,
such as computer graphics, psychology, economics, fine arts,
journalism and drama. The school has strong enrollment in
our Advanced Placement program, which includes Calculus, Physics,
English, Biology, and American History. ISA has an outstanding
ESL program.
In addition
to its academic program, ISA offers a variety of 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 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 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.
ISA is
extremely proud of its Drama program, which is offered in
the Girls' School and culminates in a performance at the highly
selective Folger Library Festival Competition in Washington,
DC. Every spring, drama students are invited to compete, performing
selections from Shakespeare's plays. Students are recognized
not only for their fine performances, but also for their costumes,
which are designed and sewn by members of the Drama Program.
Other extracurricular activities include Student Government
Association, Future Business Leaders of America, Journalism
Club and Scout Leadership Club.
ISA actively
participates in local and national community service projects.
In recent years ISA has raised money for the United Way, the
Mosaic Foundation, Help the Homeless and other important 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. The school also
participates in local community service projects, such as
the annual Mt. Vernon Community Spring Clean-up.
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
conferences sponsored by the Virginia Association of Independent
Schools, the National Association of Secondary School Principals,
as well as conferences on curriculum, instruction and specialization
areas sponsored by local universities and other professional
institutions.
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, Arabs and Americans
while keeping within the Muslim faith, 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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