American School of Bahrain (ASB), the newest addition to Esol Education’s global family of schools, is situated on an expansive 60,000 square meter, state-of-the-art campus. Located in Riffa, near the Bahrain National Stadium, ASB is home to one of the most advanced learning environments on the island.
Designed to facilitate innovation, academic excellence, international mindedness and happiness, American School of Bahrain aims to foster students who will be leaders within their communities and beyond. The school’s facilities include technology-enabled classrooms, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) labs and maker spaces. A multi-level library, equipped with the latest digital resources, will serve as a research space and learning hub, while art studios, music rooms and performance spaces build visual and performing arts skills. ASB’s sizeable athletics complex boasts excellent sporting facilities, with a swimming pool, large indoor gymnasium, basketball courts, regulation-sized soccer field and a 400-meter track.
”The Esol Education and ASB teams have worked diligently over the past three years to bring their vision for the school to life. I’m proud to say that thanks to their efforts, undeterred by the ongoing pandemic, ASB opened its doors on schedule with a healthy enrollment, and is already gaining acclaim as one of the best schools in Bahrain,” remarked Mr. Walid Abushakra, Chairman and Superintendent of Esol Education. “Over the past forty-five years we have built a strong reputation of educational excellence in the world of international education. With its experienced leadership team, ASB is on track to become a leading center of education in Bahrain, equipping our students with the essential skills they need to excel at top universities worldwide and in their chosen careers,” he added.
ASB is a joint venture between Esol Education and Elm Education Fund (Elm), a Bahrain-based education platform, established by Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Elm establishes and co-invests in world-class educational institutions in partnership with leading global operators.
“Local demand for high quality education continues to rise with private school enrolment growing at almost twice the rate of public school enrolment in recent years,” explained HE Khalid Al Rumaihi, Mumtalakat CEO. “The American School of Bahrain is a promising venture for Elm and Mumtalakat as it addresses the changing needs of an ever-changing world, from the skills for tomorrow to quality academic and vocational education,” he added.
Established in 1976, Esol Education currently operates ten schools across five countries, and is the largest operator of international American schools in the world. The opening of the new school in Bahrain is a major milestone for the organization, following closely after its entry into East Asia in 2016 with the opening of American School of Hong Kong (ASHK), and the opening of Dunecrest American School and Fairgreen International School in Dubai in 2018. Each Esol Education school is a close-knit community, bringing families together with the values of multiculturalism and dedication to helping students discover their individual talents.
Featuring state of the art and innovative facilities, ASB aims to combine real-world, inquiry-based teaching with the latest educational technology, bringing key 21st century skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity into the classrooms.
Designed by Jeff Bennett and his team at THA Architects Engineers, the school’s campus supports its future-focused ethos by incorporating collaborative learning spaces and informal student presentation areas.
From its Early Childhood Center and Elementary School to Middle and High School, the campus incorporates purpose-built, age appropriate learning environments while maintaining a natural flow throughout. Classrooms are interconnected with common areas such as the student commons, athletics complex, playgrounds, learning hub and cafeteria. Break-out areas allow teachers to divide students into smaller groups enabling them to share ideas and build on one another's experiences while large, covered outdoor learning spaces offer students the chance to extend their learning beyond the classroom walls.
Other notable on-campus features include the orientation of the buildings to incorporate natural light and minimize the environmental impact of solar heat gain with majority of the classrooms having north and south facing windows to reduce direct sun exposure while maximizing solar energy control. Furthermore, spacious covered exterior areas provide shaded gathering points to beat the summer heat while the gym and auditorium facilities are accessible to students from the interior of the campus with separate access for the public through the parking area, thereby contributing to a safe and secure environment.
