The 5 Best Homeschools in Dubai
Homeschooling, while an unconventional method of providing education to a child, can prove to be even more beneficial than the familiar school environment.
Not only is it a flexible option for families with an alternative lifestyle, but it also shields children from bullying, peer pressure, and negative influences.
So we looked all over the city to give you the best homeschools in Dubai. We’re also sharing with you the factors we considered in choosing, and also answered some FAQs about homeschooling in Dubai.
How much does it cost to homeschool in Dubai?
The cost of homeschooling in Dubai can vary depending on the curriculum, the schedule, and whether it’s in-person sessions or online.
On average, homeschools in Dubai costs around AED3500 to AED11000 per year, excluding miscellaneous fees.
The Best Homeschools in Dubai
Before we get right into our top picks for the best homeschools in Dubai, here are the factors we considered for our entries on this list:
1. iCademy Middle East
| Criteria | Rating |
| Curriculum | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Set Up | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Background & Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Support | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Established way back in 2007, iCademy is part of the Pansophic Learning Group and accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
On top of that, it is also licensed by the KHDA and provides NCAA-eligible courses for athletes.
We love that when it comes to its background and experience, it adheres to both the local and international standards of education, making it highly credible.
The school utilizes its own curriculum, the Accel Management Platform (AMP) for Education. Besides that, it employs licensed teachers sourced locally, and from the US and UK.
We think it’s amazing that this curriculum allows teachers to tailor a program for each student according to their strengths and weaknesses, learning styles, and aptitudes.
However, we think that the overly flexible curriculum prevents students from being pushed and extend outside of their comfort zone.
While the adaptability of the program puts the students’ mental health and learning experience first, we’re not sure about the level of knowledge that can be gained from this.
But beyond that, what makes iCademy such a great choice is the amazing technology it utilizes to allow students to learn anytime, anywhere.
This allows teachers to provide daily lesson plans, as well as deliver announcements, online discussions, and communication and support tools to tie the experience together.
However, we do see a blind spot in its setup and curriculum, and this is the lack of opportunities or support to transition into a physical classroom should the student and family choose to do so.
And when it comes to its support for parents and students, we think it does a pretty great job of cutting down the time needed for parents to oversee their child’s education to as low as 1 to 2 hours every day.
On top of that, it also provides students with virtual clubs to fill in the lack of social interactions that they may necessarily not get when being homeschooled.
However, we noticed that the school doesn’t have many programs or events that could help parents outside of overseeing their children finish schoolwork.
We think this is especially important because it inspires, motivates, and gives parents ideas on how to better deal with the setup.
Pros
- Licensed and accredited by multiple local and national education authorities
- Programs are tailor-fit for every student
- Technology used allows students to learn anywhere and anytime with ease
- Has virtual clubs for students’ socialization
Cons
- Flexible curriculum may not necessarily push students academically
- Lacks support for parents
- Lacks opportunities for students to transition to physical learning
Customer Reviews
Joining has been an awesome experience
“Joining iCademy Middle East, has been awesome; there is no better time to be part of this community than now, my three daughters love the challenge of building up a capacity to work independently with minimum supervision, their grades are getting better and better each day, thanks to the support they get from the teachers, IT support and we the coaches in the background. The Admission, Finance, and all back office teams play a lead role in making sure that we parents get all the information we require to make the right decision during enrollment and see how far we have achieved to date, I will most definitely recommend parents to turn a leaf and join the iCademy Middle East community.” —Seruwagi Kasozi Philip, Google Reviews
Navigating through their platform is so easy
“We can’t say enough good things about iCademy! Our homeroom teacher is informative and helpful. The teachers communicate well, offer helpful feedback on coursework and truly care about the students and their progress. Navigating through the platform is easy. So is submitting the assignments and taking the quizzes. Most importantly, the coursework is challenging but doable and my son actually enjoys school! We are very happy with our experiences at iAcademy and recommend it :)” —Azadeh Marzara, Google Reviews
2. Clonlara School
| Criteria | Rating |
| Curriculum | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Set Up | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Background & Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Support | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
With students located in over 70 countries and over 50 years of experience, Clonlara School has made a global community for itself.
With programs that span across different learning setups, Clonlara shines on and off campus.
Its off-campus curriculum involves personalizing programs to support a student’s learning journey that includes their unique interests, needs, and goals.
But what makes this school a cut above the others is that it encourages autonomous learning by offering a wide variety of self-paced, teacher-supported online courses when pursuing their passions and interests.
On top of that, all of its learning resources are available in 6 different languages.
However, we think that its approach to teaching encourages too much focal learning that doesn’t really provide a holistic education.
This is needed to help students get into universities and develop a foundation for general knowledge.
But where it starts to go down for us is in the school’s support, especially for parents.
Besides the additional support and guidance that new families receive to ensure that they have the tools needed for a successful Clonlara experience, there really isn’t anything else.
So, we definitely think that this school is for those parents who are ready to dedicate and sustain themselves in their child’s educational journey because the support is only available at the start.
Pros
- Has 50 years of experience
- Offers programs for on and off-campus learning
- Personalized programs to include student’s goals and interests
- Has online courses for autonomous learning
Cons
- Doesn’t have any support programs for parents
- Curriculum is too focused on student’s goals and not on holistic knowledge
Customer Reviews
A great alternative school
“Clonlara was a great alternative school for my son. He learned to take responsibility for his education, had an individualized accelerated academic program, explored his artistic side and felt welcome and appreciated in the community. Teachers were fantastic.” —Caroline Richardson, Google Reviews
Clonlara opened opportunities for our child
“My daughter graduated 15 years ago. Pat Montgomery of Clonlara said repeatedly back then that if a student wanted a government job, they should have a private school diploma, even though homeschooling is legal. Well, we just learned how true that statement was. Now that she’s 33, my daughter’s current career has led to a government job that requires vetting. As proud as we are of her homeschooling “diploma,” it was only Clonlara’s verification that allowed her to pass through the vetting process. We are so grateful for the extra layer of protection that Clonlara School gave us.” —Kathy Donahue, Google Reviews
3. Khan Academy
| Criteria | Rating |
| Curriculum | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Set Up | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Background & Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Support | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
A nonprofit organization with a mission to provide free, world-class education for everyone, Khan Academy is doing more than just being a school.
When it comes to its curriculum, there isn’t any. That’s the organization’s best and worst trait. The lack of structure means students can learn whatever they want at their own pace, giving a new depth to independent learning.
It offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners and coaches on their educational journey.
However, having this means that coaches and parents are required to have some sort of knowledge and willingness to structure their child’s own curriculum.
Besides that, a great thing about Khan Academy is that all of its educational materials are made by experts in their own fields, ensuring that the quality of its library is never compromised.
This goes for Khan Academy’s setup. The lack of one allows children and parents to structure it however they want.
However, the school does have tools, such as dashboards for students and teachers, that can aid them in keeping track of their progress.
And all of its materials have been translated into 36 languages, so that anyone, anywhere, can deeply understand what they’re learning.
But what we love the most about Khan Academy is how it started.
From a man tutoring his cousin into a 150-person organization, it has been supported by dedicated partners who believe in its mission of providing free quality education for all.
Pros
- Nonprofit organization that provides free quality education
- Non-structural curriculum and set-up
- Learning materials are made by experts
- Simple tools to help students and teachers keep track
Cons
- Lack of structure requires parents and teachers to form their own curriculum
4. Bridgeway Academy
| Criteria | Rating |
| Curriculum | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Set Up | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Background & Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Support | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
More than 30,000 students have passed through this homeschool academy since 1989. Bridgeway Academy offers both secular and Christian options for homeschool families all over the world.
Partnered with over 40 different curriculum providers, Bridgeway takes the time to get to know its students so that it can pair them with the curriculum that best fits them.
We love this because the academy balances structure and flexibility to suit the student’s capabilities and needs. All this while also making sure they are constantly challenged to encourage growth.
We also love that one of its core principles of educating students is that the family’s values should dictate the child’s education program and not the other way around.
This academy is also great when it comes to teaching setups. Parents have the option to choose the level of involvement they have with their children.
This means that the academy understands that parents are comfortable teaching certain subjects, while they may struggle with others, and they can adjust the plan accordingly.
This is such a great way to support parents, too. Because it balances their ability to be involved while also making sure that their children understand complex and advanced concepts.
However, the academy also lacks opportunities and options that can help students transition to a physical class if they wish to do so.
There are some missed opportunities here that can greatly help out students and parents who may not see homeschooling as the best setup for them.
Pros
- Partnered with over 40 curriculum providers
- Parents can choose the level of involvement they have with the teaching
- Teachers take time to pair up students with a curriculum
Cons
- Lacks opportunities for students to transition to other setups
Customer Reviews
We love the extra support and accreditation
“We started homeschooling our daughter through Bridgeway Academy in January and we’ve already made the decision to re-enroll her for next year. So, far we’ve had a great experience and our Advisor, Shannon, has been so kind and helpful! I love that we have the extra support and the accreditation is a huge plus. If you’re considering homeschooling Bridgeway is a great option!” —Samantha Eklund, Google Reviews
I love this academy!
“Our experience with Bridgeway has been exemplary. The curriculum is challenging, well organized, and inspiring. The advisors and guidance has been top-notch — super supportive, attentive, and readily available. The extracurricular activities are also exceptional, including all of the clubs offered and social activities. We love Bridgeway and find it to be a very well-rounded and enriching experience. We are so fortunate to have found this academy.” — Debbie Probst, Google Reviews
5. Enlightium Academy
| Criteria | Rating |
| Curriculum | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Set Up | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Background & Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Support | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Enlightium is a premiere Christian homeschool academy with a parent-led print-based curriculum.
It is a member of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools, the Merit Scholar Society, the National Honor Society, and the National Junior Honor Society.
On top of that, it’s also approved by the Washington State Board of Education, College Board for Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and many more.
We love how well-connected this school is despite its unorthodox setup. It opens up so many opportunities for children because of all its accreditations.
The academy also utilizes a curriculum that offers over a hundred electives that pertains to the many interests and passions a student may want to pursue.
It also employs a mastery-based learning system wherein students are given two attempts on lessons and quizzes to reach a minimum threshold that can be adjusted per student.
We love this because it encourages students to do better rather than keep missing opportunities for learning.
As for its setup, it is parent-led. Parents and their children will be able to schedule and adjust according to their own routines.
And while it does not offer any programs for transition to a physical classroom, its numerous accreditations and connections are more than enough to give students opportunities.
It also supports parents by providing them with experienced counselors to ensure that students get the attention they need to succeed in an online learning environment.
However, being a parent-led curriculum means parents are required to be fully involved in the child’s daily learning experience.
Pros
- Accredited and connected with numerous educational institutions
- Offers over 100 electives
- Supports parents by providing counselors
Cons
- Requires the full involvement of a parent
- Lacks opportunities for students to transition to other setups
- A Christian education may not be aligned with everybody
Customer Reviews
We love everything about this academy
“We love everything about Enlightium! The teachers are responsive and my child is thriving. The bible courses are so in detail compared to his previous private school (something that we wholeheartedly love and enjoy). There is something so heartwarming about watching your son wake up, sit at his computer desk in his pajamas and slay the school day.” Brittany Burke, Google Reviews
Enlightium worked with us to be more flexible
“This school has been a godsend for our family. Our son is just finishing up his senior year at Enlightium, with his tennis schedule and active tournament schedule; he needed a more flexible school schedule. Enlightium academy has worked with him; encouraged him and made things easy for us all. I was shocked when he told me that one of his teachers even got up and did tutoring at 5:00 am. Wow The love and commitment to the students and parents can be broken down to one word: “Amazing”. —Anita Telle, Google Reviews
FAQs about Homeschool in Dubai
We hope this helped you in finding the right homeschool provider. Also, if you’re looking for other educational services, then check out these articles: