ASD is more expensive, but it also has been around longer and has a more established extra-curricular program (strong athletics). The school is more high-tech than QA, and parents are expected to regularly check online for info about their child's classes, etc. Very active PTA and parent involvement, no uniforms for kids, predominantly (60% guesstimate) North American enrollment, but much more internationally mixed among it "others" (Danish, Korean, South African, Filipino, Qatari, Brazilian, Dutch, Egyptian, Singaporean, etc.). If you're coming from the States, your kids will feel more at home here (the school celebrates Halloween and other holidays, has a prom for juniors and seniors, sponsors dances and lots of other fun activities, etc.).
QA is cheaper, has less parental involvement, kids wear uniforms, extra-curric/sports are somewhat weaker than ASD's. Student body is about 50% Qatari, 50% other (and a large percentage of these others are expat Arabs). School is officially a national school that employs international teachers and offers an international curriculum. As such, you will find that the school does not sponsor co-ed dances or anything similar that promotes boys and girls mixing too much (because it caters to national/Qatari sensibilities). Classes are mixed (except for PE) but a school dance with both boys and girls attending would be out of the question at QA.
Both schools have well-qualified staff/teachers and offer good academic programs, foreign languages, Islamic studies.
I second the earlier comment about available spaces in both schools, however. To my knowledge, both schools are basically maxxed out and have few if any openings at present. Unless your family works for a big company that has secured spots/contracts with the schools, you should plan on the liklihood that you will have GREAT difficulty finding an opening for your child there. Start researching your second, third, and fourth choices NOW and get names added onto wait lists as soon as you can.
ASD is more expensive, but it also has been around longer and has a more established extra-curricular program (strong athletics). The school is more high-tech than QA, and parents are expected to regularly check online for info about their child's classes, etc. Very active PTA and parent involvement, no uniforms for kids, predominantly (60% guesstimate) North American enrollment, but much more internationally mixed among it "others" (Danish, Korean, South African, Filipino, Qatari, Brazilian, Dutch, Egyptian, Singaporean, etc.). If you're coming from the States, your kids will feel more at home here (the school celebrates Halloween and other holidays, has a prom for juniors and seniors, sponsors dances and lots of other fun activities, etc.).
QA is cheaper, has less parental involvement, kids wear uniforms, extra-curric/sports are somewhat weaker than ASD's. Student body is about 50% Qatari, 50% other (and a large percentage of these others are expat Arabs). School is officially a national school that employs international teachers and offers an international curriculum. As such, you will find that the school does not sponsor co-ed dances or anything similar that promotes boys and girls mixing too much (because it caters to national/Qatari sensibilities). Classes are mixed (except for PE) but a school dance with both boys and girls attending would be out of the question at QA.
Both schools have well-qualified staff/teachers and offer good academic programs, foreign languages, Islamic studies.
I second the earlier comment about available spaces in both schools, however. To my knowledge, both schools are basically maxxed out and have few if any openings at present. Unless your family works for a big company that has secured spots/contracts with the schools, you should plan on the liklihood that you will have GREAT difficulty finding an opening for your child there. Start researching your second, third, and fourth choices NOW and get names added onto wait lists as soon as you can.
Good luck!