Understanding KHDA School Ratings and Finding the ‘Right’ School for Your Family
Whether you are an expat who’s just relocated to Dubai or a long-term resident, finding a school that fits your family’s needs can feel overwhelming. The educational landscape in Dubai and across the UAE is diverse and vibrant. The UAE values and prioritizes education, as evidenced by the variety of curricula offered, its rigorous yet transparent regulatory oversight, the mandatory integration of a dual-identity curriculum that ensures Emirati culture and values are at the forefront, and its fiscal and legislative commitments to education. This is why, when choosing a school, many parents struggle with the wealth of options available.
In the emirate of Dubai, many families begin their search online by reading past inspection reports published by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the government regulatory body responsible for the quality of education across private early childhood centers, nurseries, primary and secondary schools, universities, and training institutes. Families looking to enroll their children in school in Dubai often look at the school’s rating, and although it provides a snapshot, there’s so much more to a school than the rating. In Dubai, every private school is evaluated on a six-point scale. Below is a quick breakdown of the six ratings and what they mean.
Ratings and their definitions
Outstanding -Substantially exceeds what the UAE expects. This rating is rare and hard to sustain.
Very Good -Exceeds expectations. These are awarded to schools that are firing on most cylinders.
Good -This is the baseline set by the UAE; meets expectations. This should be read as a real endorsement.
Acceptable -Meets the minimum requirement standard to operate.
Weak -Below the expectations of the UAE.
Very Weak -Significantly below expectations of the UAE.
Regarding the 'Good' rating, note that the UAE maintains high standards. A 'Good' school that suits your family is preferable to an 'Outstanding' school that doesn’t. Additionally, when selecting a school, consider that companies offering stipends for employees' children's education often require a minimum rating of 'Good’.
What are inspectors judging?
The headline rating summarizes six areas as outlined in the United Arab Emirates School Inspection Framework. Additionally, KHDA provides two areas of focus on its website: Well-being and Inclusion. The six areas they focus on are:
Students’ achievement – examines attainment and progress across: English, Math, Science, Arabic as First Language, Arabic as Second Language, Islamic, and Learning Skills.
Students’ personal and social development, and their innovation skills
Teaching and assessment – specifically looking at the quality across all school phases.
Curriculum
The protection, care, guidance, and support of students
Leadership and management
Read past the overall rating
A unified rating summarizes the points above, but when reading the report, my recommendation is to review the areas individually because that is where the most information you are seeking can be found. Carefully note the following:
Ratings can vary by phase. You may have a school rated Outstanding in Early Years/Foundation Stage but Acceptable in Middle/Secondary. If you have a child entering middle school, the Early Years rating shouldn’t carry the same weight in your decision, as it doesn’t reflect the experience your child is likely to have.
Subjects can have different ratings. As previously mentioned, schools are assessed on attainment and progress in each core subject. Typically, a school excels in some subjects and is less strong in others. It's crucial to review the inspection report thoroughly to make an informed decision about the subjects. A word of caution... I have been part of a senior leadership team that worked hard to boost student achievement over three and a half years. My advice is that if you're interested in a particular school, look at multiple inspection reports, not just the most recent one. For schools open for over four years, school improvement is an ongoing process.
Because improvement happens over time, it is also imperative to look at progress versus attainment. Attainment is how high students score, whilst progress is how far they have come from their starting points. A school that is serving students well can show upward trends in progress even when attainment is still climbing.
Three things a rating will never tell you
First and foremost, determine whether the school is the best fit for your child. Ratings measure a school’s performance, not whether it is a good match for your family. A highly structured school may be a good fit for one family, while another may find it stifling. Only your family can determine whether a school is a good fit. I’ve led school tours where a family told me halfway through that they had seen enough and then filled out an application because they sensed their children would be happy there. I’ve also participated in school tours that, although positive, we knew weren’t a great match. That’s okay and perfectly normal.
Second, consider how current an inspection report is. For the past two years, KHDA suspended inspections except for schools entering their third year of operation. In June 2024, KHDA announced a pause on inspections. They described this decision as part of an “evolving approach to supporting quality education,” which aligns with the Education 33 strategy. Think of the rating as a snapshot from two years ago for most schools. Schools are constantly evolving, and changes such as a new principal, teacher turnover, or shifts in enrollment affect them. Additionally, the regional conflict that began in February 2026 introduced a series of challenges for schools across the UAE. Shifting to distance learning always presents obstacles, especially for younger students who rely heavily on in-person interactions and classroom routines. As with the pandemic, these experiences have lingering effects. In May 2026, KHDA announced that quality assurance visits would resume during the 2026 – 2027 academic year. These visits will differ slightly, as schools will now be notified 24 hours in advance, and not all schools will have full inspections. Instead, some schools may be selected for a quality assurance visit with a specific focus that will not impact the school’s current rating.
Lastly, a rating cannot fully convey the feel of the place. An inspection touches on care and well-being, but it can’t capture what you will feel when walking through the school. What do you notice as you enter the school? Do the children seem at ease and happy? Do the staff look content and engaged with the children? What is the overall vibe of the place? What attracted me most to the school I worked at was the tour the admissions manager at the time gave my husband and me. She provided us with information about the school and paused to ask teachers who were available to speak with us about their experiences. I loved watching the children and teachers interact. When I walked away from the tour, my husband and I decided to enroll our son there regardless of whether I was hired.
How to actually use the rating
Read the inspection report in its entirety. Specifically, pay attention to what inspectors praised and what they identified as areas for improvement. A school’s improvement points indicate where some of its barriers are, or were, in the case of reports older than a year. These insights can help you determine which questions you would like to ask during your tour.
This leads me to the second thing I recommend when looking at a school’s rating: visit and go with specific questions. Bring a short list to help you judge whether you want your child to attend. Below are some questions to consider:
How does the school perform in the phase and subjects my child will be in?
How many of your staff members are returning next year?
What are some of your well-being initiatives?
Class numbers are always important; do you cap how many students are in each class?
How do you support students who fall behind? As a parent, how would I know whether my child is receiving additional assistance?
How do you know when a child is making progress besides what is included in the report card?
What are your policies on screen time and technology use?
What changes have you made since the last inspection report?
What is a distinguishing feature of your school that is uncommon in other schools?
The questions you ask will matter more than the rating because they will reveal how the school’s staff thinks.
Quick To-Do Reminders
Look up the rating for the phase your child will be joining, not just the overall rating.
Check the subjects that matter to your family; during your visit to the school, pay close attention to what specialist subjects are offered in the secondary grades.
Read the inspection report’s “areas for improvement”.
Check how recent the rating is, as some schools have received more recent ratings due to the length of time, they have been open.
Ask what’s changed since the last rating.
Most of all, trust what you see and feel during the visit as much as you do the rating.
A KHDA rating can help you narrow your options and compile a shortlist. Be sure to visit schools multiple times and participate in open meetings or play sessions if your children are still young. For older children, scheduling a taster day is beneficial. Use all these experiences to make an informed choice.
References and Resources
KHDA School Search and Inspection Results
