New! American School Opening August 2022
A new American international school for students aged two to 14 years will open in Singapore in August 2022. XCL American Academy will open in a purpose-built campus in Yishun for 1,500 students in Nursery through to Grade 8, making it the fourth international school in the city to offer a US-based education.
News of Singapore's latest opening was announced by the private education group XCL Education, which acquired the former GEMS World Academy in December 2020; it is now renamed XCL World Academy. XCL Education is a Singapore-based education group, serving more than 30,000 students across 100 preschools, international schools, private schools, and enrichment centres.
The founding cohort of XCL American Academy will start in August 2022 in a 'foundation campus' at XCL World Academy until its permanent campus is completed. XCL World Academy is a full IB school with the capacity for 1,600 students, although it currently enrols around 975 students.
Annual fees will range from $22,370 for Nursery and $26,900 for Grade 1 up to $30,900 for Grade 8; there all be a $2,000 discount for founding families who join in the first year – which is some compensation for students starting in a temporary campus.
In terms of cost, XCL American Academy is mid-range for an international education in Singapore but significantly cheaper than Singapore American School (where middle school fees can be as much as $53,000) and Stamford American International School (where Grade 1-8 fees range from £38-42,000). It's on a par with Singapore's third American school, International Community School (ICS).
The new purpose-built campus, located next door to XCL World Academy, is slated to open in August 2023. It will will feature a three-storey library, a Pioneer Town focused on entrepreneurship, multi-purpose hall/gymnasium, and specialist classrooms. Students will also have access to sports and technology facilities at XCL World Academy, including a 50m swimming pool, multi-use sports field, tennis courts, and a 750-seat auditorium.
Commenting on the group's second Singapore opening in 12 months, XCL Education CEO Brian Rogove said:
“Our vision was to create a high quality and more fee-accessible school that could inspire the next generation of global pioneers by instilling in children the confidence to be authentic, have the courage to dream, push boundaries, and challenge themselves within a proven American education framework that is embedded with American values and character development.”
Teaching will follow the AERO/Common Core guidelines and standards issued by the United States Department of Education, bringing it in line with schools in America.
When Grade 8 students graduate from XCL American Academy, they can choose to transition to high school at XCL World Academy. The school will offer a choice of pathways – Advanced Placement, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or Career Programme, or a WASC accredited high school diploma.
For more information about the new XCL American Academy, click here.
