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| King Abdullah Academy | |
|---|---|
أكاديمية الملك عبد الله | |
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
2949 Education Drive, Herndon, VA 20171 Floris, Virginia United States | |
| Coordinates | 38°55′46″N77°25′17″W / 38.929399°N 77.421482°W /38.929399; -77.421482 |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 2016; 10 years ago (2016) |
| Closed | 2025 (2025) |
| Principal | Noha Elghosein |
| Grades | Kindergarten through 12 |
| Website | www |
King Abdullah Academy (KAA;أكاديمية الملك عبد الله) was a private Saudi Arabian international school located inFloris, Virginia, an unincorporated community inFairfax County, Virginia, within theWashington, D.C. metropolitan area.[1]
The school opened in fall 2016 under the direction of the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission to the United States. Its goal was to provide a U.S.-based, English-language curriculum rooted in Islamic values and Arabic language instruction. It primarily served children of Saudi diplomats and expatriates residing in the greater Washington, D.C. area.
The school was built on a 40-acre campus previously zoned for educational use. As such, no additional hearings were required by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. At the time of planning, SupervisorMichael R. Frey reported no public opposition to the site.[2]
Located nearWashington Dulles International Airport, the King Abdullah Academy campus featured modern academic buildings, a soccer field, walking trails, outdoor classrooms, and an Olympic-style swimming pool. The school was purpose-built with security and architectural standards similar to those used for diplomatic and international facilities.[3]
KAA offered instruction in English, Arabic, and Islamic studies. The lower school (K–5) was co-educational, while middle and high school students were taught in gender-segregated classes.[4]
The school adopted a U.S.-based curriculum aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning and was also a certified International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. Students regularly matriculated to U.S. and international universities.
In January 2025, the school announced that it would close permanently at the end of the 2024–2025 academic year due to financial and administrative sustainability concerns. According to a letter from the board, the school had been unable to establish a viable long-term funding model to maintain operations independently of Saudi governmental support.[5]
A community petition was launched in an attempt to reverse the closure, but the school’s board of directors confirmed the final decision in April 2025.
The closure affected approximately 450 students and 160 staff members. Legal proceedings were initiated to investigate potential violations of the federal WARN Act, as employees were allegedly notified with fewer than 67 days' notice.[6]
In June 2025, it was officially announced that the International Scholars Academy (ISA), a registered nonprofit organization, will serve as the official successor to King Abdullah Academy. While ISA has no affiliation with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it carries forward the 40+ year legacy of ISA/KAA, with much of the same administrative team leading the new institution. ISA is a fully accredited educational institution by COGNIA, and authorized to offer the full continuum of International Baccalaureate (IB) programs: PYP, MYP, and DP. The new academy emphasizes academic excellence rooted in Islamic values, Arabic language proficiency, civic responsibility, and global citizenship. More information can be found at www.isava.org.
In June of 2025 it was announced thatFairfax County Public Schools in Virginia would purchase the campus, buildings, and equipment for $150 million with the intention of opening a new public high school for the county.[7]
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