Jubilee School

The Jubilee School, also called The Jubilee Institute, is a special school in Amman, Jordan. It is a private school that does not charge money to help very smart students from Jordan. Boys and girls can both go to this school, and they live there while they study.

This school is different from Jubilee High School in a place called Addlestone, Surrey, England. The Jubilee School focuses only on students who show great potential and need special learning opportunities. It was created to support these students in pursuing their interests and talents in a unique environment.

As a non-profit school, it relies on donations and support from people who want to help bright students have access to excellent education. The school aims to prepare students for future success in many areas, including science, arts, and leadership.

History

The Jubilee School started as an idea in 1977 during celebrations for King Hussein's 25 years as king. It was meant to honor his work in helping education grow. In 1984, Queen Noor agreed to help start the school, and it became part of a foundation named after her.

The school opened in 1993 with 89 students in ninth grade. It moved to its permanent home near Amman in 1998. In 2000, the school became part of the King Hussein Foundation, focusing on education and leadership for talented students.

Campus

The Jubilee School has a large campus of 124,000 square meters with buildings covering about 13,000 square meters. It includes 20 classrooms, labs for chemistry, electronics, biology, ecology, and robotics, as well as special rooms for German and French languages. There is also a big sports area with a squash field, music and art halls, tennis courts, a running track, playing fields, and an indoor swimming pool. Other facilities include a library, a clinic, a theater, dining areas, dormitories for boys and girls, and a special building for the Tawjihi program.

Students at the school must wear uniforms. In summer, they wear dark navy pants and a white shirt. In winter, they can add a hoodie or sweater. Once a month, students can wear casual clothes as long as they follow modest clothing rules.

New students join an orientation program in the summer before starting school. The school offers two main academic programs: one based on the regular Ministry of Education curriculum for grades 9 to 12, and a special program for grades 9 to 11 that includes leadership, communication, counseling, and community service, along with many elective courses to choose from.

Admission to the school

Students who want to join the Jubilee School must first take an exam to show their mental skills. The exam has three parts: Maths, Logic, and Verbal. Those who pass the exam then have an interview. If they do well in the interview, they are invited to join the school.

Before starting school, new students take part in a two-week summer program. This program helps them develop their scientific and personal skills. During the summer, students also take tests to measure their IQ and mental abilities.

Extracurricular activities

Students at Jubilee School have many fun activities to take part in. These include student-exchange programs where they can meet students from schools in Arab and non-Arab countries. They also join competitions, workshops, and seminars.

Other activities include learning about computer networking, going on camping trips, and doing voluntary work in the community. There are special programs to help people at home, those with special needs, senior citizens, and the environment. The school holds an annual technology exhibition called JubiTech, where students show off their skills in computer programming, design, and other IT projects. There is also a Career week and competitions for designing websites. Sometimes, students and teachers switch roles so everyone can understand each other’s challenges better.

Graduation

Students at Jubilee School need to meet four requirements over three years to graduate. First, they must finish all the required school subjects set by the Ministry of Education. Second, they need to complete both required and optional courses offered by Jubilee School. Third, students must spend 120 hours helping their community through service projects. Finally, each student must finish and present a special project to show what they have learned.

Financial status

The Jubilee School relies on charity and support from the government to operate. It also receives donations such as computers and lab equipment. The school makes sure that no student is turned away because they cannot pay the fee of 3000 Jordanian Dinars (about $4300 or €3300). Instead, the school adjusts the fee for each student depending on their family's financial situation.