Rabat American School (RAS), a private nonprofit institution located in Rabat, was founded in 1962 as a K-8 school to meet the needs of the children of American families affiliated with the United States Government agencies or private companies.
RAS opened originally in a large house, then two houses, located near the “old“ U.S. Embassy in the Hassan quarter. In 1969, the growing school moved to a campus in the suburb of Agdal. Over the years the school continued to grow, and enrollment began to reflect the growing interest of the Moroccan and international communities resident in Rabat. By 1974, the school program was enlarged with the addition of ninth grade. In 1978, thanks to a generous donation from the late Prince Moulay Abdellah, 10th, 11th and 12th grades were added. The Rabat American School awarded its first high school diplomas to a class of six students in 1979.
RAS is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (www.middlestates.org). In 1992, we began to offer the IB Diploma program (www.ibo.org).
In 2015, the Rabat American School Association purchased a plot of land along the Rabat corniche to become the new home for RAS. The new facilities will better reflect our beliefs about teaching and learning. This means a variety of collaborative spaces for grades and subjects to meet and work together, indoor and outdoor spaces for class work, and spaces designed to allow students to achieve to their highest ability: purpose built science built laboratories; theater and performance spaces; spaces for the production and exhibition of fine arts; a library to meet the needs of learners at all levels; design technology labs; and abundant sports facilities to maintain and develop our Athletics.
On Thursday, December 20, 2018, we held a whole-school closing ceremony and officially closed our Agdal campus after 49.5 years of operations. It was an emotional day for our students, staff and parents. Ms. Koenig, our elementary principal, attempted to capture the magic of the week leading to the closing ceremony by using the structure that Clement Clark Moore used in his famous poem, T’was the Night Before Christmas:
.... From our PRIDE we gathered in the gymnasium as a whole school,
Speeches delivered from people we love, RAS is a jewel;
As the ‘Home of the Lions’ banner descended,
Our sights set on collectively making our Oceanside campus, simply splendid!
Then up to the microphone Mr. Goudie arose,
Stating, "I officially announce the Agdal campus is closed!”
On Monday, January 14, 2019, The Rabat American School opened in its new Oceanside campus along the Rabat Corniche in Hay Al Fath. It was an exciting and historic day in the school’s history.