Al-Rayan International School

What Al-Rayan International School does

Al-Rayan International School (ARIS) is a private, independent K-12 international school located on Boundary Road in East Legon, Accra, Ghana, governed by a Board of Trustees. The school operates as the only institution in West Africa to offer the Full International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum, delivering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), and IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), supplemented by an Early Years Foundation Stage covering Playgroup through Reception. For the 2025-2026 academic year, ARIS serves approximately 665-750 students from 59 nationalities, supported by a staff of around 207-240 employees (including 8 wellbeing specialists and 32 support teachers) operating at a 5:1 teacher-to-student ratio, with reported outcomes including a 100% university acceptance rate and IBDP/IBCP/MYP pass rates of 94.4%, 100%, and 98% respectively.

The school's core product portfolio centers on the IB Continuum, augmented by add-on modules including the Eagle Enrichment Enhancement Programme, ARISVersity parent education programme (launched 2025), University & Career Counseling, Student Leadership, Athletics & Sports, Clubs & Teams (Model UN, Duke of Edinburgh), and Guidance/Wellbeing services. ARIS also operates supporting digital infrastructure including EagleBot (an AI-powered chatbot for admissions and policy Q&A), an ARIS Digital Library (Google Sites-based), and the ARIS Pay online payment platform supporting MoMo mobile money, cheque, expressPay, and wire transfers through Absa and Zenith banks.

ARIS generates revenue primarily through recurring annual tuition and fees across its Early Years, Primary, and Secondary tiers, with payment facilitated through the ARIS Pay platform. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, with prospective families recruited via the school website, the OpenApply online application portal, and on-campus tours. The school maintains an extensive network of institutional partnerships (AISA, CIS, WAISAL, AAIE, PTC, NFI, WIDA, Global Schools Program, Pearson, SCAD) supporting accreditation, curriculum resources, professional development, and student pathways, and has been recognized with the 2025 Women's Choice Awards Africa for Educational Excellence and Transformational Leadership.

Name

Al-Rayan International School

Legal name

Al Rayan International School

Website

https://aris.edu.gh

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Al-Rayan International School (ARIS) is a private K-12 international school in Accra, Ghana, and the only school in West Africa offering the full IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, IBDP, IBCP), serving approximately 665-750 students from 59 nationalities with a 100% university acceptance rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years) (EDACADAK)

Keywords

• International K-12 education
• IB continuum programme
• University preparation services
• Early childhood education
• Student wellbeing programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Accra

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: ARIS generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged to enrolled students. The school offers transparent and competitive tuition structure supporting academic and personal growth. Payment methods include MoMo mobile payments, cheque deposits at Absa Bank, expressPay online payments, and wire transfers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ARIS delivers the Full International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum from Early Years through Secondary school, covering Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), and IB Career-related Programme (IBCP). The school operates as a private day school on its East Legon, Accra campus, enrolling approximately 665-750 students from 59 nationalities with 240+ staff maintaining a 5:1 teacher-to-student ratio.

Product overview

Al-Rayan International School (ARIS) is a K-12 IB World School offering a unified educational platform built around the Full IB Continuum Programme. The core product portfolio comprises four interconnected IB programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), and IB Career-related Programme (IBCP). Supporting the IB continuum are enrichment modules including Eagle Enrichment Enhancement Programme for personalised learning, ARISVersity for parent education, University & Career Counseling, and comprehensive Student Services. The school also operates digital platforms including EagleBot AI assistant, ARIS Digital Library, and ARIS Pay payment system, alongside extended learning offerings such as Athletics, Clubs, and Student Leadership Programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EagleBot: AI-powered chatbot assistant for answering questions about ARIS policies, admissions, and general school information

Products and services

• Full IB Continuum Programme The complete International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum programme comprising Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), and IB Career-related Programme (IBCP). ARIS is the only school in West Africa offering the Full IB Continuum, providing a continuous educational pathway from Early Years through Secondary for students aged 2-18.
• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) A nurturing early childhood education programme covering Playgroup, Nursery, and Reception classes that supports holistic development of young learners aged 2-5.
• Primary Years Programme (PYP) IB PYP for Years 1-6 (ages 6-12) focusing on inquiry-based learning, transdisciplinary themes, and student agency culminating in the PYP Exhibition.
• Middle Years Programme (MYP) IB MYP for Years 7-11 (ages 12-16) providing a framework of academic challenge that encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and real-world applications, with a 98% passing rate.
• IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) Two-year pre-university programme for ages 16-19 leading to globally recognized IB diploma qualifications with a 94.4% passing rate.
• IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) IB CP combining academic subjects with career-related study, achieving a 100% passing rate, preparing students for both higher education and career pathways.
• Eagle Enrichment Enhancement Programme Personalised learning programme providing diverse pathways for students through support and designed approaches to empower every student to succeed academically.
• University & Career Counseling Comprehensive guidance service helping students with university applications and career planning, supporting the school's 100% university acceptance rate.
• Athletics and Sports Programme Comprehensive sports programme offering various athletic opportunities for all ages and skill levels with dedicated coaches, including WAISAL interscholastic competitions across West Africa.
• Student Leadership Programmes Structured leadership development opportunities including student representative roles, investiture ceremonies, and 70 student-led service initiatives fostering student agency.
• Guidance Services Student support services including counselling, wellbeing programmes, and pastoral care with dedicated specialists in the Wellbeing department.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% university acceptance rate for graduating students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• West African International Schools Activities League (WAISAL)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 June 2023ARIS became a member of WAISAL in June 2023. The league provides interscholastic activities including athletics and academic competitions for students across West Africa, offering platforms for ARIS students to showcase talents and engage in friendly competition.
• Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARIS is a member of AISA, which provides networking, professional development, and support for international schools across Africa. This partnership connects ARIS with other international schools in the region for collaboration and best practice sharing.
• Pearson EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationARIS is a partner of Pearson Education, providing access to educational resources, curriculum materials, and assessment tools that support IB programme delivery.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SCAD provides ARIS students with potential pathways to higher education in art and design, and collaborative opportunities for creative programmes.
• Principals' Training Center for International School LeadershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARIS is an official member of PTC, which provides professional development and training for school leadership, supporting ARIS administrators in educational leadership excellence.
• Next Frontier Inclusion (NFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFI membership supports ARIS's commitment to inclusive education, providing resources and expertise for serving students with diverse learning needs.
• Global Schools ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Global Schools Program connects ARIS with sustainable development education initiatives and resources.
• WIDAcoreTechnology or IntegrationWIDA membership provides ARIS with assessment tools and resources for measuring English language development, supporting the school's diverse international student population.
• Council of International Schools (CIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIS membership connects ARIS with international schools worldwide, providing accreditation support, professional development, and global networking opportunities.
• AAIE (Association of American International Educators)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAIE membership provides ARIS with professional development resources and networking opportunities for international school leaders and educators.

Scale indicators7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Lagos Preparatory & Secondary School: Lagos Preparatory & Secondary School is a British-curriculum international school in Nigeria with a similar premium positioning to ARIS. It is relevant for benchmarking outcomes, university placement, and premium pricing in the West African private school market.
• Greensprings School: Greensprings School is a leading private K-12 school in Lagos, Nigeria, offering international curricula including IB programmes. It is a regional comparable for premium positioning, tuition economics, and outcomes-driven marketing in the West African international school market.
• Grange School: Grange School is a high-end private school in Lagos offering British and international curricula. It is comparable to ARIS as a premium-priced, expatriate-friendly school in a major West African commercial hub, although it competes in a different domestic market.
• International School of Dakar: International School of Dakar is an IB-offering international school in Senegal that serves a similar expatriate and diplomatic community. It is a useful regional comparable for curriculum, outcomes, and pricing benchmarks in francophone and anglophone West Africa.
• American International School of Lagos: The American International School of Lagos is an established international school in Nigeria serving a comparable expatriate and corporate-relocation segment. It provides benchmarking on staffing models, tuition, and operational scale for premium West African international schools.

Others

• Sage Hill School: Sage Hill School is a California-based independent school with IB programmes. It is an OTHERS-type reference for global IB-curriculum independent schools of similar scale, useful for benchmarking operating models but not a direct geographic competitor.

Direct peers

• Tema International School: Tema International School is a Ghana-based private international school offering IB programmes and a similar K-12 international curriculum to ARIS. As a domestic competitor also located in the Greater Accra region, it is the most directly comparable peer for tuition, accreditation, and admissions competition.
• Lincoln Community School: Lincoln Community School is an American-style international school in Accra serving a similar expatriate and affluent Ghanaian family segment. It competes head-to-head with ARIS for the same admissions pool in East Legon and surrounding areas.
• German Swiss International School (Accra): German Swiss International School is another Accra-based international school offering globally recognized curricula. It overlaps with ARIS in target demographic (expatriate and diplomatic families) and competes on tuition and programme breadth.

Broad incumbents

• Santiago College / International Schools in Africa (broad incumbents): The Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA) is not a peer school but represents the broader ecosystem of international schools across Africa that ARIS belongs to. It is included as an OTHERS-style reference for peer-set context rather than as a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/arisghana

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Al-Rayan International School