News: Raffles American School, Malaysia: A World Class Learning Community for Global Citizens - Jul 15, 2025
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Tuesday, July 15, 2025School Spotlights

Raffles American School, Malaysia: A World Class Learning Community for Global Citizens

Located among the rolling hills of Iskandar, Malaysia, Raffles American School (RAS) offers an inspiring and dynamic learning environment for students and educators alike. As the only pre-K–12 school in Southeast Asia with a planetarium, RAS blends innovation with a holistic approach to education. Its purpose-built campus, designed for sustainability, fosters inquiry-based learning, creativity, and global citizenship—making it an exceptional place for educators passionate about shaping the future of international education.

Iskandar Puteri, a steadily developing suburban area in the province of Johor, offers a serene and nature-rich environment and a low population density, providing a calm and balanced lifestyle. The campus is a short drive from Johor Bahru, a city of half a million, where expatriate teachers often reside in Puteri Harbour, Medini, or Bukit Indah.

Designed with sustainability in mind, the award-winning RAS campus spans three terraces, each dedicated to different grade levels. The buildings incorporate passive-cooling techniques like cross-ventilation, stack effect, and exterior shading, significantly reducing the school’s carbon footprint while ensuring a comfortable learning environment.

In addition to technology-integrated classrooms and science labs, the RAS campus includes visual art, dance, and performing arts studios; and a performing arts center that is home to an 800-seat auditorium, a black box theater, and a library for students of all reading levels and abilities. At each of the school’s five American-style boarding facilities, students in Grades K–12 can make friends from around the world.

Athletic amenities encompass two separate indoor air-conditioned gymnasiums, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a shallow training pool, outdoor tennis and basketball courts, a soccer field, and a stadium that includes a second full-size soccer field and a 400-meter running track.

Fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, RAS delivers inquiry-based learning, the U.S. Common Core, Advanced Placement courses, WIDA, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The 450 pre-K-12 day and boarding students currently enrolled represent 25 nationalities. About 4% of the students and 10% of the teaching staff are Malaysian.

The Visual and Performing Arts program extends to extra-curricular opportunities in music, theatre, dance, and visual arts. The band program offers ensemble experiences, with progression to advanced groups like the CCA Jazz Band or smaller ensembles. Theatre and dance programs build teamwork and self-assurance through captivating performances, while visual arts classes encourage innovation and self-expression through diverse mediums.

The RAS sports program helps cultivate wellness, teamwork, and friendship as students participate in basketball, football, and volleyball and swimming. Amazing facilities—like the pool, double gym, and rock-climbing wall—make it easy for them to try new things and develop their skills.

Within the boarding facilitiesEach year, secondary students look forward to an exciting, one-week expedition held in and around the Malaysian region. Aligned with RAS’s curriculum, Explore Week challenges students to think critically about their learning and the world around them. Through collaborative problem-solving tasks, exploration, and guided tours, students engage with real-world scenarios that extend their education beyond textbooks. This hands-on experience encourages physical and mental challenges, helping students reflect on their role in society, the environment, and global citizenship.

RAS seeks experienced and certified teachers of diverse profiles, including couples with a non-teaching partner. They would also consider interns looking for an international teaching experience. Candidates must hold an academic degree in the subject they will be teaching. As per government regulations, those up to the age of 65 may obtain a work visa.

The RAS benefits package for expats includes annual airfare. Staff serving as Residence Assistants residing in the boarding facilities, live rent free in exchange for some supervision duties of boarding students. Tuition is free for all dependents. While professional development (PD) is integrated into calendar, RAS supports teachers attending conferences and workshops that further school-wide goals. Worldwide health insurance—except the U.S.—is fully covered.

For more information about Raffles American School, Malaysia, educators can access our profile on the Search Associates database. New candidates can apply for membership by clicking here. Candidates already registered can easily access the school profile directly through their dashboards.

Please note: The information provided is accurate as of the date published and may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the school profile.


Did You Know…?

Senior Associate Nick Kendell has worked in Asia, Australia, and Africa as an educator and administrator.