K-12 Education: Administration of DOD Schools in Bahrain

What GAO Found

As of school year 2024-25, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) operated 160 schools that served nearly 70,000 military-connected students around the world. These schools included Bahrain Elementary School and Bahrain Middle High School. The Bahrain Community Schools are located on the island Kingdom of Bahrain in the Middle East, just outside of Naval Support Activity Bahrain (see figure). The schools are part of DODEA's Europe Region.

Figure: Countries with Schools in DODEA's Europe Region, Including Bahrain

In school year 2024-25, the majority (86 percent) of the Bahrain Community Schools' nearly 600 students were children of active-duty servicemembers, DOD civilian employees, and DOD contractors. The remaining 14 percent included tuition-paying Americans and foreign nationals.

The Bahrain Community Schools' campus includes an academic building with a wing for each school, science laboratories, a library, three art studios, and a cafeteria-theater. The Navy leases the campus from a private entity on behalf of DODEA. In Fall 2024, it modified the lease to allow for improvements needed to bring the property into compliance with DOD facilities standards, such as new fire suppression and security systems.

Like other DODEA schools, the Bahrain Community Schools offered a variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities for students in school year 2024-25. For example, high school students enrolled in 13 in-person Advanced Placement courses, participated in seven competitive sports, and were in 26 extracurricular clubs. While local athletic competition was limited, some DODEA travel funding was available for teams to compete against other DODEA schools in Europe.

For the same year, nearly all (98 percent) of the Bahrain Community Schools' staff positions were filled as of September 1. This staffing rate exceeded the DODEA-wide average of 96 percent, in part due to the enhanced recruitment and retention strategies available to Bahrain as a designated hardship location. For example, applicants who accept positions in Bahrain receive a 20-percent cost of living allowance and additional incentives.

Some parents from both of GAO's parent discussion groups expressed frustration over delayed communication regarding security events that had prompted school lockdowns in recent years. However, installation leaders explained that communication during security events must be carefully vetted by senior leaders to assure safety. Installation and school leaders all agreed that the safety and security of DODEA students was of utmost importance during such incidents.

Finally, about 9 percent of students at the Bahrain Community Schools received special education services in school year 2024-25, and some of these students had educational needs that exceeded the schools' designated resource levels. School leaders and school staff told GAO that they were committed to providing every student with a high-quality education, including those eligible for special education. Installation leaders said they were taking steps to better screen families before they arrived in Bahrain to ensure that their educational needs aligned with available school resources.

Why GAO Did This Study

As DOD has reported, access to a high-quality education can enhance military-connected students' well-being. However, some media reports have described parent concerns about DODEA's schools in Bahrain that ranged from many teacher vacancies to poor communication. The Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 includes a provision for GAO to examine the administration of these schools. This report provides information on the Bahrain Community Schools, including student population, facilities, academic and extracurricular opportunities, staffing, communication efforts, and special education.

GAO analyzed DODEA's data on student enrollment, course offerings, staffing, and special education enrollment for school years 2022-23 through 2024-25, the three most recently completed school years at the time of GAO's review. GAO also interviewed DODEA officials and visited the Bahrain Community Schools in person. There, GAO interviewed school and installation leaders and conducted four discussion groups-two with teachers and two with parents. GAO also reviewed relevant agency policies and procedures.

For more information, contact Jacqueline Nowicki at [email protected].