Complete List of Schools in Istanbul, Including Public, Private, and International Schools
A practical guide to choosing the right school for immigrant families in Istanbul
Choosing the right school is one of the biggest decisions for immigrant families in Istanbul. In this guide, we have gathered a complete list of public, private, and international schools across the city.
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Complete Table of Schools in Istanbul
In the table below, you can see the full list of schools together with their district and school type:
| School Name | District | School Type |
|---|---|---|
| 🟦 Asian Side | ||
| Özel Kadıköy Key Koleji | Kadıköy | Private |
| Özel Erenköy Koleji | Kadıköy | Private |
| İSTEK Semiha Şakir Okulları | Kadıköy | Private |
| Kadıköy Anadolu Lisesi | Kadıköy | Public |
| Göztepe İhsan Kurşunoğlu Anadolu Lisesi | Kadıköy | Public |
| Üsküdar American Academy (UAA) | Üsküdar | International |
| Acıbadem Bilfen International | Kadıköy (nearby) | International |
| Bilfen Ataşehir | Ataşehir | Private |
| Doğa Koleji Ataşehir | Ataşehir | Private |
| Uğur Koleji Ataşehir | Ataşehir | Private |
| Ataşehir Anadolu Lisesi | Ataşehir | Public |
| Safir International School | Ataşehir (nearby) | International |
| Keystone International Schools | Ataşehir | International |
| Maltepe Doğa Koleji | Maltepe | Private |
| Tarhan Koleji | Maltepe | Private |
| Özel Küçükyalı Ar-El Koleji | Maltepe | Private |
| Bahçeşehir Koleji Maltepe | Maltepe | Private |
| Kadir Has Anadolu Lisesi | Maltepe | Public |
| İSTEK Uluğbey Okulları | Kartal | Private |
| Kartal Final Okulları | Kartal | Private |
| Kartal Bilfen | Kartal | Private |
| Kartal Anadolu Lisesi | Kartal | Public |
| Kents International School | Pendik | International |
| Çamlıca Bilfen | Üsküdar | Private |
| Üsküdar SEV Schools | Üsküdar | Private |
| Üsküdar Anadolu Lisesi | Üsküdar | Public |
| Terakki Tuzla | Tuzla | Private |
| Bahçeşehir Koleji Pendik | Pendik | Private |
| Doğa Koleji Tuzla | Tuzla | Private |
| Sabancı SEV Tuzla | Tuzla | International |
| 🟥 European Side | ||
| Terakki Foundation Schools (Levent Campus) | Beşiktaş | Private |
| MEF Okulları | Beşiktaş | Private |
| Etiler Anadolu Lisesi | Beşiktaş | Public |
| Lycée Français Saint-Michel | Beşiktaş (nearby) | International |
| Deutsche Schule Istanbul | Beşiktaş (nearby) | International |
| Şişli Terakki | Şişli | Private |
| Mef Schools | Şişli (nearby Maslak) | Private |
| Şişli Anadolu Lisesi | Şişli | Public |
| Notre Dame de Sion | Şişli | International |
| Enka Schools | Sarıyer | Private |
| Hisar Schools | Sarıyer | Private |
| İTÜ GVO Maslak | Sarıyer | Private |
| British International School Istanbul (BIS) | Sarıyer (Zekeriyaköy) | International |
| Istanbul International Community School (IICS) | Sarıyer (Zekeriyaköy/Marmara) | International |
| Bakırköy Uğur Koleji | Bakırköy | Private |
| Aydın Doğa Koleji | Bakırköy | Private |
| Bakırköy Anadolu Lisesi | Bakırköy | Public |
| Bahçeşehir Koleji Headquarters | Bahçeşehir | Private |
| Final Akademi Bahçeşehir | Bahçeşehir | Private |
| Gökkuşağı Koleji (Rainbow School) | Bahçeşehir | Private |
| İstanbul Gökkuşağı International | Bahçeşehir | International |
| Bilfen Başakşehir | Başakşehir | Private |
| Başakşehir Final Okulları | Başakşehir | Private |
| Safir International School (main branch) | Başakşehir | International |
| Jasmine International School | Başakşehir | International |
| Beylikdüzü Doğa Koleji | Beylikdüzü | Private |
| Uğur Koleji | Beylikdüzü/Esenyurt | Private |
| Al-Aqsa International School | Beylikdüzü/Esenyurt | International |
| Tulip International School | Beylikdüzü/Esenyurt | International |
| İstanbul Erkek Lisesi | Fatih | Public |
| Vefa Lisesi | Fatih | Public |
| Cağaloğlu Anadolu Lisesi | Fatih | Public |
Full List of Schools in Istanbul
🟦 Asian Side
⭐ Kadıköy
Private:
- Özel Kadıköy Key Koleji
- Özel Erenköy Koleji
- İSTEK Semiha Şakir Okulları
Strong public options:
- Kadıköy Anadolu Lisesi
- Göztepe İhsan Kurşunoğlu Anadolu Lisesi
International:
- There is no main international school inside Kadıköy, but there are nearby international schools:
- Üsküdar American Academy (Uskudar)
- Acıbadem Bilfen International (nearby Kadıköy)
⭐ Ataşehir
Private:
- Bilfen Ataşehir
- Doğa Koleji Ataşehir
- Uğur Koleji Ataşehir
Strong public options:
- Ataşehir Anadolu Lisesi
International:
- Safir International School (nearby)
- Keystone International Schools (Ataşehir Campus)
⭐ Maltepe
Private:
- Maltepe Doğa Koleji
- Tarhan koleji
- Özel Küçükyalı Ar-El Koleji
- Bahçeşehir Koleji Maltepe
Public:
- Orhan Gazi School - Güzin Middle School
- Kadir Has Anadolu Lisesi
International:
- Terakki Foundation Schools (near Maltepe - campuses in Levent and Tuzla)
⭐ Kartal
Private:
- İSTEK Uluğbey Okulları
- Kartal Final Okulları
- Kartal Bilfen
Public:
- Kartal Anadolu Lisesi
Nearby international options:
- Kents International School (Pendik)
⭐ Üsküdar
Private:
- Çamlıca Bilfen
- Üsküdar SEV Schools
Public:
- Üsküdar Anadolu Lisesi
International (well-known):
- Üsküdar American Academy (UAA) — one of the most respected schools in Turkey
⭐ Pendik / Tuzla (popular with families)
Private:
- Terakki Tuzla
- Bahçeşehir Koleji Pendik
- Doğa Koleji Tuzla
International:
- Sabancı SEV Tuzla
- Kents International School
🟥 European Side
⭐ Beşiktaş
Private:
- Terakki Foundation Schools (Levent Campus)
- MEF Okulları
Public:
- Etiler Anadolu Lisesi
Nearby international options:
- Lycée Français Saint-Michel
- Deutsche Schule Istanbul
⭐ Şişli
Private:
- Şişli Terakki
- Mef Schools (nearby Maslak)
Public:
- Şişli Anadolu Lisesi
International:
- Notre Dame de Sion (French, highly regarded)
⭐ Sarıyer (Zekeriyaköy - Maslak)
Private:
- Enka Schools
- Hisar Schools
- İTÜ GVO Maslak
International (highly respected):
- British International School Istanbul (BIS – Zekeriyaköy)
- Istanbul International Community School (IICS - Zekeriyaköy / Marmara)
⭐ Bakırköy
Private:
- Bakırköy Uğur Koleji
- Aydın Doğa Koleji
Public:
- Bakırköy Anadolu Lisesi
⭐ Bahçeşehir
Private:
- Bahçeşehir Koleji Headquarters
- Final Akademi Bahçeşehir
- Gökkuşağı Koleji (Rainbow School)
International:
- İstanbul Gökkuşağı International (offers the Cambridge program)
⭐ Başakşehir (immigrant-friendly and family-oriented)
Private:
- Bilfen Başakşehir
- Başakşehir Final Okulları
International:
- Safir International School (main branch)
- Jasmine International School
⭐ Beylikdüzü / Esenyurt
Private:
- Beylikdüzü Doğa Koleji
- Uğur Koleji
International:
- Al-Aqsa International School
- Tulip International School
⭐ Fatih
Highly respected private and public schools (historic):
- İstanbul Erkek Lisesi (one of the best public schools in the country)
- Vefa Lisesi
- Cağaloğlu Anadolu Lisesi
Important Tips for Choosing a School in Istanbul
✅ 1. The difference between public (Anadolu), private, and international schools
Public schools (Anadolu Lisesi)
They are free, but:
• quality varies from one school to another.
• for enrollment, you usually need an address in the same district.
• the main language of instruction is Turkish.
• the first year can be hard for children who do not speak Turkish.
Private schools
• annual tuition is roughly 200,000 to 700,000 lira, depending on quality.
• often the best option for a child's first year after moving, because the language pressure is lower.
• the environment, facilities, and teacher quality are usually better.
• most private schools also offer extracurriculars such as sports, arts, and clubs.
International schools
• tuition is usually around 7,000 to 18,000 USD, depending on the school.
• instruction is in English, or sometimes French or German.
• they are more suitable for families planning to move to a third country or continue within an international education system.
• enrollment is usually easier, but the cost is higher.
✅ 2. 📍 Choose your living area first, then review the schools in that district.
Traffic in Istanbul is heavy, so choosing a school in the same district or close to home reduces travel time and improves family life.
✅ 3. The LGS exam matters for public high schools
• strong public schools (Anadolu) admit students based on LGS scores.
• immigrant children are often new arrivals, so they may not get into the most competitive public schools right away.
• that is why many families choose private schools in the first year.
✅ 4. Public schools are usually easier for lower grades (primary school)
If your child is in grades 1 to 4:
• public schools are often less crowded
• academic pressure is lower
but Turkish remains the main challenge.
✅ 5. Some private schools offer discounts (many people do not know this)
Common discounts include:
• early registration
• sibling discount
• cash payment
• discounts for immigrants or new students
✅ 6. English instruction varies across Turkish private schools
Some private schools offer 3 to 5 hours of English per week.
Some offer 15 hours.
"Before you enroll, make sure to ask how many hours of English are taught each week."
