Kartal Anatolian Imam Hatip High School

Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi (KAİHL) is a state secondary school affiliated with the Ministry of National Education of Türkiye, located in the Kartal district of Istanbul. It operates with foreign language preparatory education, international secondary education programs, and boarding facilities. Its campus is situated in the Esentepe neighborhood of the Kartal district in Istanbul.

The establishment process of Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi began following a 1984 television program broadcast by TRT that addressed the educational and integration challenges faced by Turkish children of migrant workers living in Germany. Following the program, then Minister of National Education Vehbi Dinçerler and General Director of Religious Education Hikmet Özdemir conducted investigations in Germany.

In 1985, as a result of integrating a foreign language curriculum with the imam-hatip syllabus, Türkiye’s first Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi was established in Beykoz. The school, provided with land and a building by the Kasaroğlu Culture and Education Foundation under the chairmanship of İsmail Kasaroğlu, commenced education on 14 October 1985 under the leadership of its founding principal, Mehmet Dede, under the name “Beykoz Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi”.

The school’s initial teaching staff was selected from among the teachers planned by the Ministry of National Education for overseas assignments. The first students were admitted based on their scores in the Anatolian High School Entrance Examination and their diploma grades. The initial cohort of 102 students included children of Turkish families living in Germany as well as students from various regions of Türkiye.

In 1992, the school admitted its first female students. The first graduates were awarded diplomas in 1993. Two additional buildings were constructed in 1992 and 1995 to expand the campus.

^{Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi} (KAİHL)

Due to increasing student numbers, it was decided to relocate the school to a new campus. Subsequent efforts led to the construction of an educational building, a boarding facility, and staff housing on available land in the Kartal district. The school moved to Kartal in 1990 and adopted the name “Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi”.

The existing buildings were renovated in 2007. The practice mosque constructed on the campus was opened for worship in 2008.

In 2008, Mithat Tekçam, a 1993 graduate of the school, was appointed as principal. During this period, the Kartal Science Center and the Kartal Library, housing approximately 56,000 books, were established. Various student publications were also released, and exhibitions on the school’s history were organized.

In the 2013–2014 academic year, preparatory classes were reintroduced. In the 2014–2015 academic year, the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) program was implemented, and in the 2016–2017 academic year, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) was introduced.

^{Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi} (KAİHL)

Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi is a public state school under the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Education and holds the status of a project school.

The school’s educational program is based on the structure of an Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi. Preparatory classes and international programs form integral components of its educational framework.

The school implements a five-year educational program, including a preparatory class. The language of instruction for foreign languages is English. In the preparatory class, students also receive instruction in Arabic.

The school follows the standard Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi curriculum. In addition to general secondary education courses, students take subject-specific courses such as Qur’an, Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh, Sirah, Aqidah, Kalam, and History of Religions.

Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi offers programs in both Natural Sciences and Social Sciences. Accordingly, students may take additional courses in either the natural sciences or social sciences track.

In addition, international programs are implemented. Accreditation for the Cambridge IGCSE program was obtained on 20 June 2014. The program was implemented starting in the 2014–2015 academic year, with the first graduates awarded diplomas in 2016. The authority to implement the IBDP was granted in 2016, and the first graduates of this program were awarded diplomas in 2018.

Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi admits students through the centralized examination system. The school’s admission score range, determined by student preferences and placement results, lies between 479.7646 and 500. It is estimated that students ranking within approximately the top 1% of national exam results are eligible for admission.^【2】

The school’s campus is located at Pamuk Street in the Esentepe neighborhood of the Kartal district in Istanbul. The campus is approximately 32.6 kilometers from the center of Istanbul and about 1.5 kilometers from the center of Kartal.

^{Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi Library} (KAİHL)

The Kartal campus includes educational buildings, boarding facilities, a library, a science center, and a practice mosque. The campus was established following the school’s relocation to Kartal in 1990. Additional buildings constructed in 1992 and 1995 expanded the campus. The existing buildings were renovated in 2007. The school houses the Kartal Library, which contains approximately 56,000 books. Additionally, the Kartal Science Center operates on campus.

The school provides boarding facilities for students. There are two male student dormitories owned by the school. A foundation-run dormitory for female students is located near the campus.

^{Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi} (KAİHL)

The school is administered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özkan Öztürk. The administrative team includes Deputy Principal Faruk Uzun and Assistant Principals Ekrem Bilim, Faruk Tekeli, and Dr. Yüksel Özgüngörev. The school employs 77 full-time teachers.^【3】

At its founding, the student body consisted of children of Turkish families living in Germany as well as students from various regions of Türkiye.

Today, the school admits students through the centralized examination system and offers boarding facilities. The total student population is recorded as 715.^【4】

The school hosts student clubs active in various fields. Through these clubs, activities such as theater, short films, poetry recitals, conferences, seminars, panels, symposia, exhibitions, fairs, competitions, camps, and excursions are organized.

The school’s sports activities include football, futsal, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, and wrestling.

^{Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi Laboratory} (KAİHL)

Under the Kartal Akademi program, workshops, seminars, laboratories, and reading groups are organized in the fields of Humanity and Society, Science and Engineering, Culture, Art and Sports, and Science Olympiads.

Kartal + program organizes various activities during school holidays, including IGCSE summer school, remedial and enrichment courses, Qur’an memorization camps, domestic and international foreign language summer schools, and book analysis camps.

At the end of each term, programs titled “Winter Activities” and “Summer Activities” are held. These include theater performances, exhibitions, discussions, excursions, camps, competitions, and club activities.

During the three holy months and Ramadan, the “Rahmet Mevsimi” initiative features Qur’an recitations, Tarawih programs, iftar and suhoor gatherings, musical performances, and exhibitions.

The school also organizes the Kartal AİHL Model Parliament.

Psychological counseling and guidance services are provided for students in the preparatory class and grades 9 through 12 through targeted guidance activities.

Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi participates in various national and international projects.

Ongoing projects include Science Travelers, My Teacher, My Teacher, Active Philosophy Workshop, and Experimental History of Science. Completed projects include Technology for All, Four Countries, One Civilization, and The Voice of the Black.

The school’s project activities include collaborations with TÜBİTAK and Erasmus+. As part of its international activities, students have participated in the ISEF International Science and Engineering Fair.

Students and graduates of Kartal Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi have achieved high rankings in national university entrance examinations in various years.^【5】

The school graduated its first cohort in 1993. In 1994, 1995, and 1996, it produced the top-ranked students nationwide in the university entrance examination. In 1997, it achieved fourth place nationally. These successes continued in subsequent years.

According to the 2019 YKS results, one student ranked second nationally; two students were among the top 10, 39 among the top 1,000, and 126 among the top 10,000.

According to the 2020 YKS results, students from the school achieved fourth and eleventh place nationally; 10 students were among the top 100, 20 among the top 250, 28 among the top 500, 38 among the top 1,000, and 94 among the top 5,000.

According to the 2021 YKS results, students from the school achieved third and seventh place nationally; two students were among the top 10, nine among the top 100, 40 among the top 1,000, 73 among the top 5,000, and 101 among the top 10,000.

According to the 2025 YKS results, three students were among the top 5, six among the top 10, 25 among the top 100, 53 among the top 500, 70 among the top 1,000, 155 among the top 5,000, and 220 among the top 10,000.

In addition, the school has achieved recognition in international scientific competitions, national scientific competitions, and various awards under the General Directorate of Religious Education.^【6】