Kayseri Kilim Social Sciences High School

Kayseri Kilim Social Sciences High School is a secondary education institution located in the Melikgazi district of Kayseri Province, specializing in social sciences and literature. It is among the first Social Sciences High Schools established nationwide in Türkiye and has been operating under the status of a Project School since 2015.^【1】

^{Kayseri Kilim Sosyal Bilimler Lisesi Sınıfı} (Kayseri Kilim Sosyal Bilimler Lisesi)

The idea of establishing social sciences high schools first emerged in the 1940s and was later discussed in the 1970s as an infrastructure project to support literature faculties. The official approval for the school’s establishment was signed on September 2003 by then Minister of National Education Hüseyin Çelik.

Since its founding, the institution has built its institutional tradition over a nine-year period through Kristal Erciyes awards, periodical publications, and book projects based on student articles.^【2】

The institution is a public school under the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye. It collaborates coordinately with a "Science Advisory Group" composed of university faculty members to develop its educational programs, enhance project quality, and monitor academic standards. In 2015, it was officially designated as a Project School by the Ministry in recognition of its academic and social achievements.^【3】

The duration of education at the school is five years in total, comprising one year of preparatory education and four years of core instruction. Sixty percent of the curriculum consists of Turkish Language and Literature and Social Sciences Group courses in grades 10, 11, and 12. The Social Sciences Group places emphasis on Turkish Language and Literature and Mathematics, and the medium of instruction is Turkish.

The school is also the first public high school in Türkiye to offer Ottoman Turkish as a formal course. Additionally, it offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, in which mathematics and science courses are delivered in a foreign language.^【4】

Student admissions are conducted through centralized examination systems and quotas determined by the Ministry of National Education. Academic placement success is high; according to 2024 data, 93.60 percent of graduates were placed in higher education institutions.^【5】

The school campus is located in the Bahçelievler neighborhood of Melikgazi district, Kayseri, approximately ten kilometers from the city center. The physical facilities include 18 classrooms, three multipurpose halls, one biology laboratory, one physics laboratory, one information technology classroom, and a library with a capacity of 5,822 books. The campus also houses a cafeteria and a medical clinic.

The Social Sciences Laboratory operates as a research center, featuring its own specialized library and research groups. Heating is provided by natural gas, and transportation is facilitated by buses, trams, and shuttle services.^【6】

The teaching staff consists of 37 educators. Administrative processes are carried out in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of National Education and Project School guidelines. The school’s development strategies and academic calendar are shaped based on recommendations from the Science Advisory Group.^【7】

A total of 443 students are currently enrolled. The student profile consists of individuals with high interest and aptitude in literature and social sciences, and a strong focus on academic achievement. The school’s university placement rate was reported as 100 percent in past years, with students consistently ranking among the top in national rankings.^【8】

The school organizes sports activities including football, volleyball, and basketball tournaments as well as intellectual games. In the social and cultural sphere, it hosts debate tournaments, publishes bulletins and journals, and produces books compiling student articles. Periodic conferences and seminars are also held with the participation of distinguished writers, poets, and academics to foster an intellectual environment.^【9】

The school implements the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program in Turkish and Mathematics for grades 11 and 12. Admission to the IB program requires an academic average weighted at 3.50 and a minimum English course average of 4.00, along with disciplinary compliance.

The school participates in TÜBİTAK 4006 Science Fairs and various project competitions, and has won numerous awards. Each student is required to complete at least one project or seminar work and participate in "Community Service" activities before graduation.^【10】