Pertevniyal High School

Pertevniyal Lisesi, Istanbul’s Fatih district, is one of Turkey’s oldest educational institutions with roots extending to the second half of the 19th century and a continuous presence in the country’s modern educational history. Established in 1872, the institution has operated under various names and statuses throughout its history, adopted its current name in 1930, and has continued to provide education as an Anatolian High School since 1998.^【1】

The institution’s foundations were laid on 6 April 1872 under the name Mahmudiye Rüştiyesi and provided education for 39 years within the framework of the Ministry of Education until its building was destroyed in the Aksaray fire. After the fire, the school continued its educational activities in a mansion near Sinekli Bakkal. In 1930, Mütevelli Osman Bey constructed a seventeen-room concrete building on the southern portion of the current site using accumulated endowment funds from the Evkaf. This building was erected on the grounds of the Forfor Mustafa Paşa Konağı; although initially planned as an elementary school, it was converted into a high school due to local demand and a decision by the Ministry. On 15 October 1930, the school began full-time secondary education under the name Pertevniyal Lisesi, combining middle and high school levels.

Due to increasing student numbers, an additional four-classroom building and an indoor recreation area were constructed in 1937. During the 1949–1950 academic year, the high school classes were temporarily relocated to the building in Çapa, while the Aksaray buildings served as middle schools; however, in 1950–1951, the high school classes were returned to Aksaray. In 1956, a new fifteen-room extension building was opened along Atatürk Bulvarı. In response to rising demand during the 1962–1963 period, the school transitioned to a double-shift system. Construction to address physical limitations culminated in 1968 with the completion of a block containing seventeen classrooms and four laboratories, followed in 1969 by the completion of sports and conference halls.

On 19 November 1986, the school building was vacated for renovations and educational activities were relocated to Çapa, while the historic Aksaray building was assigned to the Ottoman Archives. Following intensive efforts by the school community, the institution returned to its Aksaray building and transitioned to the status of an Anatolian High School in 1998.^【2】

Pertevniyal Lisesi is a public educational institution under the Ministry of National Education. To support the school’s institutional culture and foster solidarity among alumni, the Pertevniyal Education Foundation was established on 29 May 1991. Additionally, the institution is a member of the Turkish Education Foundations Solidarity Council (TEVDAK), which unites fifteen distinguished high schools with over a century of tradition and established institutional heritage.^【3】

The school operates on a single-shift system, with class hours ranging from 08:30 to 15:25. The language of instruction is Turkish, and students receive instruction in English and German as foreign languages. The school’s vision is to cultivate individuals who keep pace with scientific and technological developments, uphold democratic and secular values, and are proficient in at least one foreign language.^【4】

As an Anatolian High School, Pertevniyal Lisesi admits students through centralized examination systems and quotas determined by the Ministry. Requests for information and visits to the school are managed through an appointment system.^【5】

The school operates on a campus located in the İskender Paşa neighborhood of Istanbul’s Fatih district, along Atatürk Bulvarı. In addition to the historic main building, the campus includes additional classrooms, laboratories, a sports hall, and a conference hall constructed in various periods. The school library holds 6,975 registered books. Heating is provided by a central radiator system, and the campus is located close to public transportation networks (tramway, metro, and bus).^【6】

The school’s educational and administrative staff consists of 48 teachers.^【7】

According to current data, a total of 762 students are enrolled at the institution. The student body consists of individuals with high academic achievement and a strong inclination toward social activities.^【8】

Students participate in various sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, and badminton. Through the Pertevniyal Education Foundation, scholarships and awards are granted to successful students, and seminars, courses, and publication activities are organized. Additionally, projects aimed at enhancing social solidarity are implemented under the foundation’s auspices.^【9】

The institution implements Erasmus+ projects to align with international educational standards. In the technical field, it participates in prestigious international competitions such as the FRC Robotics World Championship. Scientific and project-based work is supported as an integral component of the curriculum.^【10】