Sabahattin Zaim Social Sciences High School is a secondary education institution under the Ministry of National Education of Türkiye, located within the boundaries of Karacaören Neighborhood in the Altındağ district of Ankara. The institution operates within an educational model aimed at producing scholars in the fields of literature, history, philosophy, and language.【1】
The building was constructed in 2008 by the General Directorate of Housing Development (TOKİ) and began educational activities under the name "Karacaören High School" with the status of a general high school. On 3 December 2008, the institution’s name was officially changed to "Ankara/Altındağ - Sabahattin Zaim High School" by approval of the Provincial Governorship.
On 22 June 2010, the Ministry of National Education approved its transformation into an Anatolian Teacher High School. Finally, on 5 June 2014, by ministerial decree, it adopted the name "Sabahattin Zaim Social Sciences High School." In the 2014–2015 academic year, the institution admitted its first cohort of 150 students into the preparatory class, marking the beginning of its new phase as a social sciences high school.【2】
Institutional Structure and Affiliation
The institution is a public school under the Ankara/Altındağ District Directorate of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye. Its institutional vision is to become a model school proven successful in literature, history, philosophy, and language. Its mission is to cultivate social scientists who are committed to national and spiritual values, aware of universal ethical principles, capable of generating academic knowledge, and prepared for higher education. The institutional operation follows the "Normal Education" model.【3】
At Sabahattin Zaim Social Sciences High School, the language of instruction is English as the first foreign language and German as the second foreign language. The educational process begins with a preparatory class, and the institutional curriculum is focused on social sciences. Classes are held between 08:50 and 15:40.【4】
Physical Infrastructure and Campus
The institution is situated on a 15-dönüm plot of land and features a covered area of 8,080 square meters. The campus includes 22 to 24 classrooms, an indoor sports hall, and two basketball courts. The campus also houses an Information Technology classroom, a physics laboratory, a chemistry-biology laboratory, a multipurpose hall, and a library. The school library contains 3,250 books. The physical infrastructure has been adapted for accessibility with elevators, designated walking paths, and special restroom facilities. Security is provided by 48 surveillance cameras and an alarm system. The school does not offer boarding facilities.【5】
Eşref Sağlık served as the founding principal. On 16 February 2010, Erhan Pelitoğlu was appointed director through competitive examination. The current institutional staff includes a total of 37 teachers.【6】
The current student population is 408. The school has a capacity of 720 students and began its operations in 2008 with 135 students.【7】
Social, Cultural, and Sports Activities
Sports activities include futsal, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, darts, and jenga tournaments. Scientific and cultural activities include the National Social Sciences High Schools Symposium and the TÜBİTAK 4006 Science Fair.【8】
Projects and International Activities
On 6 February 2012, the institution was selected as a pilot school for the "Fatih Project" and is equipped with fiber-optic internet infrastructure, smart boards, and tablet computers. Internationally, between 2013 and 2015, it participated in joint projects under the Lifelong Learning Programme Comenius partnership with Germany, Sweden, and Spain. Locally, various projects have been implemented, including vertical gardening, used battery collection, a history corner, and fashion shows using recycled materials.【9】
