Hisar School vs Istanbul International Community School - Marmara Campus
Hisar School and Istanbul International Community School - Marmara Campus are both in Istanbul, about 26 km apart. Both schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) and Bespoke programmes, and Istanbul International Community School - Marmara Campus also offers IB and American. Published annual fees are TRY 1,196,220 - 1,336,952 at Hisar School and TRY 1,015,796 - 2,159,670 at Istanbul International Community School - Marmara Campus, which puts Istanbul International Community School - Marmara Campus roughly 25% higher. Hisar School takes pupils from 4 to 18, and Istanbul International Community School - Marmara Campus from 3 to 18. Hisar School is the larger school, with around 1,667 pupils to Istanbul International Community School - Marmara Campus's 492. Typical class sizes are 7 at Hisar School and 18 at Istanbul International Community School - Marmara Campus.
Application fees - No separate, line-item application or one‑off entrance fee was published in the school's publicly reported 2025/26 fee materials; public reporting and the school's fee notices treat the amounts shown as annual tuition.
Tuition fees by year group (2025/26 academic year) - Preschool (kindergarten / ana sınıf): reported at approximately 1,290,705–1,419,775 Turkish Lira (annual). - Primary school (example reported figure for Grade 1): approximately 1,196,220 Turkish Lira (annual). - Middle school (example reported figure for Grade 5): approximately 1,196,220 Turkish Lira (annual). - High school (preparatory / Grade 9 example): approximately 1,336,952 Turkish Lira (annual). - Aggregate/commonly reported headline figure for the school's annual tuition (used by several national media lists): approximately 1,315,842 Turkish Lira (annual).
Per‑term / per‑installment breakdown - The school's published figures for the 2025/26 academic year are reported and quoted as annual tuition amounts. Public reporting indicates there is an option for a discounted full (peşin) payment and a multi‑installment option (reports cite an example of a 4‑installment plan), but a public, line‑by‑line per‑term fee table (amount per term) was not found in the accessible fee notices. Expect annual amounts to be divided across the school's allowed instalments rather than a separate different “per‑term” published price.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment options reported in 2025/26: discounted full (peşin) payment and an instalment plan (news reports reference up to four instalments in examples). When instalments are chosen the total payable figure reported in the press is higher than the full‑payment amount. - Published fee notices indicate that certain items are not included in the headline tuition amounts (see next section). VAT (KDV) treatment is also noted in reporting — some reported figures are given “KDV dahil” (including VAT) and some figures are reported before VAT; parents should expect VAT to apply where specified.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable for Hisar School's regular campus operations (the school functions as a day school); no boarding/yatılı fee line item was published for 2025/26.
Other costs and typical additional fees - Items commonly charged in addition to headline tuition (explicitly noted as excluded from some reported tuition figures): meals and breakfast, textbooks and educational materials, student transportation (school bus), school uniform and sports uniform, exam fees and optional programme fees. These are reported as separate costs in the school's fee notices and media reporting. - Examples of other fee types that may apply: summer programmes or optional academy programmes, AP exam fees (with school notices about AP exam registration/penalties), school trips and extracurricular activity fees.
Refunds and withdrawal / cancellation - A school‑specific, published refund schedule for tuition (detailed percentages or dollar/TL amounts tied to exact withdrawal dates) was not located in the publicly accessible fee notices for 2025/26. Parents should expect that standard practice for Turkish private schools and regulatory guidance may apply to withdrawals and that schools commonly apply contractual deductions for cancellations; Turkish reporting and guidance note that schools may retain a small percentage of the annual fee in the event of withdrawal, consistent with private‑education rules and practice.
Fee payment methods - Reported and commonly accepted payment methods for private schools in Turkey (and referenced in media reports about Hisar fees) include bank transfer/EFT and credit card payments; instalments are commonly implemented via credit‑card‑linked instalment plans or formal instalment agreements. Specific card/IBAN details, third‑party payment processors, or POS terminals used by the school were not published in the publicly available fee summaries.
Summary of what was not publicly available in the accessible materials - A school‑published, line‑by‑line fee schedule that shows every grade's per‑term amount, a discrete, named application/entrance fee line item for 2025/26, an explicit school refund table with exact percent deductions tied to specific withdrawal dates, and a named list of accepted payment instruments (merchant POS providers / IBANs) were not found in the publicly available fee notices gathered during research. The public reporting that is available shows annual tuition by broad grade bands or example grades and describes that extras (meals, books, transport, uniforms) are charged separately and that full‑payment discounts and multi‑installment options are offered.
If you require an exact per‑term invoice amount or a definitive, itemised refund schedule for contract/withdrawal purposes, those specific line items were not available in the public fee summaries for 2025/26 and would need to be obtained directly from the school's published fee schedule or finance office for precision.
Fee details
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Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
The school has a uniform.
Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
Meal service is provided through school cafeterias. High School has two canteens, one in the High School Cafeteria and one in the garden. Preschool students eat lunch with their teachers in the B-Block Preschool Cafeteria. Primary and Middle School students and staff eat at the B-Block Cafeteria during their meal times. High School students receiving cafeteria services have breakfast and lunch at the High School Cafeteria.
Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
The school is a foundation school.
Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The school follows the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) curriculum and enriches it with school-based curriculum development. The Bilingual Education Program integrates Turkish and English from Preschool through Grade 12 to develop bilingual proficiency. In Preschool, instruction is split 50% Turkish and 50% English; in Primary School, English is taught for about 10 class hours per week, with listening, speaking, reading and writing taught through holistic activities. The program includes High/Scope-inspired approaches such as Plan–Do–Review (PDR) and Movement Education as distinctive features. In Middle School and High School, the curriculum remains aligned with MoNE standards and emphasizes English-language content; Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered and the school is an AP exam center, enabling students to take AP exams on campus.
Curriculum details
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Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
The school has a bilingual education program that integrates Turkish and English. English instruction in Primary School is offered for 10 class hours per week, with listening, speaking, reading, and writing developed through holistic activities. From Grade 5, students choose Spanish, French, or German and continue studying the chosen language for the remainder of their education. In high school, the second foreign language program starts from the preparatory class and continues through grade 12, and is planned based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
Hisar School operates a Göktürk campus in Istanbul. The campus features an Innovation Center and STEAM-focused programs designed to support interdisciplinary learning. Preschool through Grade 12 (K-12) is offered with bilingual Turkish–English instruction and a commitment to integrating digital tools into teaching. English language and literature, mathematics and science are taught in English at high school level, with AP courses available. The school is accredited by the Turkish Ministry of Education (MEB) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
The bilingual program integrates Turkish and English across the curriculum. English language and literature, mathematics and science are taught in English at high school; AP courses are offered. Students in grade 8 can continue directly to Hisar High School within the K-12 continuum. The school is accredited by the Turkish Ministry of Education (MEB) and NEASC, and it has a CEEB code 696461 and UCAS code 45716.
Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
CS Programming & Robotics Club for Grades 5-6 and 7-8 develops algorithmic thinking, problem solving, programming, design and engineering with Arduino, Makey Makey, sensors and LEGO kits, and students present projects while competing in national and international events. NoktaParantez Robotics Team qualified for the FIRST Championship in Houston 2025, winning the Engineering Inspiration Award at the Bosphorus Regional and the Impact Award at the Haliç Regional. The school offers MUN, World Scholar's Cup, Destination Imagination, CS Research and Development Club, and Biology/Chemistry/Physics Research Club among its broader academic clubs.
Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Arts and creative clubs include Origami with a 3D Design Workshop, The Hisar Chronicle Newspaper, Planet Pulse Magazine, European Films, Speech & Debate, and Orchestra ensembles. Drama clubs are available for students from Grade 3 to Grade 12, with Drama Electives for Grade 8 and High School. The Writing Center supports writing development and publishes original works such as Origin Stories.
Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
Model United Nations (MUN) and World Scholar's Cup are part of the school's cultural and global engagement offerings. European Films and other culture-oriented clubs support cross-cultural exposure. Duke of Edinburgh International Youth Awards and related leadership programs complement cultural and global learning.
Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
Basketball, Futsal, Chess, Origami with a 3D Design Workshop Club, and additional hobby and interest-based clubs provide recreational outlets. The club program includes Ocean Allies, Planet Pulse Magazine involvement, and a wide range of other arts, science and social clubs. Club selection occurs online, with Preschool and 1st Grade participating on a rotation and students from Grade 2 upward choosing clubs via an online portal; clubs meet during lunch breaks on assigned days.
Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
Community service is embedded through clubs such as Hisar Interact and Toplum Hizmetleri (Community Service). The program includes eco-themed and volunteer initiatives, supporting students' service commitments.
Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
Leadership and social entrepreneurship are fostered through the Leadership & Social Entrepreneurship Club, the Duke of Edinburgh International Youth Awards, MUN, World Scholar's Cup, and CS Research and Development activities.
Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
A robust sports program is led by the Hisar Sports Club (established in 2008) with rotating branches each eight weeks and elective high school sports including football, basketball, volleyball, dance, fitness, squash, table tennis and badminton. The annual Hisar Sports and Friendship Festival involves 700–800 participants from 12–14 private and state schools, and the school participates in 130–140 off-campus competitions.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
In Grade 5, students choose one foreign language from Spanish, French, or German and continue studying that language through graduation, earning Language Proficiency Certificates at A1, A2, and B1 levels. A second foreign language program begins in the High School Preparatory Class and continues through Grade 12.
Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
The school offers a bilingual Education Program in Turkish and English that starts in Preschool and continues through Grade 12, with Preschool at 50% Turkish and 50% English. Primary and Middle School English instruction totals 10 hours per week, with Mathematics and Science taught bilingually in Middle School. In High School, English is used for English Language and Literature, Science, Mathematics, and selected electives, and the Preparatory Level provides 24 hours of English per week. An English Proficiency Exam is required for the transition from Preparatory to High School.
Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
Some subjects are delivered bilingually in English and Turkish, including Middle School Science. In High School, the English Preparatory Program provides English-language instruction.
Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Age groups and language. The school serves Pre-K for ages 4-5, Kindergarten for ages 5-6, and Primary School starting at Grade 1. The school offers a Bilingual Education Program in Turkish and English. 2. Admission timeline. An orientation activity and/or entrance examination is typically held in April–May each year, and admission decisions follow the results. 3. Waiting lists. A waiting list is formed from students admitted following the orientation activity/entrance exam conducted in April–May. 4. Foreign students and inquiries. Foreign students are welcome if they meet admission requirements. Admissions for mid-term classes are by examination and subject to available quota.
Admissions
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Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
A waiting list is formed from students admitted after the orientation activity/entrance exam conducted in April–May.
