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Brights International School of Istanbul

Turkey, Istanbul

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 370
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum
Taught languages Arabic, Turkish, Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese
Typical class size 8
Strengths Languages, STEM, Sport
Clubs Leadership and Professional, Cultural and Language, Arts and Creative
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Primary School, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary School, High School
Introduction

BRIGHTS International School of Istanbul delivers the American Curriculum for students from pre-school through Grade 12, aligned with the Common Core State Standards. Arabic and Turkish are taught as part of the program, supporting multilingual development in a Turkish international setting. The school is certified by the Turkish Ministry of Education and accredited by AIAASC, and is located in Büyükçekmece, west of Istanbul, Türkiye. The mission emphasizes multicultural learning, differentiated instruction, stakeholder engagement, and college and career readiness, preparing students for higher education worldwide. Instruction emphasizes inquiry and literacy development, with all classrooms equipped with a sound-field system to assist hearing. The campus provides facilities for athletics, including the Haraldur Athletic Complex and Hopkins Gymnasium. Extracurricular offerings include the BRIGHTS Summer Program, BRIGHTS ECHO, and Brights Eco, along with language immersion camps featuring Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese. The school emphasizes field trips, community engagement, and developing responsible global citizens.

Çakmaklı, Hadımköy Yolu Cd No:69, 34500 Büyükçekmece/İstanbul, Türkiye

The Essentials

Brights International School of Istanbul has 370 pupils, typical class sizes of 8, instruction in English.

Location
The school is located at Çakmaklı, Hadımköy Yolu Cd No:69, 34500 Beylikdüzü OSB/Büyükçekmece/İstanbul, Türkiye. It sits in the Beylikdüzü‑Büyükçekmece area of Istanbul. The campus is described as safe, with state-of-the-art facilities. BRIGHTS offers the American Curriculum in alignment with the Common Core standards for Pre-school and Grades 1 to 12, with Arabic and Turkish languages emphasized as part of the curriculum.

Stages
Preschool; Primary School; Middle & High School (Pre-K to 12)

Type
International school

Country affiliation
Türkiye
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
Certified by Ministry of Education and Accredited by AIAASC.
Academics

Brights International School of Istanbul teaches American Curriculum.

Curriculum
The school offers the American Curriculum in alignment with the Common Core State Standards for Pre-school and Grades 1712, with Arabic and Turkish languages included as part of the curriculum.

Exam Results
Passing to universities: 100 students.

Higher Education Progression
100 students progressed to universities.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
BRIGHTS International School of Istanbul provides psychological and emotional support through its counseling services. Counselors use observation, screening, and intervention tools to help keep students' mental well-being at an optimal level so that they perform academically and behaviorally. The school emphasizes social and emotional development as part of its mission and encourages a partnership with parents/guardians to support students' growth. Preschool environments are described as welcoming and safe, where children's feelings are counted, sadness is comforted, joy is shared, and accomplishments are praised. The school's mission highlights developing thoughtful, caring individuals with awareness of social, environmental, and global issues.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
If a student has special educational needs, the Support Counselor will be consulted during enrollment. The Admissions Administration will consider the student's academic, social, and emotional development in enrollment decisions. The BRIGHTS Parent-School-Parent Communication Circuit notes that a Student Counseling Department focuses on the student's psychological well-being and helps screen for and address learning difficulties.

Mental Wellbeing
Counselors provide psychological and emotional support to students to help maintain mental well-being. The Middle & High School Welcome Note states counselors use observation, screening, and intervention tools to help keep students' mental well-being at an optimum level so that those learners perform their best academically and behaviorally. Preschool Welcome Note describes a safe, welcoming environment where children's feelings are counted, sadness is comforted, joy is shared, and accomplishments are praised, supporting mental well-being. The BRIGHTS Parent-School-Parent Communication Circuit notes that it keeps parents informed about children's well-being and health and coordinates with the School's Nurse for medical matters. Medical emergencies or routine health follow-ups are coordinated with the School Nurse.

Safeguarding
BRIGHTS emphasizes safeguarding by providing a safe and secure environment; Preschool Welcome Note highlights that children feel secure and safe. The Detailed Registration Policy 25-26 states that if a student has special educational needs, the Support Counselor will be consulted to safeguard the student's well-being, and the Admissions process considers the student's social and emotional development. The BRIGHTS Parent-School-Parent Communication Circuit describes a direct line of communication for concerns about a child's academic, behavioral, or health status, including involvement of the School's Nurse. Summer Program materials describe health and safety policies to ensure activities are child-friendly and supervised.
Parent Experience

History
BRIGHTS International School of Istanbul is certified by the Turkish Ministry of Education and accredited by AIAASC. It is located in Büyükçekmece west of Istanbul. BRIGHTS offers the American Curriculum aligned with the Common Core State Standards for pre-school and Grades 1–12, and Arabic and Turkish are taught as part of the curriculum. The mission focuses on multicultural learning, differentiated instruction, stakeholder engagement, and college and career readiness.

Community
BRIGHTS fosters an active school community with events such as Parent-Teacher Meetings, Team of Brights, and Basketball Street Ball. It runs BRIGHTS Summer Program and BRIGHTS ECHO, and maintains a media gallery of activities. The school observes National Parent Involvement Day on December 3 and operates a BRIGHTS Parent-School-Parent Communication Circuit to keep parents informed through report cards and regular parent meetings.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
BRIGHTS maintains the BRIGHTS Parent-School-Parent Communication Circuit to involve parents in their children's education. Regular release of Student Report Cards and organization of Parent Meetings are core components of the circuit. Parent-Teacher Meetings are part of the school's engagement activities, including events such as Family Show and Tell. The site highlights ongoing parent involvement through events like National Parent Involvement Day. Events like Team of Brights and Basketball Street Ball illustrate structured opportunities for parents to engage with students and staff. BRIGHTS supports a culture of parent engagement through the communication circuit and documented events.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
BRIGHTS offers the American Curriculum for Pre-school through Grade 12, aligned with the Common Core standards. Arabic and Turkish are taught as part of the curriculum. The school emphasizes learning through inquiry and curiosity and aims to develop responsible global citizens. All classrooms are equipped with a sound-field system to support hearing and literacy development. Tours are offered to prospective families to view the facilities.

Academic Facilities
The American Curriculum is offered for Pre-school through Grade 12 in alignment with the Common Core standards. Arabic and Turkish are taught as part of the curriculum. All classrooms are equipped with a sound-field system to support hearing and literacy development. The school emphasizes inquiry-based learning and character development as part of its academic approach.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular offerings include the BRIGHTS Summer Program, BRIGHTS ECHO, and Brights Eco programs.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers the American Curriculum aligned with the Common Core Standards for pre-school through Grade 12. Arabic and Turkish are part of the curriculum. Students study Mathematics, Sciences, and Social Studies, and also engage with Art, Computer, and Robotics. A broad range of high school‑level courses is available to support college readiness.

Arts & Creative
Art is included as part of the curriculum. The BRIGHTS Summer Program includes Theater/Drama and Music. Creative projects and performances are part of arts and creative activities.

Cultural & Language
Arabic and Turkish are taught as part of the core curriculum. BRIGHTS offers Arabic and Turkish classes to all students. The school runs language immersion camps featuring Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese. Camps emphasize language learning through songs, stories, cultural performances, and activities.

Social & Hobbies
The BRIGHTS Summer Program includes Mindfulness, Music, Theater/Drama, Taekwondo, Dance, Fitness, and STEM activities, with field trips and cultural performances. Field trips and sports activities are part of the co-/extra-curricular offerings. The program follows a 70‑30 ratio for co-/extra-curricular and curricular content.

Leadership & Professional
Henry Cluster Council provides a platform for student leadership and community dialogue. School events such as Parent‑Teacher Meetings involve families in the school's governance and community conversations. These structures support student voice, leadership development, and civic engagement.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Athletics are a central part of BRIGHTS life; students pursue interscholastic competition and develop courage, strength, and endurance. Facilities include the Haraldur Athletic Complex and Hopkins Gymnasium, with a weight training room and digital scoreboards. The athletics program has a history of championships in multiple sports. The Summer Program also includes mindfulness and physical activity components.
Languages

Language Provision
Arabic and Turkish are taught as part of BRIGHTS International School of Istanbul's curriculum, with emphasis placed on these languages.
Reputation

Awards
null

Accreditations
null
Admissions

Admissions
To enroll, follow Brights International School of Istanbul's detailed registration policy. The school offers the American Curriculum aligned with the Common Core Standards for Pre-school and Grades 1–12, with Arabic/Turkish language components. Applications are being accepted for preSchool (NRS, KG1, KG2) and Grades 1–12 for the 2025–2026 academic year. After requesting information, you receive a confirmation email with login details and instructions to complete the online application, which you can access via the Apply Online link. You login and complete the online application using the credentials emailed to you. Admissions decisions and placement: Preschool placement is determined by date of birth (Preschool: NRS 3 years born before 30 September 2022; KG1 4 years born before 30 September 2021; KG2 5 years born before 30 September 2020). Students applying to Grades 1–12 are placed based on previous educational records and the school's assessment. The online application is forwarded to the Academic Administration for consideration; the Administration considers academic, social and emotional development; if the student has special educational needs, the Support Counselor will also be consulted. Once a decision has been made, the Admissions Office will contact you with further instructions. Required documents: For third grade and above, final certificates for the last two academic years, attested by both Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs in the country of issue, plus Turkish equivalency by the Turkish Ministry of Education. Preschool students (NRS, KG1, KG2) are subject to an academic assessment, and must be toilet-trained before entering class. Additional documents include: child photo (passport size), birth certificate, valid passport copies for student, father and mother, valid Turkish residency for student and guardians, a medical report issued within the last 6 months, Vaccination Card for Preschool and Primary, Custody Certificate if divorced, and Passport & Residency of Legal Guardian other than parents. Fees and payments: New Student Enrollment Fee: $100; Seat Reservation Fee: $300; Student Supplies Fees; and Annual Fees. A Fees table shows total annual fees by level and the option to receive a 30% discount. Discounts: Siblings 5%; Early Registration until June 30: 15%; Full Settlement: 10%; Group Discounts: 7–10 new students: 10%; 11 new students and above: 15%; Parents can obtain a 5% discount by referring Brights to new students; Discounts apply to Tuition Fee only. Payment schedule: First payment due at registration (Enrollment + Seat Reservation + Student Supplies); Second Payment (Term 1) due before 2025-09-05; Third Payment (Term 2) due before 2025-12-05; Fourth Payment (Term 3) due before 2026-03-05. All fees are in USD and can be paid in cash at the accounts office or by bank transfer to the school's designated account; late payments incur a $10 weekly fine; no student certificate, report card or result will be issued until late fees are settled. Cancellation/withdrawal: cancellation before 31 August 2025 results in a full tuition refund; cancellation during the first month of a term incurs a 30% deduction; cancellation after the first month yields no refund; notice of withdrawal must be given at least 30 days in advance; no refunds for student absences. Optional Services: Food Service Fee ($750 annually) for meals; Transportation Fee depends on municipality rules and distance to the school and is subject to change. For full terms, refer to the Detailed Registration Policy 25-26.
School Events
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