Ankara Atatürk High School () is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

co-educational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...

Anatolian high school Anatolian High School, or Anadolu High School (), refers to public high schools in Turkey that admit their students according to high nationwide standardized test (LGS) scores, though this is not required for entering all Anatolian High Schools. ...

located near the Sıhhiye district of Çankaya, Ankara.

History

The school, originally known as T''aş Mektep'' has a storied history that includes several relocations and transformations. It was first established following an order by Ankara's governor, Sırrı Bey, in 1886. The building was completed in 1889 and initially functioned as an ''idadi'', later upgraded to a ''sultani'' in 1908. The institution underwent significant changes during the National Struggle, temporarily relocating to

Kayseri Kayseri () is a large List of cities in Turkey, city in Central Anatolia, Turkey, and the capital of Kayseri Province, Kayseri province. Historically known as Caesarea (Mazaca), Caesarea, it has been the historical capital of Cappadocia since anc ...

in 1921 before returning to Ankara in 1922. Both teachers and students participated in the battles of the National Struggle, earning accolades for their valor. In recognition of their efforts,

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ( 1881 – 10 November 1938) was a Turkish field marshal and revolutionary statesman who was the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, serving as its first President of Turkey, president from 1923 until Death an ...

personally awarded the school a crescent and star-adorned flag, now housed in the school's 75th Year Education Museum. Following the implementation of the Tevhid-i Tedrisat Law on March 3, 1924, the school's name was changed to ''Ankara Erkek Lisesi'' (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

: Ankara High School for Boys). In 1933, Atatürk visited the school, attending exams and signing a report card. The school was proposed to be renamed ''Atatürk Lisesi'' (

: Atatürk High School) during a meeting in 1938, a change that Atatürk approved. In 1937–38, the school underwent a significant rebuild by German architects

Bruno Taut Bruno Julius Florian Taut (4 May 1880 – 24 December 1938) was a renowned German architect, urban planner and author. He was active during the Weimar period and is known for his theoretical works as well as his building designs. Early l ...

and

Franz Hillinger Franz Hillinger (March 30, 1895, in Nagyvárad, Hungary – August 18, 1973, in New York) was an architect of the New Objectivity (architecture), ''Neues Bauen'' (New Objectivity) movement in Berlin and in Turkey. Early life Hillinger was born t ...

, marking a new architectural era for the institution. The building moved to its new current location in 1940, subsequently expanded with additional facilities. In the 1940s, the Republic of Turkey made substantial efforts to deepen its cultural engagement with

classical antiquity Classical antiquity, also known as the classical era, classical period, classical age, or simply antiquity, is the period of cultural History of Europe, European history between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD comprising the inter ...

. Ankara Atatürk High School played a significant role in this initiative. During this period, the school started to provide structured education in

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

and

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...

, reflecting a broader national policy to integrate classical studies into the educational curriculum.

Academics

Ankara Atatürk Lisesi stands out among Anatolian high schools in Ankara due to its unique structure that includes a preparatory class and a comprehensive five-year educational program. It is notable for being one of the few schools in Turkey that extends its curriculum beyond the standard four years. The school's educational approach is particularly rigorous in the area of foreign languages; starting from the preparatory class, students engage in learning English as the primary foreign language, supplemented by

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...

, and

Chinese Chinese may refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China. **'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...

as secondary languages throughout the five years of study. Since the 2015-2016 academic year, Ankara Atatürk Lisesi has been designated as one of the select project schools, a recognition that underscores its commitment to advanced and specialized educational practices. This status allows the school to implement innovative teaching methods and curricula designed to enhance the educational experience of its students. Support for the students at Ankara Atatürk Lisesi is robust, facilitated by the Ankara Atatürk Lisesi Education Foundation (''ALEV''). ''ALEV'' aids students through scholarships, achievement awards, and opportunities for foreign language training abroad. It also provides additional educational support such as language courses offered during the preparatory year and supplementary courses aimed at university preparation. The school also receives logistical support that includes transportation and meals, ensuring that students' basic needs are met so they can focus on their academic pursuits.

Alumni

Ankara Atatürk High School has long been recognized by the local press as an ''

alma mater Alma mater (; : almae matres) is an allegorical Latin phrase meaning "nourishing mother". It personifies a school that a person has attended or graduated from. The term is related to ''alumnus'', literally meaning 'nursling', which describes a sc ...

'' for Turkish leaders. The school boasts a distinguished list of alumni who have made notable contributions in various fields: *

Ahmet Kurtcebe Alptemoçin Ahmet Kurtcebe Alptemoçin (born 27 January 1940) is a Turkish mechanical engineer, industrialist and politician belonging to the Motherland Party. He served as minister of finance and customs between 1984 and 1985 and minister of foreign affai ...

— Former

Minister of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and foreign relations, relations, diplomacy, bilateralism, ...

Altan Öymen Mehmet Altan Öymen (born 20 June 1932) is a Turkish journalist, author and former politician. Biography Öymen was born on 20 June 1932. He completed his secondary education at the Atatürk High School in Ankara. He graduated from the School ...

— Former Leader of the

Republican People's Party The Republican People's Party (RPP; , CHP ) is a Kemalism, Kemalist and Social democracy, social democratic political party in Turkey. It is the oldest List of political parties in Turkey, political party in Turkey, founded by Mustafa Kemal ...

Aydın Sayılı Aydın Sayılı (; 2 May 1913 – 15 October 1993) was a prominent Turkish historian of science. Sayılı's portrait is depicted on the Obverse and reverse, reverse of the Turkish 5 Turkish lira, lira banknote issued in 2009. He was the first Ph ...

— Historian of science *

Burhan Doğançay Burhan C. Doğançay (11 September 1929 – 16 January 2013) was a Turkish-American artist. Doğançay is best known for tracking walls in various cities across the world for half a century, integrating them in his artistic work. Biograph ...

— Turkish-American artist *

Can Dündar Can Dündar (, born 16 June 1961) is a Turkish journalist, columnist and documentarian. Editor-in-chief of center-left ''Cumhuriyet'' newspaper until August 2016, he was arrested in November 2015 after his newspaper published footage showing the ...

— Journalist, former editor-in-chief of ''

Cumhuriyet ''Cumhuriyet'' (; English: "Republic") is the oldest up-market Turkish daily newspaper. It has been described as "the most important independent public interest newspaper in contemporary Turkey". The newspaper was awarded the ''Freedom of Press ...

'' *

Can Yücel Can Yücel (; August 21, 1926 – August 12, 1999) was a Turkish poet noted for his use of colloquial language. Biography Can Yücel was the son of a former Minister of National Education, Hasan Âli Yücel, who left his mark on the history of ...

— Poet *

Gazi Yaşargil Mahmut Gazi Yaşargil (6 July 1925 – 10 June 2025) was a Turkish medical scientist and neurosurgeon. He collaborated with Raymond M. P. Donaghy M.D at the University of Vermont in developing microneurosurgery. Yaşargil treated epilepsy and b ...

— Medical scientist and neurosurgeon (AAL

Classics Classics, also classical studies or Ancient Greek and Roman studies, is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, ''classics'' traditionally refers to the study of Ancient Greek literature, Ancient Greek and Roman literature and ...

Section alumnus) *

Hasan Cemal Hasan Cemal (born 1944) is a Turkish journalist and writer. He was the editor of Cumhuriyet from 1981 to 1992, and of Sabah from 1992 to 1998. In 2013 he resigned from the Milliyet newspaper after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had criticis ...

— Journalist, former editor-in-chief of ''

'' *

Hikmet Çetin Hikmet Çetin (born 10 August 1937) is a Turkish retired politician of Kurdish origin. He held various national posts during his career, including Foreign Affairs Minister (1991–1994) and Speaker of the Grand National Assembly (1997–1999). ...

— Former

and

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...

Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan *

Hüsamettin Cindoruk Ahmet Hüsamettin Cindoruk (born 8 June 1933) is a Turkish politician and the 17th Speaker of the Parliament of Turkey between 1991 and 1995. He was also the acting president of Turkey in 1993 and the leader of two political parties, notably o ...

— Former Speaker of the Parliament *

İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil (1 January 1908, Istanbul – 30 December 1993, Ankara, Turkey) was a Turkish politician and diplomat who served as Acting President of Turkey in 1980, from the Justice Party (). He also served as Minister of Fo ...

— Former President of the Senate of Turkey and

İlber Ortaylı İlber Ortaylı (; born 21 May 1947) is a Turkish historian and professor of history of Crimean Tatar origin at the MEF University, Galatasaray University in Istanbul and at Bilkent University in Ankara. In 2005, he was appointed as the dire ...

— Historian and former director of Topkapı Museum * Korkut Yaltkaya — Neurologist *

Melih Cevdet Anday Melih Cevdet Anday (13 March 1915 – 28 November 2002) was a Turkish people, Turkish writer whose poetry stands outside the traditional literary movements. He also wrote in many other genres which, over six and a half decades, included eleven ...

— Poet and author *

Murat Bardakçı Murat Gökhan Bardakçı (born 25 December 1955) is a Turkish journalist working on Ottoman history and Turkish music history. He is also a columnist for ''Habertürk'' newspaper. Biography Bardakçı was born in 1955 in Istanbul. An economist ...

— Journalist *

Münci Kalayoğlu Münci Kalayoğlu (7 May 1940 – 17 November 2024) was a Turkish doctor. Life and career Kalayoğlu was born in Ankara in 1940. In 1963 he graduated from Ankara University School of Medicine, after which he studied at Hacettepe University School ...

— Physician *

Müşfik Kenter Müşfik Galip Kenter (9 September 1932 – 15 August 2012) was a Turkish theatre and voice actor. He was of English descent from his maternal side. Müşfik Kenter was born to diplomat Ahmet Naci Kenter and his wife Nadide, née Olga Cynthi ...

— Actor * Nuri Saryal — Former rector of the

Middle East Technical University Middle East Technical University (commonly referred to as METU; in Turkish language, Turkish, ''Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi'', ODTÜ) is a prestigious public university, public Institute of technology, technical university located in Ankara, ...

* Orhan Veli — Poet * Recep Akdağ — Former

Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare spending and other social security services. Some governments have separate ministers for mental heal ...

Rüşdü Saracoğlu Rüşdü Saracoğlu (18 April 1948 – 23 May 2025) was a Turkish economist and politician. A member of the Motherland Party (Turkey), Motherland Party, he served as List of governors of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, Governor of the ...

— Former governor of the

Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey The Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT) () is the central bank of Turkey. Its responsibilities include conducting monetary and exchange rate policy, managing international reserves of Turkey, as well as printing and issuing banknotes ...

Sinan Çetin Sinan Çetin (born 1 March 1953) is a Turkish film director, actor, and producer. He won the best director award at the 12th Dhaka International Film Festival. Çetin was born as one of the eight children of a customs officer. He is of matern ...

— Film director and producer * Süha Sevük — Former rector of the

Vehbi Koç Ahmet Vehbi Koç (20 July 1901 – 25 February 1996) was a Turkish billionaire, businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Koç Group, one of Turkey’s largest groups of companies. During his lifetime, he came to be one of ...

— Businessman and industrialist Ankara Atatürk High School fosters a strong sense of community and continuity through the support of two major alumni organizations. The Ankara Atatürk High School Alumni Association works to maintain connections among former students and actively supports various school activities and initiatives. Complementing this, the Ankara Atatürk Lisesi Education Foundation is committed to enhancing the educational facilities and opportunities at the school. This foundation is instrumental in ensuring the continued success of its students and alumni by providing critical resources and support. Together, these organizations play vital roles in upholding the school's legacy of excellence and community engagement.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ankara Ataturk Lisesi Educational institutions established in 1886 High schools in Ankara 1886 establishments in the Ottoman Empire