For Families Looking for a Private School in Ankara
What should you look for when choosing between private schools in Ankara? Our Alacaatlı campus, its school stages, Cambridge and the IB Diploma Programme, and the city’s western corridor.
In recent years, the search for a kolej (private school) in Ankara has shifted noticeably to the west of the city: Çankaya’s new residential areas such as Alacaatlı, İncek, Yaşamkent and Beytepe have become the corridor where young families are settling and where demand for schools is growing fastest. In this article we introduce our campus in this corridor and summarise what to look at, beyond the name, when comparing schools.
Alacaatlı campus: on the growing side of the city
Our Ankara campus is in Alacaatlı, Çankaya, within easy reach of İncek, Yaşamkent, Beytepe and Ümitköy. All stages from kindergarten to high school are on one campus, so there is no need to change schools when moving up a stage. We looked at the district in more detail in our article on Çankaya.
Programmes: Cambridge and the IB Diploma
Our campus is a Cambridge International School, following an English-medium programme supported by international assessment tools. In high school there is also an option that few schools in Ankara offer: the IB Diploma Programme (DP). For students aiming for universities abroad, the DP makes a tangible difference through diploma recognition and an advantage in admissions.
Four areas for comparing schools
- Foreign languages: as well as the number of weekly hours, it matters who teaches the lessons and when the second language begins.
- Continuity between stages: one school from kindergarten to high school removes the burden of settling in at every transition.
- Exam preparation: when preparation for LGS (the national high school entrance exam) and YKS (the national university entrance exam) runs within the school programme, it eases both the family budget and the child’s day.
- Use of facilities: for laboratories and workshops, the question should be not “are there any?” but “how many hours a week are they on the timetable?”
For the whole decision process, see our guide to choosing a private school in Ankara, and for what the term kolej actually means, our article What Is a Kolej?
In short
- Demand for schools in Ankara is concentrated in the western corridor (Alacaatlı, İncek, Yaşamkent); our campus is at its centre.
- All stages from kindergarten to high school on one campus.
- A Cambridge International School, authorised for the IB Diploma Programme in high school.
- Compare schools not by the word “kolej” in their name but by languages, programme certificates, continuity and exam preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Ankara is the campus, and which districts is it close to?
Our campus is in Alacaatlı, Çankaya. Journeys from İncek, Yaşamkent, Beytepe, Ümitköy and Çayyolu are short, and the school bus network covers these areas. For route details, please speak to our admissions office.
At which stage is the IB Diploma Programme delivered?
The DP is delivered in the final two years of high school. Our Ankara campus is authorised for the DP; for the programme content and admission requirements, see our IB Diploma Programme page.
How are the admissions meeting and campus tour arranged?
Once you fill in the information request form, our admissions office will call you to arrange an appointment. You may wish to see the campus during lessons; that is the best way to see class sizes and the real flow of the school day.
You can find the school stages, facilities and transport information on our Ankara private school page; for fees and admission conditions, see our fees page, and for any questions, use our information request form.
Gökkuşağı Schools · Ankara Alacaatlı campus.