Sezin School

In Brief

A small, family-run K-12 on the Asian side, in Çekmeköy. Founded 1963 by Sabahat Sezin, still has that founder's-school feel. Around 1,250 students, single campus, IB Diploma offered.

What people actually say:

The vibe is warm and hands-on. Long-time parents describe it as genuinely caring - kids aren't lost in the crowd. According to one parent, "no one is left alone at Sezin." Small-ish classes, light homework load by Turkish standards (the school deliberately keeps it that way and expects learning to happen in class).

It is more progressive than the typical Turkish kolej. Liberal, arts-friendly, less drill-and-kill. Families who want a creative, gentler environment self-select here.

Where it gets criticised:

Academic ceiling. Locals are blunt that LGS and top-university outcomes are not in the same league as Robert College, Koç, or ENKA. One commenter said graduates "don't end up in the strongest places." If your friend is chasing the most academically aggressive Istanbul school, this isn't it.

Location and traffic. Çekmeköy is far out on the Asian side. The neighbourhood around the school is residential and ordinary, not leafy-prestigious. School-run buses cover most of Istanbul but the commute is real - factor 45-75 minutes each way depending on where they live. Local residents have publicly grumbled about chaos at drop-off and pick-up.

Fees. Around 1.2 million TL/year for kindergarten and primary (2025-26). High by Turkish standards, mid-range by international-school standards in Istanbul.

Service complaints. Some recent grumbles on local complaint sites about administrative staff being curt or unresponsive. Nothing systemic, but worth knowing.

Bottom line for your friend:

Good fit if they want a warm, progressive, IB-track school on the Asian side and value temperament over rankings. Less good if they live European-side, want a hothouse academic culture, or want a heavily international peer group - Sezin is mostly Turkish families. Worth visiting alongside ENKA and Üsküdar SEV before deciding.