Ankara, Turkey Report of what it's like to live there - 02/18/25
Personal Experiences from Ankara, Turkey
School Name:
Dodea Ankara EHS
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
A parent of children at the school
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
Elementary and Middle School
3. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Military
4. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Yes, Oasis and BESA. We did not choose the Dodea school - we had to attend because we're an active-duty family.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
Communication is hit and miss during the summer at the Dodea school. Most teachers go home for the summer; this has been a huge issue for many years. Communication is great once you can get someone to reply to your email!
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
My children have had a wonderful experience. The communication has been great with weekly newsletters from all the teachers in elementary and a weekly newsletter from the principal.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Really, really good! I was very worried about this when we tried talking to the school during the summer. However, communication has been exceptional since my children have been at the school.
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
The school provides all children in 4th grade and above with a Chromebook (the school supplies them). Musical instruments are also included if your child is in the band. The school covers field trips for sports in high school! They get to travel to schools in Germany, Italy, and a lot of other cool places. I was not tracking this as a parent when our children first started school. You have to pay for field trips for elementary school, but they are nothing too expensive; recently, they took a trip to the zoo, and it was about $10.00.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
Currently, there is a school counselor.
2. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
No
3. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Yes, the school has a nice library. The books are updated, and the students can bring them home weekly.
4. What are the technology requirements for students? Do they need their own laptops/ipads? How is technology integrated into the classroom and homework?
The school provides each student with a Chromebook, which I find incredibly helpful. Every classroom has smartboards, and technology is seamlessly integrated using Google Classroom. I appreciate that most of the homework is completed using the Chromebooks provided by the school. Coming from an international school where we had to purchase specific laptops, the financial burden was significant, especially with multiple children.
5. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
Each child has a laptop, each classroom has a smartboard.
6. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
Both elementary and Middle schools have PE. The school has a big indoor gym, a soccer field, and a track. There are also lots of green spaces and new playgrounds for elementary students.
7. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
Elementary school has about 16 to one teacher, and middle school has about 15 students per teacher; high school is a little smaller because there are few high schoolers.
8. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
AP classes can be taken through Dodea online.
9. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
My children have been very happy. I understand that for some, the school struggles to support students with learning disabilities and children who are gifted.
10. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes, students have homework, but I wouldn't say it's anything too crazy.
11. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
The school has a drama club, chores, band, PE, art, etc. The schedule varies each year depending on the teachers.
12. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes, all the teachers are Americans and speak English fluently.
13. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
AP classes online. I would not send my child to this school with the expectation that they would get gifted support.
14. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
IEPs are child and school dependent. I would not send my child to this school if they had moderate-severe IEPs. I don't think the school accepts children with IEPs now; this would be a conversation you must have with the school.
15. What services are provided for speakers of English as a second language at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
The school does have a very high ESL population, and support is implemented within the school and classrooms.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. What is the climate for LGBT+ kids at this school? Are there resources they can draw upon? Does there appear to be any exclusionary behavior?
Sadly, with the new DEIA rules, everything LGBQI has been removed. We received an email last week about books being removed.
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
I have not heard of any bullying issues; I think, for the most part, the teachers and the principal have zero tolerance for this type of behavior.
3. What is the climate for students who identify as ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious minorities at this school? Are there resources they can draw upon? Have your children had any experiences in this area?
The minority at this school is Americans and I have not heard of any issues. The school has a really good atmosphere and the teachers have great relationships with each other.
4. What can you say about diversity among the faculty and staff at the school and their experience in supporting minority students?
The teachers care about their students, and I believe that they support every child at the school.
Overall Impressions:
1. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
B- because they don't have extra after-school elementary/middle school activities. Yes, I would choose Dodea Anakara again if we were to move here in the future.
2. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
When we first moved to Ankara, Turkey, I had serious doubts about the school here. I didn’t expect much based on what I had read online and what others had told me. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised—shocked, even—by the level of communication from the school. Now that my children are enrolled, they’re genuinely happy and love their teachers. While DODEA schools tend to feel more like public schools compared to international schools, I have to say I’ve been thoroughly impressed.
