High School Placement in Türkiye 2026: LGS, Central and Local Routes

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High School Placement in Türkiye 2026: LGS, Central and Local Routes​

Choosing a high school means distinguishing exam-based schools from local placement. This guide explains the 2026 cycle for comparison and preparation; its preference window has closed. Check the new annual guide when issued.

⁦⁩ Understand the two placement routes​

Central placement applies to schools admitting by LGS exam score, preferences and published tie-break rules. Local placement considers the registration area, capacity and school type under the annual guide’s ranking criteria.

Not taking the exam does not eliminate every school route: in the 2026 cycle, eligible students without a score could select local and boarding schools under the instructions.

In the 2026 local route, ranking considered the registration area, school achievement and fewer unexcused absences, then year-end scores for grades 8, 7 and 6 in that order when needed. Exam-based placement starts with the exam score and uses the guide’s tie-break sequence. Check the school record before selecting; a score alone does not guarantee a predicted outcome.

⁦⁩ Compare options before ranking them​

Route	Placement basis	Check
Exam-based	Score, preferences and ranking	Capacity, limits and tie-break rules
Local	Registration area, achievement and attendance under the guide	Registered address and school type
Boarding schools	Preferences, published criteria and places	Boarding and registration conditions

In the 2026 cycle the preference system began with local choices even for students with an exam score. Completed enrolment at a private school or a school admitting through an aptitude test affected access to the preference screen under the guide; confirm registration status first.

The 2026 screen used green for schools in the student’s registration area, blue for the neighbouring area and red for other areas. Colour explains the displayed area; it does not guarantee a place. The first three local preferences came from the registration area, with no more than three schools of the same type. Check the next guide before relying on these rules again.

⁦⁩ What happened in the 2026 cycle?​

Preferences ran from 13 to 27 July and results were announced on 5 August 2026, followed by two transfer rounds in August. These dates belong to a completed cycle, not an application window open now; do not infer 2027 dates from them.

The 2026 guide allowed up to five local choices subject to registration-area and school-type rules, ten exam-based choices and five boarding-school choices where eligible. Numbers and ordering can change in the annual guide.

The 2026 cycle had two placement-transfer rounds, each allowing up to three choices in each school group. Registration-area and school-type conditions differed between students already placed in a preference and those without one. Ask the school which situation applies before confirming a transfer. For students still unplaced, education-directorate commissions handled applications on a timetable that ended in August 2026.

⁦⁩ Prepare an international student’s record​

Check enrolment, name, identification, address and study records with the school. If the student studied abroad, ask the education directorate about equivalency, grade placement and the applicable route. Do not assume any residence document or foreign score automatically opens a particular route.

If records or the preference screen do not appear, ask the school to identify the error and official correction channel. Keep evidence of the request rather than creating substitute identity details.

Illustration: a parent finds that the recorded address differs from the family’s address. They ask the school or responsible authority to examine and correct the record through the proper process, then check the displayed areas and choices before approval. A corrected address does not guarantee a school or reopen a completed preference round.

⁦⁩ Follow preferences through to enrolment​

⁦⁩ Read the annual guide, schedule, eligibility and school types.

⁦⁩ Confirm the student’s information and address, and rank available local and exam-based options.

⁦⁩ Complete school approval and retain evidence of the submitted preferences.

⁦⁩ Check the result, vacancies and transfer procedures on the official schedule.

⁦⁩ If unplaced, ask the school or education directorate about placement commissions and registration.

⁦⁩ Keep the final result and school name, then ask the school about enrolment documents and the start date.

⁦⁩ Frequently asked questions​

Is LGS required for every high school?
No. Local-placement schools operate under the applicable annual rules.

Does an exam score guarantee a particular school?
No. The result depends on score, preferences, capacity and ranking rules.

Can families apply using the 2026 dates now?
The stated preference cycle has ended. Check the new announcement and route for the student’s case.

Does equivalency alone complete enrolment?
Do not assume so. Ask the responsible authority about registration, documents and the appropriate route.

Does a green school guarantee admission?
No. It shows the registration area; capacity and ranking criteria still apply.

What if no place appears?
Ask the school or education directorate about the current transfer and commission route. The 2026 rounds described above have ended.

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Related topics ​

• School Stages and School Types in Türkiye
• Foreign Child Enrolment and School Transfers
• Education in Türkiye 2026: January to October
• Choosing a Private or International School
• Preschool and First Grade: Readiness and Registration
• Academic and Vocational Secondary Pathways
• Educational Support, RAM and Follow-Up
• Preparing Certificates and University Application Documents
• Education and Study in Türkiye: Guide Index