The Robert College Community School (RCCS) was formally founded in 1911 to provide education

for the children of Robert College’s foreign faculty members. Though 1911 is the official

establishment date of RCCS, it is said to have existed informally for many years prior to this date.

In either case, this makes it one of the oldest, international schools in the world. There is no

existing record of where the school was located in 1911, though it is thought to have been in

Anderson Hall, on the campus of what is now Bosphorus University.

The school began accepting all international students in Istanbul.

Under the newly established republic, the school received permission from the Turkish Ministry

of Education to establish a primary school for the children of foreign nationals.

The school moved to its main building in Rumeli Hisarı.

RCCS formally separated from Robert College and changed its name to the Istanbul Community

School.

The schools name was officially changed to the Istanbul International Community School (IICS).

On December 18th, the main building of the school burned down (no one was injured). This

main building had been the childhood residence of the first full-time editor of National

Geographic Magazine, Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor, whose father once taught at Robert College.

Following the loss of the main building, IICS acquired what was later known as “the Corner

House” and “the Kuran Building”. IICS also constructed prefabricated classrooms on the site of

the main building, which were used until the Marmara Campus was built.

IICS’s incorporation was granted permission to operate a school for foreign nationals under the

supervision of the Government Planning Organization.

Due to considerable growth, plans for a second, purpose-built campus were made.

IICS’s; first class of grade 12 students graduated.

Headmaster Luis Alfonso took over for Ken Hillman.

IICS joined the Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA).

IICS was re-authorized by IB.

After increasing enrollment by 30% from 2004-2009, IICS expanded the Marmara campus,

constructing a new gym and multipurpose building, a new art atelier building on the south

lawn, expanded the library to nearly double the size, designed a new centrally located college

counseling office, and created a new secondary student lounge.