Üsküdar American Academy

Üsküdar American Academy (Turkish: Üsküdar Amerikan Lisesi, pronounced [ys.cyd.aɾ a.me.ɾi.kan li.se.si]), often abbreviated as UAA or commonly referred to as Üsküdar Amerikan in Turkish, is a highly selective, coeducational, private high school located in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul, Turkey.

Founded in 1873 during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) and officially recognized by the Ottoman government in 1876, it is among the oldest continuously operating educational institutions in Turkey. Originally established in Bahçecik, the Academy has operated on its current campus in Bağlarbaşı, Üsküdar since 1921.

UAA is considered one of the most prestigious private schools in Turkey. From the late Ottoman era through the Republican period, UAA has produced generations of alumni who have played prominent roles in the arts, sciences, academia, politics, civil society, and business. Admission is highly competitive—typically limited to students from the top ~1% of the national entrance exam. The school operates fully under the regulations of the Turkish Ministry of National Education. It is also accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and offers both the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and selected Advanced Placement (AP) courses. UAA graduates regularly continue their studies at Ivy League and other top-ranked universities abroad—including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and MIT—as well as leading Turkish universities such as Boğaziçi University, Koç University, Sabancı University, and Istanbul Technical University.