It is a school opened by American missionaries in the 19th century in the Talas district of Kayseri, Turkey. It was first established by James L. Fowle in 1871 and was reorganized as a secondary boarding school by Henry K. Wingate in 1889.
It operated as a secondary boarding missionary school until the end of World War I. At first, only a boys' school was established, and in 1906, with the construction of new buildings, it continued its activities as a boys'/girls' school in separate buildings. Although many American and other missionary schools were closed at the end of the Treaty of Lausanne, Talas American School remained a foreign school under the administration of American educators, but its missionary status was changed. It first became a local industrial school and then a private male boarding secondary school, which implemented an English-reinforced secondary school curriculum.
Although it was managed by foreign educators who were American, Turkish educators and administrators were in the majority. His students were usually boys aged 12-16. With very few exceptions, students attended school as boarding schools. Students came from all parts of Turkey. The school duration is 4 years and the first year was the 'preparatory' year for learning English, and in the following years the English supported secondary school curriculum was implemented, although some courses (mathematics, natural sciences, physical education, music, etc.) were in English, others (history, geography, religion, etc.) were given in Turkish.
After serving for 86 years in local, Kayseri and Turkish national education and producing graduates who made invaluable contributions to Turkey and even the world, it was closed in 1968 according to the decision of the governors at that time.
The building of Talas American School has been used by the Kayseri Youth and Sports Directorate since 1976. The group of buildings known as "Konak", which was previously used as a girls' school, hospital and dormitory, was transferred to Erciyes University in 1978.
