Established in 1908 by Hasan Tahsin, also the first headmaster of the school, Kabataş Mekteb-i İdadisi had served to raise qualified leaders for the Ottoman Empire for 15 years.
After Turkey became a republic in 1923, the institution became a standart high school with its new name: Kabataş Erkek Lisesi. Owing to the inadequecy of the building used by the school, Kabataş Erkek Lisesi had to move to the nearby Feriye Palaces, where the relatives of Sultans -the royal families- had previously been accomodated. Feriye Palaces are known for not only their fascinating view of the Bosphorus but also an unfortunate event, the imprisonment and alleged murder of Sultan Abdülaziz II, which took place in the buildings.
Later in the first half of the 20th century, the Dormitory and the Dining Hall were added to the buildings of Kabataş Erkek Lisesi as well as the building that contained the Conference Hall and the laboratories. With the admission of female students at the high school in 1994 and the establishment of English preparatory classes in 1997, this very school has confirmed its prominent place in field of education of the country. Due to the quality of education it has provided and the success it has proven, Kabataş Erkek Lisesi was promoted to an Anatolian High School in 1998. In 2006, the duration of education in the high school was increased to 5 years.
After 105 years from its establishment, Kabataş Erkek Lisesi still stands as one of the most successful educational institutions of the country with its high-standart education and glorified students.