It was established in 1868 as German and Swiss Citizens School Based upon Equality Principle, to serve to the German-speaking community in the city.

It was closed once again in 1945 because of Turkey's political position against Germany during World War II, and the building was used by Beyoğlu High School for Girls.

[6][3] The school also had a separate, section in order to tutor the commercial field (German: Bürgerschule).

[9] The building was seriously damaged after the earthquake on July 10, 1894, which caused the requirement to search for a new location for the school.

In 1879, Bericht von Felix Theodor Mühlmann, the principal, the preparatory school which allowed the registration of non-German-speaking students.

[4][11] The construction of the new school building -which is the current one- started in June 1896, with the support of master architect Kapp von Gültstein and the Ottoman Bank Director Wülfing.

[16] After World War I, the school was closed and the building was used by the French occupation forces as barracks.

[21] The building was returned once again to the Deutsche Schule Istanbul in July 1953, the education resumed on October 1.

[22][23] In 1959, a few renovations and developments were made, a sports hall and a music room were added to the building.

[28][29] According to the allegement made by the Federal Foreign Office, board members stole €1,922,047 and ₺2,155,246 from the school.

[31] It is administrated by the board of the Deutsche Schule Istanbul Administration Association (Turkish: İstanbul Özel Alman Lisesi İdare Derneği, German: Verein zum Betrieb der Deutschen Schule Istanbul) and the principal of the school is affiliated with the board.

[32] They also have the opportunity to take the matriculation exam to get an Abitur diploma which allows them to apply for any university in Austria, Germany or Switzerland.

[34] Every year, at least one alumni with Abitur diploma gets a scholarship of German Academic Exchange Service to study in Germany.

In addition to this, since 2001, the board of the school gives a scholarship every year to one alumni which has passed the Abitur examination.

[25] In 1981, Sosis Günü (Sausage Day), and in 1982, Okul Şenliği (School Festival) events were started to be organized.

[40] In 1996, alumni of the school established a foundation called German High School Culture and Education Foundation (Turkish: Alman Liseliler Kültür ve Eğitim Vakfı, shortened as ALKEV).