Being a military school in nature, access was open only to students who were Turkish citizens with a special admission exam and physical test.

The high school was established as the Imperial School of Naval Engineering (Mühendishane-i Bahr-i Hümâyûn) in the Kasımpaşa district of Istanbul, on the northern shoreline of the Golden Horn, where the shipyards and arsenal of the Ottoman Navy, and the headquarters of the Ottoman Ministry of the Navy (Bahriye Nezareti) were located.

According to Memories of Baron de Tott, which were published after his returning to his country, in 1773 he was appointed for establishment of a Naval Shipyard Mathematical College on the command of Hasan Pasha during the reign of Sultan Mustafa III, who was a believer of the fact that science and education must have become widespread.

The trainees who were advanced in age, even the captains with white beard had reached to a capacity within three months that they were able to measure altitude, practice the four rules of the plane geometry over the land, and plot a route.

This training ended as it was sufficient for the trainees in their sixties and Sultan Mustafa III and Baron de Tott decided that this education would be consummated by practices in course of time.

Naval Engineering School was burnt in a conflagration setting some parts of Kasimpasa on fire in 1821, and it was transferred to reconstructed Errehane (sawmill) building around Parmakkapi in the shipyard in 1822.

When Sultan Mahmud II came to Divanhane (imperial hall of audience) for a stone pool construction at the place which is known today as Tas Havuzlar (Stone Pools), He was said that the building in Parmakkapi was unsuitable for education, and according to his imperial order the construction of a separate school was conformed.

With the abolition of the Ottoman Empire and the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the name of the school was changed to "Deniz Lisesi".

It is seen that in Republic Period the cadets admitted to Naval School were to be educated over deck, engine, and secretary divisions.

Cadets that could graduate at the end of this period, underwent a course for another year, after then, they commenced their duties in the Navy by being promoted to engineer (ensign).

When the Second World War started in 1941 and Germans began to occupy Balkans, the transportation of the Naval Schools to Anatolia was necessary.

Naval Academy and High School located in this place unsuitable for education until 9 September 1946, when it was transferred back to Heybeliada.

Hierarchic order among classes are suspended for the duration of the day and students relax through competing with each other in many sportive events, with a special highlight on the rowing competition and the famous tug of war.