Gymnasium (school)

Did You Know?

• The term gymnasium was revived during the Renaissance in Italy and passed into the Netherlands and Germany in the 15th century.
• In 1538, Johannes Sturm founded the school in Strasbourg that became the model of the modern German gymnasium.
• By the 20th century, the practice of using the name Gymnasium for university-preparatory schools was followed in almost the entire Austrian-Hungarian, German, and Russian Empires.

School structure

Gymnasiums are designed for academically minded students, who are selected between ages 10 and 13. In addition to standard subjects, students often study Latin and Ancient Greek. Some gymnasiums offer general education, while others specialize; traditional branches include humanities (classical languages), modern languages (at least three languages), mathematics and physical sciences, and economics with social sciences. Curricula generally cover literature, mathematics, informatics, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, art, music, history, philosophy, civics, social sciences, and several foreign languages.

Physical education and religion or ethics are compulsory, even in non-denominational schools; in Germany, students may choose a specific religion or none. Other specializations exist, such as economics, technology, or domestic sciences. Some countries have a progymnasium, which provides the beginning classes of a full gymnasium.

By country

In Albania, gymnasium (Gjimnaz) lasts three years after nine years of elementary education, ending with the Matura Shtetërore, a state-standardized test for university entrance. Schools may be public (tuition-free) or private. Subjects include mathematics, Albanian, one to three foreign languages, history, geography, computer science, natural sciences, art history, music, philosophy, logic, physical education, and social sciences. About three-quarters of Albanian high school students attend a gymnasium.

In Austria, the Gymnasium has two stages (ages 11–14 and 15–18), concluding with Matura. Historical types include Humanistisches Gymnasium (Greek and Latin), Neusprachliches Gymnasium (active languages, typically English, French, Latin), and Realgymnasium (sciences). Recent decades have added specializations in sports, music, or economics. In Belarus, gymnasium is the highest variant of secondary education, providing advanced knowledge over 11 years, with the possibility of covering all credits in that time by taking extra subjects each semester.

Countries with gymnasium systems

Albania: Gjimnazi three years, after nine years of education, ends with Matura Shtetërore at age 18. Argentina: Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires (6 years), Rafael Hernández National College of La Plata (5 years), and Gymnasium UNT (8 years), ending at age 18. Austria: eight years after four years of primary school, or four years after primary and Hauptschule, ending in Matura at 18. Belarus: 7 years after four years of primary school.

Belgium: 6 years starting at age 11/13 after six years of primary school, ends at 18. Bolivia: Deutsche Schule Mariscal Braun La Paz, 6 years, ends with Abitur. Bosnia and Herzegovina: four years starting at 14/15 after nine years of elementary school, ends with Matura. Brazil: Humboldt Schule of São Paulo is a German school; other gymnasiums receive German government resources.

Bulgaria: five years after seven years of primary school, graduation after at least two Maturas. Colombia: Gimnasio Moderno (all-male, Pre-K to 11th grade private school in Bogotá). Croatia: four years starting at 14/15 after eight years of elementary school, with five tracks (general, classical, modern languages, sciences, mathematics/computer science), ends with Matura; all tracks require Latin and English plus another language. Cyprus: three years starting at 12 after six years of elementary school, compulsory for all, followed by non-mandatory Lyceum or vocational lyceum.

Relationship with other education facilities

In Austria, most university faculties accept only students from secondary schools lasting four years (rather than three), which includes all Gymnasium students but only some from vocational high schools, making Gymnasium the preferred route for university. In Germany, other secondary types are Realschule, Hauptschule, and Gesamtschule, attended by about two-thirds of students. A Gesamtschule corresponds to a comprehensive school and offers the same leaving certificates as the other three: Hauptschulabschluss (after 9th or 10th grade), Realschulabschluss (Mittlere Reife, after 10th grade), and Abitur (after 12th grade).

Hauptschule or Realschule graduates may continue at a vocational school. An erweiterter Realschulabschluss after 10th grade allows entry to the Oberstufe of a gymnasium for Abitur. German vocational schools include the part-time Berufsschule (dual system) and full-time Berufsfachschule. Graduates of vocational school or Realschule with good grades can attend Fachoberschule, whose exam (Fachhochschulreife) enables study at a Fachhochschule or, in Hesse, at a university.

After three years of work, vocational school graduates can attend Berufsoberschule for a Fachabitur (one year) or normal Abitur (two years), granting full university access.