Gymnasium (; German plural: Gymnasien), in the German education system, is the most advanced and highest of the three types of German secondary schools, the others being Hauptschule (lowest) and Realschule (middle). Gymnasium strongly emphasizes academic learning, comparable to the British grammar school system or with prep schools in the United States. A student attending Gymnasium is called a Gymnasiast (German plural: Gymnasiasten). In 2009/10 there were 3,094 gymnasia in Germany, with students (about 28 percent of all precollegiate students during that period), resulting in an average student number of 800 students per school.Federal Statistical office of Germany, Fachserie 11, Reihe 1: Allgemeinbildende Schulen – Schuljahr 2009/2010, Wiesbaden 2010
Gymnasia are generally public, state-funded schools, but some parochial and private gymnasia also exist. In 2009/10, 11.1 percent of gymnasium students attended a private gymnasium. These often charge tuition fees, though many also offer scholarships. Tuition fees are lower than in comparable European countries. Some gymnasia are boarding schools, while others run as day schools; they are now predominantly co-educational, and few single-sex schools remain.
Students are generally admitted at 10 years of age and are required to have completed four years (six in Berlin and Brandenburg, where they are enrolled at 12) of Grundschule (primary education). In some German states, permission to apply to a gymnasium is nominally dependent on a letter of recommendation from a teacher or a certain GPA. However, when parents petition, an examination can be used to decide the outcome.
Traditionally, a pupil attended a gymnasium for nine years in Western Germany. However, in the early 2000s, there was a strong political movement to reduce the time spent at the gymnasium to eight years throughout Germany; for a short time most pupils throughout Germany attended the gymnasium for 8 years (referred to as G8), dispensing with the traditional ninth year or oberprima (except in Rhineland-Palatinate). In 2014, Lower Saxony became the first federal state to switch back to G9, i.e., reintroducing the 13th year, with several states following, most recently Bavaria (2024), North Rhine-Westphalia (2025) and Schleswig-Holstein (2025).
Final-year students take the Abitur exams. The results of these exams are combined with grades achieved over the last two years of school (Qualifikationsphase) to obtain the final grade.
History
The gymnasium arose out of the humanistic movement of the sixteenth century. The first general school system to incorporate the gymnasium emerged in Saxony in 1528, with the study of Greek and Latin added to the curriculum later; these languages became the foundation of teaching and study in the gymnasium, which then offered a nine-year course. Hebrew was also taught in some gymnasia. The integration of philosophy, English, and chemistry into the curriculum also set the gymnasium apart from other schools.
Prussian secondary schools only received the title "Gymnasium" in 1918, which, for some time, would be the only path to university study. Due to the rise of German nationalism in the 1900s, the Gymnasium's focus on humanism came under attack, causing it to lose prestige. One of the harshest critics was Friedrich Lange, who assaulted the school's "excessive humanism" and "aesthetic idealism." He argued that they are not aligned with the aims of patriotism, duty, and the idea of Germanhood and that the country's history could also provide the education and insights offered by the models of classical antiquity. During the National Socialism era, it became virtually impossible for girls to study at a Gymnasium according to Hitler's idea, as stated in Mein Kampf, the education of girls should be conditioned only by the task of motherhood.
After the Second World War, German education was reformed with the introduction of a new system, content, aims, and ethos. The Gymnasium was retained, along with vocational and general schools.
East Germany In East Germany, the tripartite system was replaced by a system of Polytechnische Oberschule (polytechnic secondary schools) from 6 to 16, followed by Extended Secondary Schools for those on an academic path.VuMMfV Lfd. Nr. 28/59 Anweisung über die Stundentafeln der allgemeinbildenden Schulen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik (Instruction on the timetables of the general education schools of the German Democratic Republic) of 4 May 1959 Following German reunification, the tripartite system, including Gymnasium schools, was reintroduced in the newly-reunified eastern German states.
Other methods The Realgymnasium offered instead a nine-year course including Latin, but not Greek. Prussian Progymnasien and Realprogymnasien provided six- or seven-year courses, and the Oberschulen later offered nine-year courses without Greek or Latin.
Gymnasia for girls
The early twentieth century saw an increase in the number of Lyzeum schools for girls, which offered a six-year course. The rising prominence of girls' gymnasia was mainly due to the ascendancy of the German feminist movement in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, corresponding to the rising demand for women's university education.
Co-educational gymnasia have become widespread since the 1970s, and today, single-sex gymnasia are rare in Germany.
Historical names given to yeargroups in the German gymnasium
When primary school ended at age 9-10, and pupils left German basic secondary schools (Volksschule/Hauptschule or Realschule) at the end of the school year in which they turned 10 or 11, the gymnasium used special terms for its year groups: School year (England & Wales) K–12 system (US/Canada) Age group Year in gymnasium 6 Fifth 10–11 Sexta 7 Sixth 11–12 Quinta 8 Seventh 12–13 Quarta 9 Eighth 13–14 Untertertia (lower Tertia) 10 Ninth 14–15 Obertertia (upper Tertia) 11 Tenth 15–16 Untersekunda (lower Secunda) Lower Sixth Eleventh 16–17 Obersekunda (upper Secunda) Upper Sixth Twelfth 17–18 Unterprima (lower Prima) N/A N/A 18–19 Oberprima (upper Prima)
Modern languages
Today, nearly all German gymnasia, just like nearly all German secondary schools, teach English as a compulsory primary foreign language, with French or Latin sometimes posing an alternative. However, English must usually be taken as a compulsory second foreign language in these cases. The German State of Berlin, where secondary education normally begins in the seventh year of schooling, has some specialised gymnasia beginning with the fifth year which teach Latin or French as a primary foreign language. English has been a compulsory subject in gymnasia since 1957. Usually, children have already been taught some English in primary schools, where classes often begin in Year 3.
Many gymnasia offer bilingual classes, in which certain subjects, often history, PE, and geography, are taught in English, or sometimes in French, usually after a year or two of normal classes.
A second foreign language is usually compulsory, and gymnasia typically offer 2 or 3 options. French is the most prevalent choice, followed by Latin, though Spanish has been taking over in recent years. Other options sometimes offered include Russian, which was once more common, Ancient Greek, and Italian. The percentages vary between regions.
It is possible to take an additional third foreign language. In the final years, called Oberstufe, it is usually only possible to take two foreign languages. However, some schools also allow one of these to be a new foreign language.
The way English is taught has changed since the late 19th century, when it was first offered as an optional subject, usually after Latin, Ancient Greek, and French, and at the same level as Hebrew. At first, English was taught similarly to Latin, i.e., by translating texts word-for-word. Over time, this has changed a lot, with lessons usually being conducted entirely or almost entirely in English, for example. Methods are still changing, e.g., a stronger focus on the diversity of the language and the cultures it is intertwined with, instead of just an Anglo-American focus.
Languages of instruction Although some specialist gymnasia have English or French as the language of instruction, most lessons in a typical gymnasium (apart from foreign language courses) are conducted in Standard High German. This is true even in regions where High German is not the prevailing dialect.
Subjects taught
Curricula differ from school to school, but generally include German, mathematics, informatics/computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, art (as well as crafts and design), music, history, philosophy, civics / citizenship,this subject has different names in the different states of Germany. See :de:Gemeinschaftskunde social sciences, and several foreign languages.
For younger students, nearly the entire gymnasium curriculum is compulsory; in upper years, more elective subjects are available, but the choice is not as wide as in a U.S. high school. Generally, academic standards are high as the gymnasium typically caters to the upper 25–35% of the ability range.
Schools focus not only on academic subjects but also on producing well-rounded individuals, so physical education and religion or ethics are compulsory, even in non-denominational schools, which are prevalent. The German constitution guarantees the separation of church and state, so although religion or ethics classes are compulsory, students may choose to study a specific religion or none at all.
Schools for the gifted Gymnasien are often conceived as schools for the gifted. This, however, depends on many factors; some states, such as Bavaria, select their students by elementary grades or by entrance examination, and so do certain specialist schools, like the Sächsisches Landesgymnasium Sankt Afra zu Meißen, in other states. In these federal states, it is not up to the parents to decide whether a pupil will attend the Gymnasium; the decision is mainly based on performance in elementary school. However, even "the gifted" in this sense comprise a fourth or fifth of the population. Other gymnasia in other states have no such strict provisions. Though gymnasia traditionally impose strict grading that causes students of average academic ability to struggle, many schools share the motto: "No child left behind" ("Keiner darf verloren gehen").
Common types of gymnasium
Humanistisches Gymnasium (humanities-oriented)
Humanities-oriented gymnasia usually have a long tradition. They teach Latin and Ancient Greek (sometimes also Classical Hebrew) and additionally teach English, French, or both. The focus is on the classical antiquity and the civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome.
For certain subjects, such as History, many universities still require the Latinum, some also the Graecum, proof of study or comprehension of Latin or Ancient Greek, respectively.
Neusprachliches Gymnasium (focus on modern languages) This type of school is less traditional. It teaches at least two modern languages. In most cases, the students have the chance to learn Latin as well.For more information (in German), see: :de:Neusprachliches Gymnasium.
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliches Gymnasium (focus on math and science) Often combined with the Neusprachliches Gymnasium, these schools focus on STEM subjects.
Previous names