Gymnasium

Gymnasium is a German classical secondary school that is maintained by the state and prepares students to attend universities. In ancient Greece, gymnasia were places for athletics and discussions. There was a renewed interest in them during the Renaissance, and in Germany the first Gymnasium for academic purposes was founded in Strassburg in 1537. Gymnasia accept only around 30% of secondary students in Germany and send 90% percent of their graduates to some form of higher education, usually professional schools and universities.

Gymnasia now specialize in particular subjects, such as languages, social sciences, and mathematics, but the curriculum in the first 5 to 6 years is the same for all, and for the first 4 or 5 years it is easy to transfer from one Gymnasium to another. Grades 10-12 (formerly 11-13), the last three years of the 9-year secondary program, are specialized. They provide an education similar to the first two years at a US college. Students major in two subjects. Most students prefer the Gymnasia in modern languages, mathematics, and science. About 10% of the students leave the Gymnasium with a certificate after grade 10 (at age 16) and enter a vocational school. The others prepare for the Abitur, which serves as both a cumulative final examination and an entrance examination for all types of higher education. Note: In most states of Germany the course now is only 8 years and Abitur exams take place at the end of grade 12, in some states the first two years of training (grade 5 and 6) take place at elementary schools.

Other countries, including the Czech Republic, Greece, Greek Cyprus, Denmark, Italy, Hungary, Sweden, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia, have similar secondary systems that are also called Gymnasia, but they differ in the range of grades included, the proportion of students accepted, and other features.

from: Grolier's Encyclopedia (adapted and updated 2010)