Gymnasium (school)

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For the type of building, see gym.

A gymnasium (pronounced with a hard g) is a type of school of secondary education in parts of Europe. The word "γυμνασιον" (gymnasion) was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men (see gymnasium (ancient Greece)).

In the German-speaking, the Scandinavian, the Benelux and the Baltic countries gymnasium has, at least since the protestant reformation in the 16th century, had the meaning of a secondary school preparing for higher education at university. The first general system of schools which provided for the Gymnasia was that of Saxony, formulated in 1528. They are thus meant for the more academically-minded students, who are sifted out at about the age of 10–13. In addition to the usual curriculum, students of a gymnasium often learn Latin and Greek.

Some gymnasiums provide general education, others have a specific focus. (This also differs from country to country.) The three traditional branches are:

  • humanistic education (specialising in ancient languages, like Latin and Greek)
  • modern languages
  • mathematical-scientific education

Today, a number of other areas of specialisation exist, such as gymnasiums specializing in art or sports.

In some countries, there is a notion of progymnasium, which is equivalent to beginning classes of the full gymnasium, with the rights to continue education in a gymnasium. Here, the prefix "pro" means "instead of".

In Italy, the first two years of high school are called Gymnasium if the high school chosen is a classical lyceum (a particular secondary school focusing on Latin and Greek as well as literature).

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Countries with gymnasium schools

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
  • Argentina 3 years after 9 years in primary school (except in Buenos Aires and some provinces). The Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires (5 years starting at age 12/13, with an optional sixth year) is one the oldest and most prestigious high school institutions, including the study of Greek and Latin.
  • Austria either 8 years ("Langform") or 4 years ("Kurzform", lower level, after finishing a secondary modern school), starting at the age of 10 (or 14), ends with Matura)
  • Belgium 6 years of primary school, followed by 6 years of secondary school. In secondary school there is something similar to gymnasium, but it is generally referred to as ASO (Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs, which means, General Secondary Education, as opposed to Technical Secondary Education and Professional Secondary Education, which both are less theoretically). The last 2 years of secondary education usually prove to be significantly more difficult than the first 4.
  • Bulgaria 5 years, after 7 years of primary school. Currently graduation after passing the Matriculation Examination.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina (4 years, starting at age 14/15 after 8 years in elementary school, ends with Matura)
  • Croatia (4 years, starting at age 14/15 after 8 years in elementary school, ends with Matura)
  • Cyprus 3 years, starting at age 12 and following 6 years of Elementary School. Compulsory for all students. Followed by the non-mandatory Lyceum (ages 15-18) for students with academic aspirations or TEL for students who prefer vocational training.
  • Czech Republic (4 years starting at age 14/15; 6 years starting at age 12/13; 8 years starting at age 10/11; all of them end with a Maturita)
  • Denmark 3 years (4 years for athletes who are part of Team Denmark, or musicians who have chosen MGK), usually starting after 9 or 10 years of primary school)
  • Estonia (3 years, after 9 years of primary school)
  • Finland (2-4 years (most people spend 3 years), after 9 years of primary school, starting usually at age 15/16, graduation after passing the Matriculation Examination)
  • Germany (6-9 years (depending on the Bundesland), starting at 5th (at age 10) or 7th grade, Abitur in 12th or 13th grade). Also, there are progymnasiums and realgymnasiums. For more information, see Gymnasia and Realgymnasia.
  • Greece 3 years, starting at age 12 and following 6 years of Elementary School. Compulsory for all students. Followed by the non-mandatory Lyceum (ages 15-18) for students with academic aspirations or TEL for students who prefer vocational training.
  • Hungary (4/6/8 years, starting after 8/6/4 years of primary school, ends with Matura)
  • Iceland (usually 4 years, starting at age 15/16 after 10 years of elementary school)
  • Israel, located in Tel Aviv.
  • Liechtenstein (ends with Matura)
  • Latvia (3 years, after 9 years of primary school)
  • Lithuania (?)
  • Luxembourg (usually 7 years, starting at age 12-13 after 6 years of primary school)
  • Macedonia (4 years, starting at age 14)
  • Netherlands (6 years, starting at age 11-13. Prepares for admission to University. Gymnasia in the Netherlands have compulsory classes in Ancient Greek and Latin; a similar high level secondary school without the classical languages is called "Atheneum")
  • Norway (2/3/4 years depending on course path taken, starting at the age of 15/16, final examination upon completion) (This is no longer in official use - it's been subsumed within the "videregående skole" - but many people still refer to it as "gymnas")
  • Poland - 3 years, type of middle school, starting at age 13/14 and following 6 years of Elementary School. Compulsory for all students. Followed by the non-mandatory 3 years Liceum, 4 years technikum, or 2 or 3 years vocational technical school.
  • Russia
  • Serbia and Montenegro (4 years, ends with Matura)
  • Slovakia (4 years starting at age 13/14; 8 years starting at age 9/10; both end with a Maturita)
  • Slovenia (4 years, starting at age 14/15, ends with Matura)
  • Sweden (3 years, starting after 9 years of primary school)
  • Switzerland (usually 4 years, after 6 years of primary and 2 or 3 years of secondary school, ends with Matura)
  • Ukraine (8 years, starting after 4 years of primary school)
  • United Kingdom: historically, grammar schools have been the English equivalent of the gymnasium, selecting pupils on the basis of academic ability and educating them with the assumption that they would go on to study at a university; such schools were largely phased out under the Wilson government, with less than 5% of pupils now attending grammar schools, and the UK now has no widespread equivalent of the gymnasium
  • United States
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Final degree

The final degree is called Abitur, Artium, Matura or Student and it usually opens the way to professional schools directly. The final two or three years at a Gymnasium are therefore equivalent to the first two years at an United States college.

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Relationship with other education facilities

In countries like Croatia, most university faculties only accept students from secondary schools that last four years (rather than three). This includes all Gymnasium students but only a part of vocational high schools, in effect making Gymnasium the preferred choice for all pupils aiming for university diplomas.

In Germany, other types of secondary school are called Realschule, Hauptschule and Gesamtschule. These are attended by about two thirds of the students and the first two are practically unknown in other parts of the world. A Gesamtschule largely corresponds to an American high school. However, it offers the same school leaving certificates as the other three types of German secondary schools - the Hauptschulabschluss (school leaving certificate of a Hauptschule after 9th Grade or in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia after 10th Grade), the Realschulabschluss, also called Mittlere Reife, (school leaving certificate of a Realschule after 10th Grade) and Abitur, also called Hochschulreife, after 13th or seldom after 12th Grade. Students who graduate from Hauptschule or Realschule continue their schooling at a vocational school until they have full job qualifications. There are two types of vocational school in Germany. The Berufsschule, a part time vocational school and a part of Germany's dual education system, and the Berufsfachschule, a full time vocational school outside the dual education system. Both types of school are also part of Germany's secondary school system. Students who graduate from a vocational school and students who graduate with good GPA from a Realschule can continue their schooling at an other type of German secondary school, the Fachoberschule, a vocational high school. The school leaving exam of this type of school, the Fachhochschulreife, enables the graduate to start studying at a Fachhochschule (polytechnic), and in Hesse also at an university within the state.

In Sweden, the term gymnasium was traditionally reserved for the theoretical education described above. However, due to the egalitarian strive of post-war socialist governments, the term is today used for all kinds of secondary education, both theoretical and vocational.cs:Gymnázium da:Gymnasium de:Gymnasium fr:Lycée en France he:גימנסיה nl:Gymnasium ja:ギムナジウム pl:Gimnazjum sk:Gymnázium fi:Lukio sv:Gymnasium hu:Gimnázum ru:Гимназия

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