A gymnasium (pronounced with ɡ- in several languages) is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον (gymnasion) was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men (see gymnasium (ancient Greece)). The later meaning of intellectual education persisted in German and other languages, whereas in English the meaning of physical education was pertained in the word gym.
The gymnasium prepares pupils to enter a university.
In Germany, for instance, pupils study subjects like German, English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, geography, biology, arts, music, physical education, divinity, history and social sciences. They are also required to study at least two foreign languages. The usual combination is English and French, although many schools offer combining English or, in some cases, Latin, with another language, most often Latin, Spanish, Ancient Greek or Italian.
The number of years the gymnasium consists differs from state to state in Germany. It consists of seven years in Berlin and Brandenburg (primary school includes six years in both) and newly eight in Bavaria, Hessen and Baden-Württemberg among others. While in Saxony and Thuringia pupils never were taught more than eight years in Gymnasium (by default), nearly all states are going to provide Abitur after 12 years in primary schools and Gymnasium. The Abitur exams which complete the Gymnasium education are centrally drafted and controlled (Zentralabitur) in almost all German States.
In the Netherlands the gymnasium consists of six years in which pupils study the same subjects as their German counterparts, with the addition of compulsory Ancient Greek, Latin and "KCV", history of the Ancient Greek and Roman culture and literature.
In Sweden, the gymnasium consist of three years, starting at age 16 after nine years of primary school. Both primary school and gymnasium are totally free of charge and financed by taxes.
This meaning of a secondary school preparing for higher education at university in the German-speaking, the Nordic, the Benelux and the Baltic countries has been the same at least since the Protestant reformation in the 16th century. 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 study 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:
Today, a number of other areas of specialization exist, such as gymnasiums specializing in economics, technology or domestic sciences.
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 secondary school are called Gymnasium if the school chosen is a liceo classico (classical lyceum), a secondary school focusing on humanities with compulsory study of Latin and ancient Greek that also provides an average preparation in scientific subjects.
