Standing here, you’re facing the Gymnasium am Europasportpark. This school has a story that twists and turns through Berlin’s history. Founded in 2016, the Gymnasium am Europasportpark wasn’t always a general education focused school.
Once, this building was the Kinder- und Jugendsportschule “Ernst Grube”. That translates to a special East Berlin school. It fostered young athletic talent in the former DDR. After the Berlin wall fell, the KJS became the Coubertin-Gymnasium. Then, it merged with the Werner-Seelenbinder-Schule. This created the Schul- und Leistungssportzentrum Berlin. In 2014, that sports center moved to a new location.
Before the Gymnasium am Europasportpark, primary levels of nearby schools used this building. The Tesla-Schule and the Grundschule im Blumenviertel needed the space. Finally, in 2020, the Gymnasium am Europasportpark took over the entire building. The first students graduated from the Gymnasium am Europasportpark in 2022.
The building itself dates back to 1973. It’s a five-story structure built in the SK style. Specifically, these are two side-by-side SK70-Berlin type buildings. However, the building is in bad shape.
In 2023, the then mayor Franziska Giffey decided to move the school. Students protested the condition of the Gymnasium am Europasportpark. The school was relocated to an alternate location in Wilhelmsruh.
Interestingly, the Gymnasium am Europasportpark doesn’t focus on specific subjects. Instead, it emphasizes general education. From the 8th grade onward, students choose elective courses. Bilingual courses are an option.
The Gymnasium am Europasportpark offers several foreign languages. Students can study English, French, Spanish, and Latin. There are annual school trips to Salamanca and Carcassonne. The school also has partnerships with schools in other countries. These include Tanzania, Norway, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. Student exchanges start in the 9th grade.
Afternoon AGs offer activities like robotics, school first aid, chess, and religion. Also, there’s an annual sports festival. Classes compete against each other as teams. The Gymnasium am Europasportpark participates in the “School Without Racism” network. It is also an interested member of the UNESCO project schools.
During breaks, students can play table tennis and basketball. Also, they can use their phones in certain areas. But big changes were coming.
In 2024, the school was renamed. It became the Inge-Deutschkron-Gymnasium. This honors Inge Deutschkron, a Berlin honorary citizen. The new location is the former Wilhelmsruh transformer station. The name change was decided by a vote of students, parents, and teachers.
So, while this building may look like any other school, it holds layers of Berlin’s past. From sports training to general education. From its original construction to its relocation and renaming, the story of the Gymnasium am Europasportpark is a fascinating one.