Did you know that the Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule started in the Moritzbastei? It all began on May 5 1834. It was Saxony’s first Realschule. Only 25 students were there at the start.
Interest grew quickly. Leipzig’s citizens wanted modern education for their sons. By October 11 1873 the Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule needed more space. The school moved to Sidonienstrasse. Today that street is Paul-Gruner-Strasse. In 1884 big changes happened. New laws transformed the school into a nine-year gymnasium.
Over time 4872 students attended. Among them were Carl Bruno Tröndlin and Erich Zeigner. These alumni became mayors. The painter Max Klinger was also a student. Space was still an issue. Another move was needed. This time to a building between Floßplatz and Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse.
This location was in the St Petri parish. In 1907 the city council gave the school a new name. It became the Petri-Schule. World War II brought destruction. The school building was partly destroyed.
After 1945 girls could attend. From 1949 classes 9 to 12 focused on science and languages. In 1959 the school got another name. It was named after Georgi Dimitroff. From 1965 it became a special high school. It emphasized modern languages like Spanish and Italian. In 1971 the school moved to Tarostrasse.
The Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule has strong ties to Leipzig’s sports history. Until 1992 some students and teachers belonged to the Kinder- und Jugendsportschule. Members of the Gewandhaus children’s choir also trained here.
After East Germany ended the school’s name was debated. Anton Philipp Reclam was chosen in 1992. In 1992 Saxony re-established gymnasiums. The Kinder- und Jugendsportschule merged with the Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule. The Reclam name continued. To ensure enough space the school expanded into the neighboring building.
In 1993 the Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule gained special status. It became a “$4-Gymnasium”. This meant it had advanced language studies. It was one of four such schools in Leipzig. The Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule focused on French.
Today the Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule consists of two buildings. There are 46 classrooms and specialized rooms. One building was fully renovated in 2004. The school now has elevators for accessibility. There is internet access throughout. It features three computer labs and modern chemistry labs. Physics biology and music rooms are also available. A French-style media center called CDI exists. A multimedia studio supports language learning and competitions.
The library has over 10000 books including Reclam classics. The school grounds are spacious. There are quiet zones and a basketball court. A gym swimming pool and sports field are nearby. The school is close to the Bürgerzentrum and a German-French kindergarten.
Since 2011 the Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule is part of Leipzig’s German-French Education Center. In 2022 it joined the “School of Diversity” network. This makes the Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule the first East German school to join.
The Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule offers a bilingual German-French program. Students can earn both German and French diplomas. This program requires an entrance exam. Students study English and French from grade 5. Geography is taught in French from grade 7. History follows in grade 9. The school also provides regular language and science tracks. Students can choose Spanish or Italian.
Graduates from the Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule have gone on to do great things. Max Klinger the famous painter once walked these halls. So as you pass through Leipzig remember the Anton-Philipp-Reclam-Schule. It has a long history of academic excellence and international connections.