Can you believe the Theodor-Heuss-Schule started in just two classrooms? It has certainly grown since 1884. The Theodor-Heuss-Schule in Offenbach am Main is a vocational school with a rich history. This school provides education in economics.
Let’s step back in time. Picture the late 19th century. The school began as the Kaufmännische Fortbildungsschule. It was established by the Offenbach Chamber of Commerce. The school’s original location was in the Altgräfinnenhaus. That building stood at Glockengasse 56. This marked the first school that offered vocational training to apprentices.
Quickly outgrowing its initial space, the school moved several times. It finally received its own building in 1907. This was located behind the Chamber of Commerce at Kaiserstraße 28. Initially, school operations relied on tuition fees. Contributions from the Chamber of Commerce and donations also helped. The city of Offenbach started providing funds in 1887. Support from the Grand Duchy of Hesse came in 1902.
Student numbers grew from 56 to 331 by 1914. World War I caused a drop to 220 students. The Theodor-Heuss-Schule began admitting female apprentices in 1909.
The city of Offenbach took over the school in 1920. In 1922, the school appointed its first full-time principal. This coincided with the introduction of the Höhere Handelsschule. Space issues led to a move to Hospitalstraße in 1933. Then, in 1938, it relocated to Berliner Straße 100. This was the former site of the Mädchenrealschule. The school building was destroyed in a 1944 air raid. For a few months, classes continued in air raid shelters. The Theodor-Heuss-Schule was closed in the fall of 1944. Reopening occurred in 1946. Classes then took place in the Albert-Schweitzer-Schule building.
In 1956, the school moved to Geleitstraße 18. This was the former Oberschule für Mädchen. The Kaufmännische Fortbildungsschule was renamed in 1966. It became the Theodor-Heuss-Schule. The name honored Theodor Heuss, the first German Federal President. He was born in the same year the school was founded. The Theodor-Heuss-Schule gained the right to award the “mittlere Reife” five years earlier. The Berufliche Gymnasium was introduced in 1968.
The Theodor-Heuss-Schule moved to its current location on the Buchhügel in the early 1970s. The Berufsschule für Fremdsprachensekretariat was established in the mid-1980s. The Fachoberschule began in 1996. A cooperation with the August-Bebel-Schule for IT professions started in 1998.
Renovations and new constructions took place starting in 2011. These included a new school building, a sports hall, and renovations to the old building. Today, the Theodor-Heuss-Schule offers a variety of programs. These include the Berufliche Gymnasium. There are specializations in economics and health. The Fachoberschule offers focuses on business informatics, economics/administration, and health. There is also the Höhere Berufsfachschule. This has focuses on foreign language secretarial work and information processing.
The school has come a long way from its humble beginnings. It now consists of three buildings. There is an old building, a new building, and the Käthe-Kollwitz-Schule. The Theodor-Heuss-Schule shares the new building with the Käthe-Kollwitz-Schule. A unique aspect is the “Tasty Theo” student company.
Theodor-Heuss-Schule provides migration counseling and social learning programs. These programs support students with integration. They promote intercultural understanding.