Bettinaschule

Established in 1855, the Bettinaschule stands as a testament to Frankfurt’s rich educational history. Originally called the Städtische höhere Bürgerschule für Knaben und Mädchen, the Bettinaschule began its life in Bockenheim. This was before Bockenheim became part of Frankfurt. In 1877, the school split into separate institutions for boys and girls. The boys’ school eventually became the Liebigschule. After Bockenheim’s incorporation into Frankfurt in 1895, the girls’ school was renamed Viktoriaschule in 1898, likely in honor of Empress Augusta Viktoria. The Viktoriaschule moved into a grand new building near the Senckenberganlage in the southern Westend, next to the Wöhlerschule. In 1908, the school became a städtisches Lyzeum, allowing students to earn their Hochschulreife (university entrance qualification). By 1923, it was recognized as an Oberrealschule. A dark chapter unfolded in 1933 with the appointment of Ludwig Gerber, a staunch Nazi, as headmaster. Jewish students and teachers were forced out. A memorial on the school grounds now stands as a stark reminder of this injustice. The Bettinaschule played a crucial role after the war. With many Frankfurt schools destroyed, it also housed students from the neighboring Wöhlerschule. The American military government ordered the school’s renaming to Bettinaschule in 1947, honoring the writer Bettina von Arnim. The school moved to its current location on Feuerbachstraße in 1961. A significant change happened in 1967 when the Bettinaschule became co-educational, welcoming boys for the first time. Today, the Bettinaschule continues to thrive with approximately 1,028 students and about 71 teachers. The school’s focus is on the arts. It boasts numerous programs in art, music, theater, and dance. The student newspaper, the Betti.Times, has even won awards. The Bettinaschule also has a vibrant student government that organizes various events and projects.