Founded in 1880 the Eichendorff-Gymnasium Bamberg has a rich history. It began as a non-denominational girls’ school. The Töchterschulverein rented rooms on Karolinenstraße. Soon they purchased a property at Vorderer Bach 6. In 1911 it became the Höhere Mädchenschule. Bamberg took over as the school’s sponsor in 1918. By 1924 it was the Städtisches Mädchlyzeum. A one-room school for women was added after the sixth grade. The number of teachers doubled in 1938 due to a ban on teaching by monastic staff.
After the war the Bachschule reopened. It comprised a girls’ upper secondary school a girls’ middle school and a women’s school. The girls’ upper secondary school later became the Realgymnasium. In 1965 the Bachschule moved to its new building on Kloster-Langheim-Straße. The name Eichendorff-Gymnasium was chosen by the then headmistress Annemaria Schalast. She served from 1913 until 2008.
An extension with biology rooms a library and a multi-purpose room was added in 1977. The Friends of the Eichendorff-Gymnasium was founded in 1980 to support the school. Further renovations took place in 2005. These were to meet the requirements of the night school.
Since 2009 the gymnasium has held the title “School without Racism – School with Courage”. Since 2013 it has been an official Fairtrade school. This requires Fairtrade to be taught in at least two grade levels and two subjects each year. A school event on this topic must also be held. Fair trade products must be sold at school.
Since the 2023/24 school year the formerly all-girls school now also admits boys. A science and technology branch has been added. The Eichendorff-Gymnasium Bamberg continues to evolve adapting to the changing needs of its students and community.