A school with a story to tell. That is Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium. Founded as a Latin school possibly in the 15th century it has a rich history. The school became a Gymnasium in 1891. In 1912 the school moved into the building we see today. It was not until 1937 that it was named after the famous astronomer Johannes Kepler.
The Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium building itself is a landmark. Architects Ludwig Eisenlohr and Oscar Pfennig designed it in 1912. Sculptors Ulfert Janssen and Jakob Brüllmann added beautiful details. The building is near the Kurpark in Bad Cannstatt’s center.
Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium has a unique approach to languages. Students usually continue English from primary school in fifth grade. In sixth grade they choose either Latin or French. Those who pick Latin can later opt for a linguistic profile with French. Alternatively they can choose a science profile. The Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium even offers Graecum courses. This is part of its European Gymnasium program.
The Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium offers many activities. It has Comenius Project partnerships with schools in Örebro and Łódź. Student exchanges happen with French Switzerland China the USA and India. The school provides warm lunches on Mondays Tuesdays and Thursdays. Homework supervision takes place on Mondays and Wednesday through Friday. Other afternoon activities round out the school day. These involve the Musikschule Stuttgart TV Cannstatt and ESV Rot-Weiß Stuttgart.
Many notable people have taught at the Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium. These include theologian Richard Ottmar artist Christoff Schellenberger and writer Elsbeth Walch. Historian Helmut Dölker also taught here.
Several famous individuals attended Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium. Organ builder Eberhard Friedrich Walcker and surgeon Carl Wilhelm Heine were students. Writer Ernst Kapff and author Hermann Hesse also studied here. Psychiatrist Ernst Kretschmer and politician Fritz Elsas were alumni too. Nobel laureate Gerhard Ertl is also a former student.
The Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium is recognized for excellence. It was named a “Kulturschule Baden-Württemberg” and a “MINT-freundliche Schule” in 2022. The school focuses on media education computer science and astronomy courses. It also offers courses in descriptive geometry and advanced mathematics. These prepare students for university.
Students at Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium can choose a bilingual English program. This leads to the “International Baccalaureate Baden-Württemberg”. They can also study Greek in tenth grade. This can lead to the “Graecum” and “European Gymnasium” certificates. Students can earn DELF language diplomas in French too.
The school emphasizes individual support. Its SOKL model promotes self-organized and cooperative learning. A social curriculum stresses community. Currently around 560 students attend the Gymnasium.
The Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium promotes a holistic approach. It balances academic content with interdisciplinary skills. It also fosters social and personal skills. The school day often uses double periods. Students can eat lunch in the “Kepleria” cafeteria. They can then visit homework supervision or the library. A wide range of clubs are available. These include sports music and arts. Students can participate in the “Offene Ganztagesschule” program.
The Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium partners with several organizations. These include the BW-Bank the Evangelischer Verein and the Württembergische Landesbühne Esslingen. It also works with the Musikschule Stuttgart and other groups. The school awards Kepler Prizes for outstanding achievements. These are funded by school foundations. The Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium continues to be a place of learning growth and community. It prepares students for the future while honoring its long and storied past.