Karls-Gymnasium

In 1881, the Karls-Gymnasium in Stuttgart began its journey. It emerged from a division of the Gymnasium illustre. The original school, founded in 1686, had become too small. This division also birthed the Eberhard-Ludwigs-Gymnasium. The Karls-Gymnasium is named after King Karl I of Württemberg. For a few years, the school occupied temporary spaces. These included rooms in the “Polytechnikum” on Königstraße and the “Mäntlerschen Haus” on Stiftstraße. Then, in 1885, the Karls-Gymnasium moved to its current location on Tübinger Straße. Architect Adolf Wolff designed the Italian Renaissance-style building. It housed classrooms, science labs, spaces for art and music, and even a gymnasium. The new assembly hall was considered a masterpiece. The original school building still stands today. Only the old gymnasium has been replaced. A new one was inaugurated in 2007. The Karls-Gymnasium also occupies three floors of a nearby building on Furtbachstraße. This additional space primarily serves the upper-level students. The Karls-Gymnasium maintains a strong focus on humanities. Students begin learning Latin and English in the 5th grade. In 8th grade, they choose between Ancient Greek or French. Extracurricular activities expand the language offerings further. Students can explore Hebrew, Spanish, or additional French classes. The school even offers the European Gymnasium diploma. More recently, students can also choose a natural sciences and technology track. This option became available alongside French and Ancient Greek in 2015. The Karls-Gymnasium introduced the 12-year Abitur program in the 1991/92 school year. It was part of a pilot program at the time. In 2006/07, the school established a program specifically for gifted students. A unique feature of the Karls-Gymnasium is its “Man and Nature” course. This project-oriented class blends humanities and science. Two teachers team-teach the course, using a curriculum developed in-house. Performing arts are integral to the school’s identity. Starting in 5th grade, students regularly rehearse and perform plays, ballads, and poems. These performances often incorporate visual arts and music. The Karls-Gymnasium boasts a wide array of extracurriculars. From drama and music to sports and academics, there’s something for everyone. The “Karl’s Drama Group” produces an English-language play each year. The school orchestras and choirs join forces for Christmas and summer concerts. The German-language theater groups stage two full-length plays each year. The Friends and Supporters of Karls-Gymnasium association was founded in 1949. Its mission includes connecting alumni with each other and the school. It also funds special activities, equipment, and student subsidies for excursions. Since 2002, the association awards the Karls-Preis to graduating students. This honor recognizes outstanding contributions to the school community. The Karls-Gymnasium fosters global connections through its exchange programs. Partner schools include The Leys in Cambridge, England, and Neo Scholeio Dalamanara in Nafplio, Greece. Other partnerships exist with Sportovni gymnazium in Brno, Czech Republic, and Collège Paul d’Aubarède near Lyon, France.