Originally two schools one Reinoldus and one Schiller the Reinoldus- und Schiller-Gymnasium stands before you. Why does this Dortmund school have such a long name? Let’s unravel its history.
The Reinoldus- und Schiller-Gymnasium we see today is the result of a merger. It’s a combination of two traditional schools. They joined forces on August 1 1986. The merger created a larger course selection for upper-level students.
But let’s step back. The Reinoldus-Gymnasium started as the Königlichen Gymnasium in 1907. It was on Lindemannstraße near the Möllerbrücke. This school focused on humanities. It aimed to attract Catholic students. The city already had the Stadtgymnasium. That school was more Protestant.
During the rise of National Socialism the Staatliche Gymnasium showed some resistance. In 1936 a district leader complained. He said the school showed the least cooperation with Nazi ideology. Later the school was renamed Albert Leo Schlageter-Gymnasium. After World War II the original name returned quickly. War forced the school to move several times. Classes even took place in fresh Nehrung in Poland for a while.
After the war the school used buildings at the abandoned Zeche Germania mine. By 1948 classes returned to Lindemannstraße. In the 1970s students wanted more freedom. The Lindemannstraße location became too noisy. The school yearned for peace and quiet. In 1973 they decided to move near the Hallerey nature preserve. In 1974 the city took over. It became Reinoldus-Gymnasium for boys and girls. Coeducation came after a trial period.
Now let’s look at the Schiller-Gymnasium’s past. Paula Goeker founded a private girls’ school in 1885. In 1911 Dortmund bought the school on Kronprinzenstraße. It reopened as Städtisches Lyzeum II. The school moved to a grand building on Hohen Wall in 1917. This building had an auditorium a gym and a schoolyard. Sadly an Allied bombing destroyed it on May 21 1943.
During the Nazi era the curriculum changed drastically. Jewish students and the rabbi were no longer welcome. After the school’s destruction in 1943 classes were held in Freiburg and Tegernsee. Students joined the Kinderlandverschickung program like others in Dortmund.
In 1946 the Schiller-Gymnasium shared buildings. They used the Schinkelschule in Kirchlinde and the Overbergschule in Mengede. In 1949 it moved to the former hospital on Burgholzstraße 150. Student numbers grew. Space became tight. The Helene-Lange-Gymnasium split off from the Schiller-Gymnasium in 1959. Coeducation started at the Schiller-Gymnasium in 1969. In 1970 it moved to a new building in Dorstfeld near Wischlingen. The old hospital never felt suitable as a school.
Today the Reinoldus- und Schiller-Gymnasium thrives. It offers many clubs support programs and trips. It focuses on science technology engineering and math STEM and music. The school was re-certified as a MINT-friendly school in 2019. It provides advanced courses in math biology and computer science. The school values education for sustainable development. It is part of the “School Without Racism” network. It also earned the Fairtrade School award. A new triple sports hall opened in 2013.
From humble beginnings to its modern focus the Reinoldus- und Schiller-Gymnasium has a rich history. It continues to shape young minds in Dortmund.