Established 2004-2017 (2004-2017) Years offered 5-12 Student to teacher ratio 5:1 Number of students 150 Teaching staff 30 | Headmaster Michael Knöthig Enrollment 150 (2012/13) Phone +49 6223 815000 Average class size 15 Gender Mixed-sex education | |
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School type Private boarding school for highly gifted students, Gymnasium Address Im Spitzerfeld 25, Leonardo da Vinci Gymnasium, 69151 Neckargemünd, Germany Similar Max‑Born, Stephen, Hölderlin Gymnasi Heidelberg, Helmholt, Gymnasi Bammental | ||
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The Leonardo da Vinci Gymnasium is a state recognized private, coeducational, full-time day and boarding school for highly gifted students located in Neckargemünd (Baden-Württemberg) run by the SRH Group, a Non-Profit organisation in Healthcare and Education. The school is one of Germany’s first private schools for intellectually gifted children from 5th grade onward and it is the first and sole private school of this kind in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The school consists of a secondary school and a high school, which correspond to the state equivalents. Its stated aim is the promotion of the intellectual and social development of its students. In November 2016, the school announced it would be closing down after the 2016/17 school year due to declining numbers of applicants.
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Conception
Leonardo da Vinci Gymnasium is accredited by the Ministry of Culture and Education of the State of Baden-Württemberg and therefore required to follow the state curriculum for public schools. The school offers the same type of diplomas that public institutions provide, most importantly Abitur. The final Abitur examinations in grade 12 are identical to that in public schools.
The stated objective of the school is to promote, encourage and foster the education of gifted children. To this end the school offers accelerated and compacted classes, a wide variety of extra-curricular enrichment courses throughout various academic fields (e.g. mathematics, science and technology, languages, literature, music, visual arts, and sports) as well as integrated pull-out activities. In an interdisciplinary project in 2012 two grade 8 classes wrote a novel that has subsequently been published as a book.
Also, there is an exchange program with schools in Mexico (Guadalajara) and China (Beijing).
Location
The school is located on the campus of the SRH educational centre in Neckargemünd, a home for several academic institutions, within 10 km (7 miles) distance to the city of Heidelberg. The school benefits from shared on-campus facilities, including a computer network, an on-campus library, fully equipped science and computer laboratories. In addition, the school has access to two gyms and its own athletic ground.