Annette-von-Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium

What Annette-von-Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium does

The Annette-von-Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium (AvD) is a public secondary school (Gymnasium) located in Dülmen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, operating within the German state education system since its founding in 1999. The school delivers a comprehensive Gymnasium curriculum spanning Klasse 5 through Klasse 13 (Abitur), serving approximately 1,000+ students (inferred from ~61 teaching staff) with a focus on STEM (MINT), languages, social sciences, and arts. It holds MINT-EC Excellence School certification (top 10% nationally, since 2018) and Zukunftsschule NRW designation, reflecting recognized academic quality. The school runs distinctive branded programs including the AHA! Herbstakademie autumn academy for grades 6-7, MINTec Certificate, project courses in materials science and design, career and study orientation (BWO) for both secondary stages, and 20 extracurricular clubs (AGs). International student exchanges are maintained with partners in France, Italy, and Poland.

The underlying technology is limited to a standard WordPress-based web platform with Google Fonts, YouTube integration for video content, and Google reCAPTCHA. There is no proprietary technology stack, no native mobile application, no API surface, and no AI/ML capabilities disclosed. The school maintains an extensive partnership ecosystem including University of Münster (MExLab physics, senseBox hackathons, chemistry internships), ICBF Münster (gifted education), FH Münster, Akademie Franz-Hitze-Haus (political education, German-Israeli youth exchange), Villa ten Hompel (historical-political education), Stadtarchiv Dülmen, and local industrial partner Nuvia Instruments.

The business model is public education funding: no tuition is charged, and revenue derives from NRW state education budgets. The go-to-market approach is community-led, relying on regional reputation, open days, information evenings, and word-of-mouth within the Dülmen catchment area. Students enroll through official school admission procedures rather than commercial channels. The school operates a single campus at Friedrich-Ruin-Str. 35, Dülmen, and is governed by a Schulleitung led by Thomas Düttmann with a management team spanning departmental coordination, MINT coordination, career guidance, and public relations.

Name

Annette-von-Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium

Legal name

Annette-von-Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium

Website

https://avd.duelmen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Annette-von-Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium is a publicly funded Gymnasium in Dülmen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, delivering secondary education from Klasse 5 through Abitur to local students with a recognized MINT-EC-certified STEM focus and international exchange programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dülmen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a public secondary school (Gymnasium) in Germany, the school is funded by government educational authorities. No direct tuition fees are charged to students. Revenue comes from public education budgets at the state (NRW) level.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Annette-von-Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium is a public Gymnasium offering comprehensive secondary education from Klasse 5 through the Abitur (Klasse 13). The school delivers instruction in languages, MINT sciences, social sciences, and arts, with enrichment through extracurricular clubs, international student exchanges (France, Italy, Poland), and specialized programs such as the aha! autumn academy, Berufs- und Studienwahl career orientation, and the MINTec Certificate. As a public state school, no tuition fees are charged.

Product overview

Annette-von-Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium (AvD) is a German secondary school (Gymnasium) in Dülmen offering a comprehensive academic program spanning languages (German, English, French, Italian, Latin, Spanish), MINT sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics), social sciences (Geography, History, Pedagogy, Philosophy, Politics/Economics, Religion), and artistic subjects (Literature, Music, Art, Sports). The school operates as a single unified educational institution with several branded programmatic offerings that distinguish its portfolio: its MINT-EC-certified STEM program (including the MINTec Certificate, aha! Herbstakademie autumn academy, and specialized MINT project courses), its Zukunftsschule NRW designation for innovative pedagogy, a structured Medienkonzept (media literacy curriculum), Berufs- und Studienwahl career orientation programs across both secondary stages, international exchange programs (Poland, France, Italy), and extracurricular clubs (AGs) such as model-building and podcasting. The school also runs two project courses in the upper secondary (Projektkurs Materialforschung and Projektkurs Design) and participates in charitable initiatives like the Lichtstrahl Uganda sponsorship project. All offerings are delivered within a single campus structure under unified school leadership, with the MINT-EC and Zukunftsschule designations serving as quality labels for distinct programmatic pillars.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MINTec Certificate (MINT EC Zertifikat) A certificate program in MINT (Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Technology) subjects for students at the Gymnasium, enabling students to earn a recognized MINT qualification alongside their Abitur as part of the school's MINT-EC certified status.
• aha! Annettes Herbstakademie (Autumn Academy) An annual autumn academy for grades 6 and 7 featuring excursions to science museums (Phänomenta Lüdenscheid, Heinz-Nixdorf-Computer-Museum Paderborn) and guest lectures by scientists, delivered as part of the school's MINT enrichment program.
• Berufs- und Studienwahl (Career and Study Orientation) A comprehensive career and higher education guidance program with dedicated modules for both lower secondary (Sek I) and upper secondary (Sek II) students, including workplace visits, job shadowing, and company partnerships.
• Internationale Schüleraustausche (International Student Exchanges) Student exchange programs with partner schools in Poland, France, and Italy, enabling cultural immersion and language learning through direct international engagement for Gymnasium students.
• Arbeitsgemeinschaften (Extracurricular Clubs) A range of extracurricular activity clubs including Modellbau AG (model building) and Podcast AG, providing students with 20 total enrichment offerings beyond regular coursework.
• Projektkurs Materialforschung (Materials Science Project Course) A project-based upper-secondary course focused on materials science research, teaching scientific methodology and documentation through a hands-on project in Q1 (grade 11).
• Projektkurs Design (Design Project Course) A project-based upper-secondary art and design course offering insight into design disciplines, creative ideation, and practical experimentation across various design fields.
• Medienkonzept (Media Literacy Curriculum) A structured media and digital literacy curriculum integrated across subjects, covering digital tools, research skills, and technology use in education for Gymnasium students.
• Lichtstrahl Uganda Charitable Project A social-engagement initiative supporting HIV-positive sponsor children in Uganda through student-led fundraising activities such as jump rope events, fostering social responsibility among Gymnasium students.
• Kinder-Uni (Children's University) Children's University outreach events hosted by the school, exposing younger students to university-style academic experiences and subjects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple students qualified for 2nd and 3rd rounds of International Physics Olympiade (IPhO)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Villa ten Hompel, MünstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical educational site in Münster serving as an educational partner for the school's history department. Provides workshops for students on topics including prejudice formation during the Nazi period, dealing with Nazi-era crimes, and contemporary attitudes toward National Socialism and neonazism. Used for project days and Holocaust survivor testimony events.
• Akademie Franz-Hitze-Haus, MünstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolitical, social, theological and cultural education academy. Provides Berlin excursions 'Spurensuche DDR' for talented students, week-long political student academy, and organizes German-Israeli youth exchange programs. Annual invitations to 2-3 students for 8-day exchange including seminars on political, historical, and social topics.
• Stadtarchiv DülmenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal city archive providing students insight into archival work, historical source management, and research on local historical topics. Supports upper-level students with source research for thesis papers and history competition entries.
• ICBF (Internationales Centrum für Begabungsforschung), MünstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Center for Giftedness Research. Provides FFP+ (Forder-Förder-Projekt Plus) gifted education program, workshops on research methodology, and collaboration within LemaS network. School celebrated 25th anniversary of ICBF and 20th anniversary of LiF program.
• Nuvia Instruments, DülmenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal company developing specialized radiation protection equipment. Physics advanced course visited the facility to learn about portal detectors and radiation detection technology, providing practical insight into STEM career applications.
• FH MünsterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFachhochschule Münster (University of Applied Sciences). Provides practical MINT workshops at the school, energy planning games, and participation in various educational programs.
• Biologisches Zentrum LüdinghausenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides climate science kits and educational resources for hands-on experiments on climate change, ocean acidification, and environmental topics.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Klett Group: Major German educational publisher providing textbooks and learning materials across K-12. Supplies curricular content to AvD and similar Gymnasiums.
• Bettermarks: Adaptive learning platform used widely across German schools for mathematics instruction. Serves AvD's students and teachers as a supplemental tool rather than competing for enrollment.
• Antolin: Web-based reading promotion platform widely adopted in German schools. Provides supplemental reading tools to AvD's students; complementary rather than competitive.
• Cornelsen Verlag: Germany's largest educational publisher, supplying textbooks and digital learning materials to public schools including Gymnasiums. Functions as a curriculum supplier to AvD rather than a competitor.
• Anton: Free learning app widely used in German schools covering core subjects up to Klasse 10. Supplements classroom instruction at AvD; serves the same students rather than competing for enrollment.

Direct peers

• Munich International School: IB and international curriculum K-12 school in Munich. Represents an alternative pathway for families prioritizing international qualifications and English-language instruction over the German Gymnasium system.
• Berlin Metropolitan School: International K-12 school in Berlin delivering IB and German curriculum. Competes for families seeking internationally-oriented secondary education as an alternative to traditional public Gymnasium tracks.
• Phorms Education: Private bilingual school operator running multiple K-12 campuses across Germany. Directly competes with AvD for academically-oriented German families seeking quality secondary education, particularly those who value structured international exposure.
• Strothoff International School: International school in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main area offering bilingual K-12 education. Another private alternative targeting families who might otherwise choose a strong public Gymnasium.
• Schule Schloss Salem: One of Germany's most prestigious private boarding schools, offering Abitur-level education with strong international and experiential learning focus. Competes for the same cohort of high-achieving families seeking premium secondary education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/annette-von-droste-h%C3%BClshoff-gymnasium

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Annette-von-Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium