Gymnasium Carolinum

What Gymnasium Carolinum does

Gymnasium Carolinum is a public secondary school (Gymnasium) located at Große Domsfreiheit 1, 49074 Osnabrück, in the German state of Lower Saxony. Founded in 804 AD by Emperor Charlemagne, the school claims to be Germany's oldest continuously operating school and serves students in Klasse 5 through Klasse 13 (Abitur). It offers a comprehensive curriculum spanning languages (German, English, French, Latin, Spanish, and the rare offering of Greek), the natural sciences and mathematics (MINT), humanities, arts, music, and sport, with dedicated programs for gifted students (Drehtürprojekt), student exchange, and counseling/learning coaching. The school's leadership is headed by Schulleiter Ulrich Solbach.

The institution operates as a staatliche Schule under the Trägerschaft of Land Niedersachsen and Stadt Osnabrück, with no tuition, no commercial revenue model, and no private ownership. Operational technology consists of third-party tools — the IServ school management and communication platform, Untis/WebUntis for scheduling, and YouTube embeds on the website — rather than proprietary systems. The school maintains an institutional ecosystem of supporting organizations: Stiftung Carolinum (foundation awarding annual prizes), Förderverein (support association funding equipment and programs), and Carolingerbund (alumni association).

Distribution of educational services occurs exclusively through the standard German public-school enrollment process. Marketing and community-facing activity is limited to the school's website (carolinum-osnabrueck.de), an Instagram account (@carolinum_osnabrueck), and recurring in-person events including Tag der offenen Tür, Schnuppertag, and Kennenlernnachmittag. The school has earned recognition including the Schule:Global-Siegel (2026, first in Osnabrück), MINT-freundliche Schule (2025), and produces state-championship-level results in rowing.

Name

Gymnasium Carolinum

Legal name

Gymnasium Carolinum Osnabrück

Website

https://carolinum-osnabrueck.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gymnasium Carolinum is a publicly funded Gymnasium in Osnabrück, Germany, founded in 804 AD, serving students in Klasse 5–13 with a comprehensive academic, MINT, language, and arts curriculum under Land Niedersachsen and Stadt Osnabrück sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education (Gymnasium)

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAF

Classical Education K–12 Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Gymnasium curriculum
• Abitur preparation
• MINT education
• Student exchange programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Osnabrück

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gymnasium Carolinum is a publicly funded German secondary school (Gymnasium) in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, delivering comprehensive academic education from Klasse 5 through the Abitur (grades 5-13). The school offers a broad curriculum organized into three Aufgabenfelder: languages and arts (German, English, French, Latin, Spanish, Greek, Art, Music), humanities and social sciences (History, Politics, Geography, Religion, Philosophy, Werte und Normen), and STEM (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science), plus Sport. Supporting offerings include counseling, mediation and learning coaching, MINT programs, a Drehtür-Projekt for gifted students, international student exchanges, and extracurricular Arbeitsgemeinschaften.

Product overview

Gymnasium Carolinum is a traditional secondary school (Gymnasium) in Osnabrück, Germany, established in 804 CE, making it one of the oldest schools in Germany. The school offers a comprehensive educational program spanning grades 5-13, with a focus on academic excellence across languages (German, English, French, Latin, Spanish, Greek), sciences (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science), humanities (History, Politics, Geography, Philosophy), arts (Music, Art), and sports. The school also provides special programs including MINT (STEM) education, gifted student programs (Drehtürprojekt), student exchange programs, cultural activities, and comprehensive counseling services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gymnasium Carolinum General Education Program Comprehensive secondary education from Klasse 5 through the Abitur (grades 5-13), covering languages (German, English, French, Latin, Spanish, Greek), STEM (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science), humanities (History, Politics, Geography, Religion, Philosophy), arts (Art, Music), and Sport, designed for students aged approximately 10-19 and preparing them for university entrance.
• MINT am Carolinum (STEM Program) STEM-focused program covering Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Technology, recognized with the MINT-freundliche Schule designation.
• Beratung, Mediation und Coaching (Counseling, Mediation, and Coaching Services) School-internal student support services: Beratungskonzept with Beratungslehrer*innen (counseling concept and counselors), Schulmediation (school mediation), and Lerncoaching (learning coaching), available to enrolled students.
• Drehtür-Projekt (Gifted Education Program) Gifted and talented student program under Fördern und Fordern (support and challenge), enabling high-performing students to deepen their academic work beyond standard curriculum.
• International Student Exchange Programs Reciprocal student exchange programs with partner schools in seven countries (France, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Mexico, Chile, New York City), enabling enrolled students to participate in cross-cultural educational stays.
• AGs (Arbeitsgemeinschaften — Extracurricular Activities) Extracurricular working groups and clubs (Arbeitsgemeinschaften) covering topics such as Bojasar-AG (support for Afghan girls' school partnership), arts, music, theater, and sport, available to enrolled students.
• Berufsorientierung (Career Orientation) Career orientation program (Perspektiven) providing students with guidance, preparation, and resources for university and career transitions.
• Digitalisierung am Carolinum (Digital Learning Program) School-wide digitalization initiative combining digital learning tools, computer rooms, and technology-enhanced teaching across the curriculum.

Quantifiable outcome

• First school in Osnabrück to receive Schule:Global-Siegel for international education excellence
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kunstraum Hase29minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Art cooperation where students work on creative projects including assemblage art and the 'Living in the Future' project. Students from class 9b created innovative housing concepts displayed in the Hase29 gallery. Provides valuable impulses and access to contemporary art.
• Jämtland-Gymnasium (Järpen, Schweden)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Student exchange program with Jämtland-Gymnasium in Järpen, Sweden, in Åre municipality. Exchange began in 2025 with very successful initial runs. The partner school is notable for its winter sports profile that has produced Olympians.
• Bojasar-Mädchenschule (Afghanistan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Long-standing school partnership since 2016 with Bojasar girls' school in Afghanistan. School has donated 5,000€ to support the school, which operates under difficult conditions since Taliban takeover allowing education only through grade 6. Bojasar-AG organized by Christina Leonard supports the partnership with various activities.
• Stiftung CarolinumcoreOthersSchool foundation that supports educational initiatives and awards prizes to outstanding students through annual award ceremonies.
• Förderverein des Gymnasium CarolinumcoreOthersSupport association that provides funding for school programs and equipment, such as watercolor supplies for outdoor art classes.
• CarolingerbundcoreOthersAlumni association that maintains the worldwide network of former students, organizes events like Herbstakademie, and presents lectures such as with Peter Urban.
• WPZ Weser EmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational center that supports school programs such as Waldjugendspiele (forest youth games) with supervision and activities.
• Lagerhalle e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner organization that provides professional artists and workshops for Tag der Kultur events, including tape art workshops with artist Katrin Lazaruk.
• Theater OsnabrückminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal theater that collaborates with the school music course for behind-the-scenes insights and collaborative theatrical projects, including Hamilton musical scenes.
• Stiftung Zukunft WaldminorOthersFoundation that supports Waldjugendspiele (forest youth games) by covering bus transportation costs for students.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Internatsschule Schloss Salem: Elite German boarding school founded by Kurt Hahn with strong academic, international exchange, and extracurricular programs; comparable to Gymnasium Carolinum's comprehensive offering in languages, STEM (MINT), sports, and cultural programs at a premium secondary level.
• St. Anna-Gymnasium Augsburg: Bavarian Gymnasium with humanities, languages (including Latin), and STEM focus serving Abitur-track students; comparable as a German Gymnasium with similar classical curriculum emphasis and university-preparatory mission.
• Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums: Founded in 1529 in Hamburg, this is one of Germany's oldest and most prestigious Gymnasien, comparable to Gymnasium Carolinum as a historic, university-preparatory secondary school offering classical and modern languages, STEM, and arts at the highest academic level.
• Gymnasium Christianeum: Historic Hamburg Gymnasium founded in 1738 offering classical and modern languages, sciences, and arts leading to Abitur; directly comparable to Gymnasium Carolinum as a long-established northern German state Gymnasium with similar classical curriculum and exchange programs.
• Gymnasium Leopoldinum Detmold: Historic Lower Saxony/OWL region Gymnasium founded in 1604, providing Abitur preparation with classical languages, MINT, and arts; directly comparable as a long-established German Gymnasium with similar curriculum breadth and regional public-school governance.
• Ludwigsgymnasium München: Munich-based Gymnasium with classical and modern language offerings, strong MINT and arts programs, and Abitur preparation; directly comparable as a high-quality German state Gymnasium with comprehensive secondary education.

Regional players

• Schottengymnasium: Vienna's prestigious Benedictine-run Gymnasium founded in 1802, offering classical and modern languages and strong STEM; comparable as a historic, academically rigorous German-speaking secondary school, though operating under Austrian rather than German education law.
• Theresianum: Vienna-based Gymnasium with parallel secondary and upper school tracks, strong in MINT and languages; comparable as a German-language university-preparatory school with similar comprehensive curriculum and international exchange profile.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/carolinum_osnabrueck
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gymnasium-carolinum

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Gymnasium Carolinum