Gymnasium Am Kattenberge

What Gymnasium Am Kattenberge does

Gymnasium Am Kattenberge (GAK) is a public secondary school (Gymnasium) located at Sprötzer Weg 33 in Buchholz in der Nordheide, Lower Saxony, Germany, founded in 1974 and operated under the Land Niedersachsen (State of Lower Saxony) through the Niedersächsisches Kultusministerium. The school serves approximately 1,000+ students across grades 5-13 (Sekundarstufe I and II), culminating in the Abitur, and is led by Principal Linda Steuber (appointed 2024) with Fabian Hammerschmidt as deputy principal. GAK is differentiated by a stack of institutional certifications — Sportfreundliche Schule (first in district, since 2008, renewable every five years), MINT-EC membership (since July 2015), Europaschule in Niedersachsen (since August 2022), and Humanitäre Schule — and by specialized profile tracks in STEM (Labor/Laborklasse, MINTplus university-linked research, Jugend forscht competitions, robotics with TU Hamburg), music (Bildungsgang Musik from year 6), sports, and the Acker agricultural program.

The school's core technology stack is a conventional education-administration configuration rather than a proprietary platform: IServ for internal communication and learning management, WebUntis for scheduling and substitution plans (accessed via the Untis Mobile app), MensaMax for cafeteria meal ordering, and an iPad-based learning environment for grades 7-11 with parent-financed devices enrolled in a school MDM system (~€28 license fee). Supporting facilities include a Mediothek with over 5,000 media items and an OPAC catalog, a professional podcast studio powering the 'gaktuell' series, and a self-service XSchool-based digital enrollment workflow for grade 5. GAK's business model is non-commercial by design: primary funding flows from the state government via tax revenues, with no tuition charged; ancillary revenue streams are limited to a Schulverein (parent association) membership at a €15 minimum annual fee, textbook rentals, optional iPad MDM licenses, peer tutoring fees (Schüler helfen Schülern at €4-10/hour), and cafeteria meal payments (revenue accruing to caterer Passage Gastronomie GmbH rather than the school).

Customer-facing channels include a comprehensive school website (gak-buchholz.de), the gaktuell podcast, an Instagram presence (@gak.buchholz), a YouTube channel, a regular newsletter, and annual Tag der offenen Tür open-house events, with prospective-student recruitment primarily directed at families in the Buchholz i.d.N. catchment area. Distribution is organized through direct office enrollment, the XSchool digital enrollment platform, and on-premises delivery of educational services, with auxiliary offerings such as the student-run GaKiosk company, Spreadshirt-based school clothing, and a partnership with the Bundesagentur für Arbeit for biweekly career counseling sessions on-site.

Name

Gymnasium Am Kattenberge

Legal name

Gymnasium Am Kattenberge

Website

https://gak-buchholz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gymnasium Am Kattenberge is a public German Gymnasium in Buchholz i.d.N., Lower Saxony, operated by Land Niedersachsen, serving approximately 1,000+ students across grades 5-13 with MINT-EC, Europaschule, and Sportfreundliche Schule certifications, music and STEM profile tracks, and Abitur preparation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

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

SECONDARYEDAJAJAA

Interscholastic Athletics (Varsity/JV Teams)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Extracurriculars & Athletics (School-Run)

SECONDARYEDAJALAM

After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Educational Support Services (Tutoring & Counseling)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Public gymnasium
• STEM education
• Abitur preparation
• School cafeteria services

Headquarters

HQ city

Buchholz i.d.N.

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a public school in Lower Saxony, Germany, funded by state and local government through tax revenues. No direct tuition fees are charged.
2. School Association Membership: Voluntary membership in Schulverein (School Association) with annual minimum fee of 15 EUR. Supports school programs and activities.
3. Cafeteria/Mensa Catering: Hot lunch service provided by Passage Gastronomie GmbH. Students pre-order via MensaMax system. Revenue generated through meal payments.
4. Textbook Rental System: School book lending service (Schulbuchausleihe) with online registration. Fee-based rental of textbooks for all grade levels.
5. iPad MDM License: Device management license fee of approximately 28 Euro per iPad for enrollment in school device management system.
6. Peer Tutoring (SHS): Schüler helfen Schülern (Students Help Students) tutoring program. Fees: 4 EUR per student/hour in groups of 3, 5 EUR in pairs, 10 EUR for individual sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gymnasium Am Kattenberge is a public German Gymnasium (secondary school) providing comprehensive secondary education from grades 5 through 13, culminating in the Abitur qualification. The school offers differentiated educational tracks including STEM (MINT-EC), Music, Sports, and a new GAKplus enrichment program, along with supplementary services such as a media center (Mediothek), cafeteria (Mensa), peer tutoring, podcast, and student-run businesses.

Product overview

Gymnasium Am Kattenberge (GAK) is a public German gymnasium (secondary school) offering a comprehensive educational program across years 5–13. Its core product portfolio centers on a differentiated, multi-track educational offering that includes the new GAKplus enrichment program (launched 2024/2025) with five thematic tracks (Labor, Acker, KunstTheaterTheaterKunst, Musik, Sport-Zirkus); a well-established MINT profile with MINT-EC membership, the Labor science track, MINTplus university partnerships, and Jugend forscht competitions; and supplementary services such as the gaktuell podcast, GaKiosk student company, school clothing shop, Mediothek library, and Mensa cafeteria. The school also offers differentiated support through ILE (individualized learning), Schüler helfen Schülern peer tutoring, Begabtenförderung talent programs, and a dedicated counseling and prevention team. GAK operates as a 'Sportfreundliche Schule' and 'Europaschule in Niedersachsen' with a strong emphasis on holistic education integrating academics, sports, arts, and social responsibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Only ~1/3 of European schools advanced to round 2 in Lange Nacht der Mathematik competition; GAK had 2 teams qualify
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Blau-Weiß BuchholzminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Sports club partnership for formation dance project (grade 8) and climbing course (grade 12). Part of school's broad sports programming.
• TC Seppensen (Tennis Club)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Tennis club partnership offering tennis AG for students as part of sports profile.
• Golf-Club BuchholzcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Golf AG with professional coaching by Torben Walter. Golf team achieved 7th place at Bundesfinale 'Jugend trainiert für Olympia' in Berlin.
• MINT-EC NetzwerkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2015National excellence network for STEM education. Provides access to MINT camps, competitions, and exchange with other MINT-EC schools. School offers MINT-EC certificate to students.
• TU Hamburg (TUHH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical University of Hamburg partnership for robotics courses in grade 7 and access to DLR School Lab facilities for physics experiments.
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer counseling support through Frau Börner, who visits school every two weeks to advise students on career and study options.
• Passage Gastronomie GmbHcoreOthersCatering partner providing hot lunch service through Mensa cafeteria since school year 2018/2019. Uses MensaMax system for pre-ordering.
• Europa macht SchuleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational program bringing exchange students to classrooms for one day to share their perspectives on Europe.
• Universitätsklinikum Eppendorf (UKE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical partnership for Rauchpräventionsveranstaltung (smoking prevention program) in grade 7.
• Sparkasse Harburg-BuxtehudeminorOthersSponsor supporting agricultural program (Acker). One of multiple local business supporters.
• Volksbank Lüneburger HeideminorOthersSponsor supporting agricultural program (Acker). One of multiple local business supporters.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• CJD Braunschweig / CJD Gymnasium Braunschweig: Schools within the CJD network operate under a Christian nonprofit umbrella rather than purely state funding, but offer full Gymnasium curricula; comparable as a Lower-Saxony-area alternative secondary education provider.

Direct peers

• Max-Planck-Gymnasium München: Large public German Gymnasium offering full secondary education through Abitur with strong STEM focus; directly comparable as a German Gymnasium delivering similar college-prep tracks, extracurricular programming, and competition participation.
• Helmholtz-Gymnasium Heidelberg: Public German Gymnasium with notable MINT/STEM profile and broad extracurricular programming; comparable as a state-funded Gymnasium serving a comparable role in a German city/district.
• Goethe-Gymnasium Frankfurt am Main: Major German Gymnasium with full Abitur program, languages, and STEM/specialty tracks; directly comparable as a publicly-funded secondary school with multiple subject profiles and extensive AG offerings.
• Leibniz-Gymnasium Berlin-Neukölln: Public German Gymnasium with academic and language tracks preparing for Abitur; comparable as a state-operated K-12/secondary school with similar academic structure and student services.
• St. Ursula Gymnasium Freiburg: German Gymnasium with strong Musik profile, languages, and MINT offerings; comparable as a college-prep secondary school with multiple specialty tracks (music, STEM) analogous to GAK's Musik/Bildungsgang + MINT emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Berlin British School: International K-12 school in Germany offering secondary education with international curriculum; relevant comparison point as it competes for families in Germany seeking an alternative to the public Gymnasium path.
• Bavarian International School: International K-12 school in Germany providing secondary education through international curricula (IB, IGCSE); comparable as a competing private/independent K-12 secondary option for German families seeking alternatives to state Gymnasien.

Others

• MINT-EC Netzwerk e.V. National excellence network for STEM schools of which GAK is a member; comparable as the certifying body that validates GAK's MINT profile and provides shared programming, camps, and competition access.
• Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD): Germany's national agency for international academic exchange and scholarships; relevant ecosystem enabler comparable in addressing GAK's Europaschule internationalization agenda and study-abroad pathway (Auslandsjahr) for grades 11+.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4XN0JzajDoQU2q0woYwteg
• Instagraminstagram.com/gak.buchholz/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/gymnasium-am-kattenberge

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Gymnasium Am Kattenberge