Städt. Max-Planck-Gymnasium

What Städt. Max-Planck-Gymnasium does

Städt. Max-Planck-Gymnasium Bielefeld (legal name: Max-Planck-Gymnasium für Jungen und Mädchen der Stadt Bielefeld) is a publicly funded co-educational secondary school (Gymnasium) operated by the City of Bielefeld under the Amt für Schule, governed by North Rhine-Westphalia state education policy. The school serves students from Jahrgangsstufe 5 through Q2 (approximately ages 10–19) under the G8 accelerated curriculum model, delivering the full Erprobungsstufe, Mittelstufe, and Oberstufe progression leading to the Abitur university entrance qualification. It operates from a single campus at Stapenhorststr. 96 in Bielefeld's Mitte district and is named after Nobel laureate Max Planck.

The school's programmatic surface is structured around differentiated educational offerings rather than commercial products: MINT (STEM) education centered on the Plancki-Lab and School Meets Science in partnership with zdi-Netzwerk experiMINT; musical talent development; international exchange programs via Erasmus+ with documented partnerships in Greece (Gymnasium Litochoro) and the USA (Goshen High School, Indiana); Medienscouts digital literacy (recognized 2025); and the It's Challenge Time sustainability working group. The digital infrastructure is built on IServ as the school management and communication platform (parent/student modules, messenger, email, calendar), supplemented by LuPO for NRW upper-secondary course planning, Moodle for learning management, iCal subscription for term calendars, and standard web analytics/security tooling (Google Analytics, ReCaptcha, Maps). The school carries multiple state and sector certifications: MINT-freundliche Schule, Erasmus+ Schule, Medienscouts-Schule 2025, Schule der Zukunft, Schule ohne Rassismus – Schule mit Courage, Zukunftsschulen NRW, Berufs- und ausbildungsfreundliche Schule, and membership in Netzwerk Begabungsförderung OWL.

Commercially, the entity generates no revenue in the conventional sense: it charges no tuition, is funded entirely through public tax revenue allocated by Stadt Bielefeld, and collects only nominal activity-based parental contributions (Eigenanteile) for excursions, sports, and course materials — published annually for Sekundarstufe I and II. Leadership is headed by Schulleiterin Andrea Kleist and Stellvertretender Schulleiter Holger Knicker, with school social workers supplied through AWO Bielefeld and program support via the Förderverein parent-teacher association. Marketing is limited to informational outreach (school website, open-house events, newsletters, information brochures, and local press coverage) rather than commercial promotion, consistent with its identity as a municipal public school rather than a market participant.

Name

Städt. Max-Planck-Gymnasium

Legal name

Max-Planck-Gymnasium für Jungen und Mädchen der Stadt Bielefeld

Website

https://mpg-bielefeld.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Städt. Max-Planck-Gymnasium is a publicly funded co-educational Gymnasium in Bielefeld, Germany, operated by the City of Bielefeld and serving students aged ~10–19 under the G8 curriculum leading to the Abitur. It offers differentiated programs in STEM, music, languages, Erasmus+ exchanges, and sustainability, with no tuition and funding via municipal tax revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Magnet & Specialty Schools (STEM/Arts/IB/CTE) (EDAJAAAF)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Gymnasium education
• STEM curriculum
• International exchange programs
• Full-day schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Bielefeld

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a municipal school (Städt. Gymnasium) operated by the Stadt Bielefeld, the school is funded through public tax revenue. No tuition is charged. Parents pay activity-based fees (Eigenanteile) for specific programs including overnight trips, sports activities, and course materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Städt. Max-Planck-Gymnasium is a public co-educational Gymnasium providing secondary education from grade 5 through the Abitur under the G8 model. It delivers academic instruction across STEM, languages, music, and sustainability programs, complemented by full-day care (Ganztag), structured learning support (Lernstunden), international exchanges (Erasmus+, USA, Greece), and career/vocational orientation. The school is publicly funded by the City of Bielefeld with no tuition and operates at its Stapenhorststraße campus.

Product overview

Max-Planck-Gymnasium Bielefeld operates as a public secondary school (Gymnasium) offering comprehensive educational services across multiple programs. The school's digital infrastructure centers on the MPG Website Platform as the primary public-facing hub, with IServ as the core school management and communication platform handling parent notifications, student coursework, and administrative functions. Supporting this are LuPO for upper secondary course planning, and specialized academic programs including MINT (STEM), Erasmus+ international exchanges, musical talent development, media literacy (Medienscouts), sustainability initiatives (It's Challenge Time), and full-day care services. The school follows the G8 accelerated curriculum model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MINT (STEM) Program STEM-focused secondary school program covering Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Technology with hands-on laboratory work in Plancki-Lab and the School Meets Science project for students from year 5 through Abitur.
• Erasmus+ Exchange Program European Commission-certified exchange program providing students with international mobility, job-shadowing experiences, and intercultural learning, including exchanges to Gymnasium Litochoro in Greece.
• International Student Exchange Program International exchange program for year 10 students, featuring a long-standing partnership with Goshen High School in Indiana, USA (each year 4-5 students spend about 2 months at the partner school with host families), and additional exchanges to Italy and other countries with language certifications available.
• Ganztagsbetreuung (Full-Day Care) Full-day school care service offering structured daily schedules, supervised lunch break, learning hours (Lernstunden), ateliers in grades 5 and 7, and a diverse catalogue of after-school activity groups (AGs) covering sports, arts, music, and academic support.
• Medienscouts Program Media literacy initiative recognized as Medienscouts-Schule 2025, equipping students with digital media competencies and responsible technology use education through peer-led scouting activities.
• It's Challenge Time (Sustainability Working Group) Sustainability working group (Nachhaltigkeits-AG) for students, organizing environmental summits, MPG project days such as 'Make our planet greater', sustainability flea markets, and participation in the 'Energiesparen macht Schule' project under the Schule der Zukunft program.
• Musical Talent Development Program Music-focused talent development program offering music courses, orchestra participation, and summer concerts, with musical performance integrated into academic assessment for students across year levels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Student placed third nationally (behind Bayern and Niedersachsen) at Mathematics Olympiade Bundesrunde

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and support.

• Erasmus+ (European Union)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive participation in the Erasmus+ program enabling international student exchanges and job-shadowing experiences. The school hosted an EU official (Dr. Marion Simm from the Council of the EU) for educational sessions with students. Exchange activities include job-shadowing at Gymnasium Litochoro, Greece.
• Goshen High School, Indiana, USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing exchange partnership with Goshen High School in Indiana. Each year, 4-5 students from year 10 spend approximately 2 months attending the American school and living with host families. The program is organized by teachers Herr Fischer and Herr Balkenohl in cooperation with German teachers at the partner school.
• Gymnasium Litochoro, GreeceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ partner school in Greece. Students participate in job-shadowing and inter-cultural learning activities.
• zdi-Netzwerk experiMINT BielefeldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with the zdi (Zukunft durch Innovation) network and experiMINT for STEM education initiatives. The school participates in Science Club, Plancki-Lab, and School Meets Science projects.
• Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) BielefeldsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAWO provides school social workers (Schulsozialarbeiterinnen) who support student wellbeing at the school. Contact person is Frau Unger.
• Förderverein Max-Planck-Gymnasium BielefeldsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent-teacher-support association that promotes and funds school activities, excursions, and special programs. Has its own website at www.foerderverein-mpg.de.
• Welthaus BielefeldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment education organization in Bielefeld. Listed as a community partner of the school.
• Tierpark OlderdissenminorOthersLocal zoo/animal park listed as a community partner of the school.
• Netzwerk Begabungsförderung OWLsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional talent development network for East Westphalia-Lippe (Ostwestfalen-Lippe) that the school participates in to support gifted students.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GEMS Education: GEMS is one of the world's largest K-12 operators with schools across multiple geographies. It is comparable to MPG Bielefeld as a K-12 education provider with STEM focus, though operating at significantly larger scale with broader international presence.
• Inspired Education Group: Inspired is a global premium K-12 school group operating across multiple geographies. It is comparable to MPG Bielefeld as a K-12 education provider with academic excellence focus, though operating at much larger scale and as a private fee-paying institution.
• Nord Anglia Education: Nord Anglia is a global premium K-12 school operator with strong STEM programming through its MIT and Juilliard partnerships. It operates a broader network of international schools and is comparable to MPG Bielefeld as a STEM-focused K-12 institution, though at much larger scale and as a private education provider.

Emerging players

• Dwight School: Dwight is an international school network with strong STEM and individualized learning programs, including its IB-accredited flagship in New York. Comparable to MPG Bielefeld in its focus on academic excellence and innovative programming, though operating as a private international school with smaller geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• Frankfurt International School: FIS is one of Germany's largest international schools offering IB and American curriculum pathways. Comparable to MPG Bielefeld as a German K-12 institution serving international and globally-minded families, though operating at much larger scale with full IB diploma program.
• Berlin Metropolitan School: BMS is an international K-12 school in Germany with a strong focus on academic excellence and individual student development. It is comparable to MPG Bielefeld as a German secondary school with STEM and international orientation, though it operates as a private school with international curriculum.
• Strothoff International School: Strothoff is a German private school offering bilingual K-12 education with STEM and arts focus. Comparable to MPG Bielefeld as a German K-12 institution with strong academic and STEM orientation, though differentiated by its private fee-paying model and bilingual curriculum.
• Franconian International School: FIS is a co-educational day and boarding school in Bavaria with international curriculum and strong student support services. Comparable to MPG Bielefeld as a German secondary school with international focus and academic excellence orientation, though operating under different state regulations.
• Phorms Education: Phorms operates private bilingual K-12 schools across Germany with a STEM and talent-development focus. It is directly comparable to MPG Bielefeld as a German K-12 operator with strong MINT positioning, though differentiated by its private tuition-funded model versus the public funding model.
• Munich International School: MIS is a co-educational K-12 international school in Germany offering academic programs leading to international credentials. Comparable to MPG Bielefeld in offering a full secondary school program with academic excellence focus, though differentiated by its international curriculum and private tuition model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st%C3%A4dt.-max-planck-gymnasium

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Städt. Max-Planck-Gymnasium