Paula Fürst Schule Freiburg

What Paula Fürst Schule Freiburg does

Paula Fürst Schule Freiburg is a state-recognized private school association (staatlich anerkannter Schulverbund) in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, operated under the sponsorship of the non-profit Jugendhilfswerk Freiburg e.V. The school delivers a continuous 13-year educational pathway combining a primary school (Grundschule, grades 1-4), a community school (Gemeinschaftsschule, grades 5-10), and an upper secondary school (Gymnasiale Oberstufe, grades 11-13) leading to the general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur). It serves approximately 250-350 students with ~50+ educators and support staff.

The school's core product is a progressive, individualized learning program built around a self-directed Learning Workshop (Lernatelier/Lernwerkstatt) supplemented by structured Inputs, coaching conversations (Coachinggespräche), small-group instruction (max 15 students in core subjects), and a multi-professional team model that pairs subject teachers with dedicated reference social pedagogues (Quadriga+ for grades 5-6, Tandem+ for grades 7+). All-day care operates from 7:00 to 18:00 and integrates facilities including a movement room, children's workshop, children's kitchen, and IT/media education room. Digital infrastructure comprises campus WLAN, digital whiteboards, learning platforms, a dedicated ITG room, and a 1:1 iPad program.

The business model combines state subsidies from Baden-Württemberg with parent tuition of €350 per month (€200 instruction/materials, €120 additional services, €30 voluntary contribution), a one-time €120 registration fee, and per-meal lunch revenue (€4.10-4.30) from an external caterer. Income-based reductions up to 50% and a 30% sibling discount support accessibility, alongside an alternative pricing model allowing payment of 5% of household net income. The school is funded through a non-profit parent organization and operates a sales-led, direct-to-consumer enrollment model via its website, open days, and information events; outcomes are validated by the 2025 Abitur cohort (21 graduates, average grade 1.9 versus a state average of 2.23).

Name

Paula Fürst Schule Freiburg

Legal name

Paula Fürst Schule Freiburg

Website

https://paula-fuerst-schule.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paula Fürst Schule Freiburg is a state-recognized, non-profit private school in Freiburg, Germany, offering continuous education from primary through Abitur (ages 6-19) using self-directed learning, small classes, and multi-professional teacher-pedagogue teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Montessori/Waldorf/Classical/Expeditionary (Pedagogical Models) (EDAJACAL)

Keywords

• Private school education
• Primary secondary education
• Alternative school education
• Full-day childcare school
• Abitur preparation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees (Elternbeiträge): Monthly tuition fees charged to parents for instruction and learning materials, additional services, and voluntary contributions. Fee is 350€ per month total, with potential sibling discounts of 30% and income-based reductions of up to 50%.
2. Registration Fee: One-time enrollment fee of 120€ charged upon contract signing.
3. Lunch Services (Mittagessen): Meal services provided by external caterer 'Kinderleicht genießen' with prices ranging from 4.10€ to 4.30€ per meal including salad bar and dessert.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Paula Fürst Schule Freiburg is a state-recognized private school association delivering continuous education from primary school (grades 1-4) through the Abitur (grades 11-13), integrating academic instruction with full-day care and self-directed learning. The school combines traditional subject teaching with the Lernatelier (learning workshop), multi-professional teams of teachers and social pedagogues, and small class sizes to provide individualized, progressive education for children and young adults aged 6-19.

Product overview

Paula Fürst Schule Freiburg is a state-recognized school association comprising three educational levels: Grundschule (primary school, grades 1-4), Gemeinschaftsschule (secondary school, grades 5-10), and Gymnasiale Oberstufe (upper secondary, grades 11-13). The school operates as a full-day school with extended care from 7:00 to 18:00. Core educational features include the Lernatelier (learning workshop) for self-directed study, weekly plans, coaching conversations, and interest-based courses. The Gemeinschaftsschule uses innovative instructional methods including Inputs (small-group lessons of ~13 students in dedicated rooms), Interessenskurse (interest courses in cooperation with external partners), and individualized schedules. All-day care facilities include a movement room, children's workshop, children's kitchen, and IT room. The three-year Gymnasiale Oberstufe includes a bridge year and leads to Abitur.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grundschule (Primary School) State-recognized primary school covering grades 1-4, operated as an open all-day school with instruction from 8:15 to 12:40 and extended care until 18:00. Combines grade-level classroom instruction with mixed-age learning workshop sessions for children ages 6-10.
• Gemeinschaftsschule (Community/Secondary School) State-recognized secondary school covering grades 5-10, organized as a full-day school with core instruction hours from 8:15 to 15:30. Offers all educational standards allowing students to progress to Abitur, with individualized learning through Lernatelier, inputs, and interest courses for students ages 10-16.
• Gymnasiale Oberstufe (Upper Secondary / Abitur Program) Three-year upper secondary program (grades 11-13) leading to general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur). Single-track program with bridge class in grade 11, followed by two-year advanced courses. Accepts students from various backgrounds including Realschule, Gymnasium, Waldorfschule, and other community schools.
• Ganztagesbetreuung (All-Day Care) Extended child care services from 7:00 to 18:00, including early morning supervision, lunch in the school cafeteria, exercise periods, homework assistance (Übezeit), group meetings, and open recreation activities integrated with the academic program.
• AGs und Interessenskurse (Activity Groups and Interest Courses) After-school activity groups and interest-based courses including creative, movement, and relaxation offerings. Interest courses for grades 5/6 cover craft, technical, artistic-musical, athletic, and social areas delivered in cooperation with external educational partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Abitur 2025 grade average 1.9, compared to state average of 2.23 in Baden-Württemberg
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jugendhilfswerk Freiburg e.V.coreOthersThe school is operated under the Trägerschaft (sponsorship) of Jugendhilfswerk Freiburg e.V., a youth welfare organization. The organization's executive Carlos Marí is listed as content-responsible person. This partnership provides the institutional framework and mission alignment with youth welfare principles.
• Kinderleicht genießen (Caterer)minorOthersExternal catering company provides daily meals for the school canteen. They deliver food which students can purchase; the catering company staff manage the canteen operations including portion sizes and menu acceptance.
• Nachhilfeinstitut (Tutoring Institute)minorOthersPartnership with a tutoring institute provides upper secondary students the opportunity to catch up on missed instruction. This support service is financed by the school.
• External Education Partners for Interest CoursesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school partners with external providers for interest courses (Interessenskurse) in areas including craftsmanship, technology, arts, music, sports, and social learning. These partnerships supplement the core curriculum with specialized expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Glocksee-Schule Hannover: A state-recognized alternative school in Lower Saxony serving primary and secondary students with individualized learning, democratic structures, and self-directed approaches. Closely comparable to PFS in its progressive private school model and family-targeting.
• Helene-Lange-Schule Wiesbaden: A state-recognized German private school with progressive pedagogy, mixed-age learning, and integrated all-day care. Comparable to PFS as a private alternative school combining Montessori-inspired methodology with academic rigor to Abitur.
• Laborschule Bielefeld: A well-known progressive state-recognized private school in North Rhine-Westphalia offering open learning environments, individualized progression, and teacher-researcher models. Directly comparable to PFS as a German alternative school rejecting traditional tracking with innovative pedagogy.
• Karl Kübel Stiftung (Karl Kübel School Network): A non-profit foundation operating multiple state-recognized private schools in Hesse with progressive pedagogy and social-emotional learning emphasis. Comparable to PFS as a non-profit Träger operating alternative schools with similar mission alignment.
• Freie Waldorfschule Freiburg: The Waldorf school in Freiburg, Germany offers a state-recognized alternative K-12 education with progressive pedagogy, all-day care, and multi-professional teams. As a direct local competitor, it competes for the same Freiburg families seeking alternative education with similar small-class, individualized learning approaches.

Others

• Bund der Freien Schulen: The German association of independent/private schools, providing industry representation and shared services to its member schools. Comparable as an ecosystem participant serving the same private school segment in which PFS operates.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Montessori Vereinigung: The umbrella association for German Montessori schools and educators. Directly comparable to PFS given the school's Montessori-inspired roots (named after Paula Fürst, a Montessori pioneer) and self-directed learning methodology.
• Verband Deutscher Freier Waldorfschulen: The national federation of German Waldorf schools, representing over 250 institutions. As the broader Waldorf/Steiner movement, it is the incumbent alternative education network in Germany and competes for the same parent segment with comparable self-directed, multi-professional pedagogy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paula-f%C3%BCrst-schule-freiburg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Paula Fürst Schule Freiburg