Bischöfliches Gymnasium St. Ursula

What Bischöfliches Gymnasium St. Ursula does

Bischöfliches Gymnasium Sankt Ursula Geilenkirchen is a Catholic secondary school (Gymnasium) operated under the trusteeship of the Diocese of Aachen (Bistum Aachen), located in the historic castle complex of Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Founded in 1856 by Ursuline sisters and continuously operating since (with interruptions during the Kulturkampf, Nazi period, and WWII), the school delivers the full German Gymnasium curriculum from Klasse 5 through the Abitur (university entrance qualification), serving approximately 1,100 students and employing more than 90 teachers.

The school's core offering combines traditional gymnasiale Bildung with a digital learning infrastructure anchored on Microsoft 365 Education (personalized per-student licenses funded through the Förderverein), a 600 Mbit/s fiber backbone, classroom-wide digital whiteboards, and a school-wide Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model implemented in the 2024/2025 academic year. Specialized academic programs include MINT (STEM), an Internationale Klasse for children from NATO families and refugees (IK1/IK2), school exchange partnerships with institutions in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and USA, plus Begabungsförderung (gifted education) and LernCoaching support structures. The school is an Euregio Maas-Rhein profile school.

The business model is that of a state-recognized public school: tuition is free, with revenue derived primarily from state funding channeled via the Diocese of Aachen, supplemented by voluntary Elternhilfe (parent support payments) administered through the Förderverein (approximately 600 members at €12/year minimum) and additional fundraising through alumni and community networks. Go-to-market is community-led — recruitment via Tag der offenen Tür (open days), parent information evenings, and partnerships with local elementary schools. Distribution is direct enrollment through the school's secretariat, with a specialized admission pathway for international students. The school is privately operated by a religious entity but state-funded; it is not a publicly traded company and generates no revenue in the commercial sense.

Name

Bischöfliches Gymnasium St. Ursula

Legal name

Bischöfliches Gymnasium Sankt Ursula Geilenkirchen

Website

https://st-ursula-gk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bischöfliches Gymnasium Sankt Ursula is a Catholic Diocese of Aachen-sponsored secondary school in Geilenkirchen, Germany, delivering the full Gymnasium curriculum (Grade 5 through Abitur) to about 1,100 students with 90+ teachers, anchored on a Microsoft 365 Education and BYOD-based digital learning infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education (Gymnasium)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Gymnasium secondary education
• Catholic school education
• Abitur preparation program
• International student exchange
• STEM MINT education

Headquarters

HQ city

Geilenkirchen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Funding (Bistum Aachen): As a Catholic school (Bischöfliches Gymnasium) under the Diocese of Aachen, the school receives state funding and operates as a public educational institution.
2. Parent Contributions (Elternhilfe): Voluntary monthly payments from parents administered through the Förderverein to improve school facilities and instruction without administrative deductions.
3. Förderverein Membership: Approximately 600 members (parents, alumni, staff, supporters) pay annual membership fees starting at 12 euros per calendar year to support school projects and activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bischöfliches Gymnasium St. Ursula is a Catholic secondary school providing full Gymnasium education from Klasse 5 through Abitur (German university entrance qualification) to approximately 1,100 students. The school offers specialized programs including an Internationale Klasse for integration of NATO and refugee students, MINT (STEM) education, international exchange programs with partners in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, and digital learning via a Microsoft 365-based BYOD program. Support services include LernCoaching tutoring and Begabungsförderung (giftedness development).

Product overview

Bischöfliches Gymnasium St. Ursula is a Catholic secondary school offering a comprehensive educational program from grades 5 through Abitur (secondary education culminating in university entrance qualification). The school's digital infrastructure centers on Microsoft 365 Education as its core learning platform, supplemented by BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) requirements since 2024/25. Academic programs include specialized offerings in MINT (STEM), international exchanges, and an International Class for integration of foreign students. Student support services include LernCoaching for academic assistance and Begabungsförderung for gifted learners. The school operates under the Diocese of Aachen and emphasizes Christian values alongside academic excellence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Internationale Klasse (International Class) Specialized integration program for international students from NATO families and refugees, offering leveled German language instruction (IK1 and IK2) alongside regular classroom participation. Designed to integrate non-native German speakers into the Gymnasium curriculum.
• MINT Program (STEM Education) STEM-focused educational program spanning mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, and technology with continuous offerings from grade 5 through Abitur, including competitions, specialized projects, and partnership with Forschungszentrum Jülich.
• School Exchange Programs International exchange network with partner schools in Belgium (Institut Saint-Joseph Welkenraedt), Netherlands (AFNORTH School Brunssum), and France (Voiron, La Côte-Saint-André, Quimperlé), offering cultural immersion exchanges from grade 7 through upper secondary.
• LernCoaching (Tutoring Support) Free tutoring support program for students needing help in German, Mathematics, English, French, and Latin, featuring small-group instruction by qualified upper-level students under teacher supervision.
• Begabungsförderung (Talent Development) Gifted education program offering acceleration options (grade skipping) and enrichment activities including competitions, extracurricular programs, and referrals to summer academies and talent camps.
• Be Future! Career and Study Orientation Program Comprehensive guidance program helping students prepare for university studies and professional careers, including company internships and study visits, in partnership with the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency).
• BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Digital Learning Program Digital learning initiative where students use personal devices for instruction across all subjects, implemented school-wide since 2024/2025 with standardized device recommendations, Microsoft 365 licenses, and school-wide WLAN/digital whiteboard support.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Abitur exam passed in 1927, continuous Abitur offerings since 1952
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Forschungszentrum JülichmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for MINT education with visits to the research center and collaborative learning opportunities in STEM subjects.
• RWTH AachenmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership including educational outreach programs such as the 'We, The Six Million' exhibition and other joint projects.
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for career orientation and study guidance (Studien- und Berufswahl) programs.
• Institut Saint-Joseph (Welkenraedt, Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuregio exchange partner for one-day student exchanges in Klasse 7 as part of the Euregio profile school program.
• AFNORTH School (Brunssum, Netherlands)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATO school partnership for international exchange and cultural understanding in Klasse 8.
• Collège St. Joseph (Voiron) and Institution Saint-François (La Côte-Saint-André, France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing French exchange partner schools for week-long exchanges in Klasse 9 to Q1, in cooperation with Realschule Geilenkirchen.
• Notre-Dame de Kerbertrand (Quimperlé, France)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench exchange partner in cooperation with Realschule Geilenkirchen for Klasse 8 exchanges.
• Initiative Erinnern GeilenkirchenmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of Geilenkirchen schools, municipal politics, and churches dedicated to commemorating victims of National Socialism.
• Football Association Mittelrhein (FVM)minorOthersSports partnership for school sports programs and the Sankt-Ursula-Pokal tournament.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Klett Lernen / Klett Group: Major German educational publisher providing digital learning content (textbooks, learning platforms) integrated into St. Ursula's curriculum alongside Cornelsen, BiBox, and HELBLING. Comparable as a content ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.
• Cornelsen Verlag: Leading German educational publisher whose digital learning platforms are integrated into St. Ursula's curriculum via Cornelsen Lernen app. Adjacent enabling participant in the school's digital learning stack rather than a competitor.
• Microsoft Education (Microsoft 365 Education): Underlying digital learning platform powering St. Ursula's core classroom infrastructure (Teams, OneNote, OneDrive, personalized student licenses). Enabling technology partner rather than a competitor in the K-12 education market.

Direct peers

• Aloisiuskolleg Bonn-Bad Godesberg: Jesuit-run Catholic Gymnasium in NRW with Christian value-based education, MINT programs, and international exchange focus. Highly comparable profile: confessional private Gymnasium with structured extracurricular programs and similar student-support offerings.
• Marienschule Leverkusen: Catholic Gymnasium in the Cologne/Leverkusen area serving a comparable student base in NRW with similar denominational ethos and Abitur preparation. Comparable in scale, governance under a Catholic sponsor, and program structure.
• St. Ursula Gymnasium Düsseldorf: Ursuline-heritage Catholic Mädchengymnasium in Düsseldorf offering Abitur pathway with international profile. Strong peer on heritage (Ursuline order), curriculum, and confessional positioning.
• Kaiser-Karls-Gymnasium Aachen: Catholic Gymnasium in Aachen under the Bistum Aachen, offering the same German Gymnasium curriculum leading to Abitur with comparable Christian values foundation. Directly comparable as a diocesan secondary school operating under the same NRW state framework and serving the same Euregio catchment.
• Liebfrauenschule Bonn: Catholic Ursuline Mädchengymnasium in Bonn with similar Ursuline heritage to St. Ursula Geilenkirchen (both historically founded by Ursuline sisters). Comparable size, Catholic identity, and Gymnasium curriculum leading to Abitur.

Broad incumbents

• Canisius-Kolleg Berlin: Larger Jesuit Gymnasium in Berlin with Catholic values, MINT focus, and international exchange programs. Comparable in mission and program mix but operates at larger scale in a different German metropolitan market.
• Kolleg St. Blasien: Catholic Benedictine boarding school (Gymnasium) in the Black Forest offering Abitur pathway with structured extracurricular and international profile. Comparable as a high-amenity Catholic secondary institution with strong capital base, though residential rather than day-school model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/st.ursula.gk/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bisch%C3%B6fliches-gymnasium-st.-ursula

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Bischöfliches Gymnasium St. Ursula