Dörpfeld College-School | |
Type | Private |
---|---|
Established | 1896 |
Students | 1,100 |
Location | Marousi, Greece |
Website | http://www.dsathen.gr |
The German School of Athens, or Deutsche Schule Athen (GSA / DSA, in Greek Γερμανική Σχολή Αθηνών, ΓΣΑ or also known Dörpfeld Gymnasium), is a coeducational independent, kindergarten, elementary school and high school in Marousi, Greece in the Athens metropolitan area. It is also known as the Deutsche Schule — Dörpfeld-Gymnasium —.
The school has been in operation since 1896 and was founded by architect and archeologist Wilhelm Dörpfeld. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious private schools in Greece, after a very large number of students graduating from the school has excelled in politics, the arts, science and business.
While at kindergarten and elementary school level no differentiation of school systems is made, high school is currently split into a German section (with students eventually graduating with the German high school diploma) and a Greek section (with students graduating with German and optionally an additional Greek high school diploma). Pupils take entry exams in order to become students of the latter section so the school is considered highly selective.
However, the school is currently undergoing a transition phase towards a unitary high school system.
Upholding the tradition of an environment friendly school, the German School of Athens had Greece's largest solar roof installed before the 2004 Olympic Games. The project was backed by German Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor (BMWA), the German Energy Agency and the Greek-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The term "German School of Athens" really describes a complex of one kindergarten, one elementary school and a "split" (or dual) high school. For admission to kindergarten and elementary school, both following the German educational system, prospective pupils need to have achieved a reasonable level of competence in German for their age in order to be able to follow classes taught exclusively in German. For them to be admitted, they thus have to sit a short test or be interviewed by a member of the teaching staff.