Kreuzschule

Kreuzschule schola crucis
Kreuzschule, main building, 2011
Location
Dresden, Saxony Germany
Information
School type	Gymnasium
Motto	"schola crucis, schola lucis" (School of the Cross, School of Light)
Religious affiliation(s)	Kreuzkirche
Denomination	Protestant since 1539
Established	6 April 1300 (1300-04-06)
Number of students	850, 145 singers of the Dresdner Kreuzchor (2009)
Website	www.kreuzschule.de

The Kreuzschule (English: School of the Cross) in Dresden (also known by its Latin name schola crucis) is the oldest surviving school in Dresden and one of the oldest in Germany. As early as 1300, a schoolmaster (Cunradus puerorum rector) was mentioned. It was founded as a grammar school for the singers of the capella sanctae crucis (English: Chapel of the Holy Cross), now the Dresdner Kreuzchor. The school is now a Protestant Gymnasium, officially called Evangelisches Kreuzgymnasium.

Since its inception the school has had close ties to the Kreuzkirche (Church of the Cross), formerly known as St. Nicholas Church, that dated at least to 1215. In the Middle Ages to teach the children in church choirs, church schools proliferated. Schoolmasters were educators (particularly of theology) as well as music teachers. The school was first mentioned in a document of 6 April 1300.

In 1388 the church was reconsecrated as ecclesia sanctae crucis (Holy Cross Church) in recognition of its Reliquary, holding what was believed to be a piece of the True Cross. The first school building was erected adjacent to the church in 1393. The school followed the curriculum typical of medieval Latin school, providing the choir boys preparation for university, as well as providing instruction about the natural world.

The school converted to Protestantism after the Lutheran reformation of the 16th century. For the next few centuries the school underwent a slow decline, which, however, was reversed at the beginning of 19th century with more than 400 students enrolled by the late 1820s.Richard Wagner was a pupil of the school for 5 years from the age of 9 to 14, enrolling in 1821.

In 1866 a more spacious building was constructed at the Georgplatz, close to the Kreuzkirche. It was the first major building in the city to be built in Neogothic style, built after a controversy. This building burned down during the 1945 air raids on Dresden; it was demolished in 1950. The school was at this period moved to the building of the former Masonic Institute in the Striesen district of Dresden.