Riga State Gymnasium No.1
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Riga State Gymnasium No.1 (Latvian: Rīgas Valsts 1. ģimnāzija), the oldest school in the Baltic states, offers secondary education (grades 7 to 12) in Riga, the capital of Latvia.
The school was founded in 1211, a decade after the foundation of Riga itself.[1] Its name and language of instruction have changed several times during its history. Latvian became the main language of instruction in 1919.
Today, the gymnasium is known for its strong programs in the natural sciences, mathematics and computer science. Students wishing to enroll at the school take an admissions test in mathematics. Its admissions rate, with as many as six candidates competing for each position, is one of the lowest in the country. Since 1997 the school enrolls 30 to 40 people in its International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme each year, where instruction is offered in English. It was the first school in the Baltic states to offer the IBO Diploma Programme. Each year a number of 12th grade students finish the DSD (Das Deutsches Sprachdiplom [2]) programme by taking an exam along with the regular school leaving exams [3]. Passing the exam enables them to pursue their higher education in German speaking countries.
Riga State Gymnasium No.1 is constantly ranked first among the schools in Latvia. Its students' average results on school leaving (state) exams are the highest in the country [4] [5] [6]. Riga State Gymnasium No.1 is also the best school in Latvia based on its students' achievements at various domestic and international academic competitions and olympiads. [7]
Many of the graduates continue their education at highly ranked universities abroad, particularly in the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Austria and the USA. The percentage of these students is very high among the ones who graduate from the IBO Diploma Programme. Most of the students who choose to continue their education in Latvia are easily accepted at their desired programmes and receive free higher education (if their chosen program has the state funded study places) due to the excellent grades achieved at the school leaving (state) exams.
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[edit] Notable alumni
- Agnis Andžāns - Latvian mathematician
- Ingus Baušķenieks - Latvian musician
- Gunārs Birkerts - Latvian American architect
- Uldis Cērps - Chairman of the Financial and Capital Market Commission in Latvia
- Indulis Emsis - Latvian politician, former Prime Minister of Latvia
- Māris Gailis - Latvian businessman, former Prime Minister of Latvia
- Ivars Godmanis - Latvian politician, former Prime Minister of Latvia
- Garlieb Merkel - Baltic German writer and activist
- Wilhelm Ostwald - Baltic German Nobel Prize winning chemist
- Friedrich Parrot - Baltic German naturalist and traveller
- Kristjan Jaak Peterson - Estonian poet, commonly regarded as the founder of modern Estonian poetry
- Māris Purgailis - Latvian politician, former Mayor of Riga
- Rainis - Latvian poet and politician
- Einars Repše - Latvian politician, former Prime Minister of Latvia
- Pēteris Stučka - Latvian politician, head of the Bolshevik government in Latvia during the Latvian War of Independence
- Daina Taimiņa - Latvian mathematician
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Rīgas pilsētas Skolu valdes Centra rajona nodaļas Rīgas Valsts 1.ģimnāzija
- ^ http://www.deutschessprachdiplom.eu/
- ^ http://www.hot.ee/deutschessprachdiplom/dsdschulen.htm
- ^ http://visc.gov.lv/eksameni/vispizgl/statistika/2010/stat2010.shtml
- ^ http://www.apollo.lv/portal/life/articles/213574
- ^ http://www.nra.lv/articles/print.htm?id=8010
- ^ http://www.atakronvaldafonds.lv/?sa=61
[edit] External links
- Riga State Gymnasium No.1 - Official site
- International Baccalaureate Organisation - IBO
- [1] - Deutsches Sprachdiplom
Coordinates: 56°57′10″N 24°06′46″E / 56.95278°N 24.11278°E
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