John F. Kennedy School, Berlin
Encyclopedia
The John F. Kennedy School is a primary and secondary school in Berlin, Germany. It was established in 1960 under the name "German-American Community School" as a school offering integrated, bilingual education
for both German and American pupils, to foster cultural exchange between young natives of West Berlin
and children from U.S. Armed Forces families. The school received its current name in December 1963, in honor of United States President John F. Kennedy
. After Germany's reunification
in 1990 and the withdrawal of the Allied forces, the mission of the school was redefined. Originally the focus was primarily on the reconciliation after the Second World War; today, the school is a model for bilingual schools in Europe.
The John F. Kennedy School includes all grades from kindergarten
through 13th grade. Students can choose to graduate after grade 12 (U.S. high school diploma
) or continue to complete grade 13 (German
Abitur
). A student's eligibility to enter the Abitur program is determined based on an assessment of their German abilities in grade 10.
The school has a modern campus with 135 classrooms, 9 science labs, 3 computer labs, 2 library centers, two gymnasiums, and a fine arts annex, spread out in and around its 6 main buildings. Situated in the locality of Zehlendorf
in Southwestern Berlin, the school is conveniently close to bus routes, the S-Bahn, and a quaint shopping/residential area.
The majority of the more than 1700 students (57%) are German citizens; 33% are American citizens and 10% are from a wide variety of other countries. The John F. Kennedy school employs 142 full time faculty members and 32 part time faculty members. Of the total 174 faculty members, 91 are German, 78 are American, and 5 represent other countries.
Bilingual education
Bilingual education involves teaching academic content in two languages, in a native and secondary language with varying amounts of each language used in accordance with the program model.-Bilingual education program models:...
for both German and American pupils, to foster cultural exchange between young natives of West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
and children from U.S. Armed Forces families. The school received its current name in December 1963, in honor of United States President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. After Germany's reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
in 1990 and the withdrawal of the Allied forces, the mission of the school was redefined. Originally the focus was primarily on the reconciliation after the Second World War; today, the school is a model for bilingual schools in Europe.
The John F. Kennedy School includes all grades from kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through 13th grade. Students can choose to graduate after grade 12 (U.S. high school diploma
High school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
) or continue to complete grade 13 (German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
). A student's eligibility to enter the Abitur program is determined based on an assessment of their German abilities in grade 10.
The school has a modern campus with 135 classrooms, 9 science labs, 3 computer labs, 2 library centers, two gymnasiums, and a fine arts annex, spread out in and around its 6 main buildings. Situated in the locality of Zehlendorf
Zehlendorf (Berlin)
Zehlendorf is a locality within the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf in Berlin. Before Berlin's 2001 administrative reform Zehlendorf was a borough in its own right, consisting of the locality of Zehlendorf as well as Wannsee, Nikolassee and Dahlem...
in Southwestern Berlin, the school is conveniently close to bus routes, the S-Bahn, and a quaint shopping/residential area.
The majority of the more than 1700 students (57%) are German citizens; 33% are American citizens and 10% are from a wide variety of other countries. The John F. Kennedy school employs 142 full time faculty members and 32 part time faculty members. Of the total 174 faculty members, 91 are German, 78 are American, and 5 represent other countries.