XVI. gimnazija Zagreb

XVI. gimnazija is a reputable grammar school that offers, in its curriculum, humanistic and social, as well as natural sciences; all of which are obligatory and are an exceptional preparation for further studies. The students of our school are achievers who successfully continue their education.

There are around 560 students aged 14-19 and 60 teachers. Along with the national Croatian curriculum, the school has a bilingual English-Croatian program where most subjects are taught in English, in one bilingual class per year and generation.  

Languages

The majority of students in this school are orientated towards learning foreign languages. Learning English is obligatory for every student in our school, and they also have to choose their mandatory second foreign language (German, Italian, French or Spanish). Thus, after finishing XVI. gimnazija, its average student takes great pride in the knowledge of at least three foreign languages (English and the other two languages), but is as equally impressed by the knowledge they have gained in all other subjects.

Curriculum

The subjects studied throughout all four years are Croatian, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, History, Fine Arts, Music, P.E., English as the first foreign language and a second mandatory modern language (German, Spanish, Italian or French). ICT is studied in grade ten,  Psychology, Sociology, and Logic in grade eleven, and Philosophy, Politics and Economics in the final grade. Optional subjects are Religious studies or Ethics.

Bilingual program

In the bilingual English-Croatian program, certain subjects are taught both in English and Croatian (by CLIL method) during the four years of secondary school education. In all four years up to grade twelve, these subjects include Mathematics, Physics, History, and Geography. In grade eleven, students take Psychology, Sociology, and Logic in English. In grade twelve, those subjects are replaced by Politics and Economics, and Philosophy. In each year there is one bilingual class of 28 students and of approximately 112 bilingual students in the school overall.

Extracurricular activities

The school offers many extracurricular activities: choir, theatre groups in Croatian, English, French, and German, web group, literary and journalistic group, geography group, history group, debate club, film group, art group, photography group, dance group, volunteer club, first aid training group, and various sports and athletic activities.

Activities and projects

School trips and field classes are often organized in the country and abroad, and the school has various events such as charity concerts, literary evenings, guest visits and lectures by notable experts (scientists, diplomats, writers, artists and others). The students who are top athletes or attend music or dance schools have the option of verbal testing in accord with teachers.

Project days are held in the Sixteenth Gymnasium and the school participates in Erasmus+ and e Twinning projects. The school is Erasmus+ accredited to the year 2027, therefore school networks and Strategic Partnerships with European schools are formed and mobility activities and exchanges of students and teachers are organized, which improves school quality and brings forward its international recognition.

Competitions, awards, and accolades

Sixteenth Gymnasium has received numerous awards and accolades, earning a spot on every list of the best schools in Croatia. Most of the students participating in the county (the city of Zagreb) and in the national competition win high places and achieve outstanding results, not only in knowledge competitions in various subjects but also in graduation exams.

Maria Jurjevich and Mirela Hrubi