Educational Institutions

The well-equipped general education system is characterised by two school centres each of which integrate autonomous Hauptschule and Realschule as well as grammar school in the western and eastern regions of the city. The school centres were fundamentally expanded over the last years. Today, they enrol 6,000 students.

A distinction of the grammar school at the Schulzentrum (School Centre) West is the new Pupil's House, on open form of a full-time school: Participation is voluntary, the offer has room for leisure time and recreation, internet and new media, as well as for homework support. Although the majority of funding comes from the federal level, the city voluntarily augments its own contribution for the benefit of a student canteen which is set to host pupils from the Hauptschule and Realschule as well. The turning of the first spadeful of earth of the municipally financed new building was in Novembre 2005. Currently, the full-time operations take place as a test phase for grade six. Starting in 2007, the other classes will follow. Investments total 2.3 million Euros.

In close neighbourhood, there is an Evangelisches Schulzentrum (Protestant School Centre) in Michelbach/Bilz, comprising an Aufbaugymnasium (advanced grammar school), grammar school, Realschule and boarding school.

Differentiated programs also for vocational schools
Schwäbisch Hall offers a very differentiated program for vocational schools as well: In addition to the vocational schools, advanced vocational schools and full-time vocational schools, there are three occupational grammar schools. The occupational schools can be separated into industrial, mercantile and domestic economy schools. The occupational grammar schools offer agricultural, nutritional, social pedagogical, biotechnological, technical and economics emphasis. The Landkreis (County of) Schwäbisch Hall is the public sponsor of the vocational schools.

The newest educational highlight is the Polytechnic University Schwäbisch Hall, founded in October 2000. The officially recognised University for Design offers a BS program in media and cultural design. The goal of the education is a flexible, multi-dimensional profile of the graduates who possess specialised knowledge and who can competently work interdisciplinarily.

The media design program teaches competences in multimedia design, media technology and integrated business practise. Cultural design focuses on artistic design, organisation and art communication.

Thanks to partner companies, the integrated educational concept further integrates scientific work with business realities: During the entire program of study, the students are integrated on an hourly basis into the jobs of partner companies where they realise media projects and cultural projects.

Further, the entire fifth semester is available for an internship. Today, the polytechnic university collaborates with 70 companies and 40 institutions. The future-oriented vocational training is further promoted by spending a semester abroad at reputable European and American universities.

More and more students appreciate this education program. In Schwäbisch Hall, they also find an ideal environment to study: The particular historic flair of the city with its campus-like university complex offers many cultural activities in a live cultural environment. Modern media labs and artictic workshops are available, as are studio slots. An optimum individual supervision by professors and instructors is understood.

The cultural education of children, youth and adults is of particular concern to the city.
The music school founded in 1971 operates on a very high level and has already generated numerous awardees. The musical early education often takes place already before school enrollment. Instrument lessons are being taught in nine subjects. Chamber music ensembles, orchestras and music theory complement the courses.

The city library located in the Glashaus gives Schwäbisch Hall a large media centre in the centre of the city: With an inventory of more than 60,000 media, the library counts among the largest city libraries nationwide. 5,000 new media are purchased annually, the electronic catalogues give access to book inventories worldwide. The city library promotes life-long learning through its inventory, its new information technology as well as the communication of media competence. City library and music school have users well beyond the city limits.