Presently about 900 students between the ages of 15 and 19 are enrolled in the school. The school is supervised by the school board, comprising the headmaster, three representatives of the parents, five representatives of the school's employees, and two representatives of the founder.
History
The Novo Mesto Grammar School is the oldest educational institution in Slovenia that has been in operation continually since its foundation. It was founded by Empress Maria Theresa in 1746. The school was first run by the Franciscans and the lessons started on November 3, 1746. The list of the first 66 students finishes off by a comment by the first dean Father Geodefredus Pfeifer. Being an educational and cultural institution, the Novo Mesto Grammar School has played a significant role in the cultural, scientific, economic and political life of the Slovenes. It has educated several scientists, artists, economists and politicians. In 1870 the school became a state school and the present school building was built in 1912. It was characterized by both world wars and consequently by the changes in the political system. Also, it was subject to different school reforms. In 1848 the duration of the schooling was lengthened from 6 years to 8 years. Due to a new school reform in the 1980s the name gimnazija 'upper secondary school' was banned supposedly because of its supposed elitist connotations and it came to be called Natural Science and Technical School. It was soon evident that only an upper secondary school can provide the needed broad knowledge and built-up skills that are essential for successful studies at University. As a result, there was a new school reform in 1990 and the school became an upper secondary school again. Renovation work on the school building, which lasted 2 years, began with the celebration of its 250th anniversary in 1996. Better working conditions in the renovated school and modern classrooms meant an additional impetus for even better and more laborious work. In 2006 all of the school's 27 classrooms were equipped with computers and digital projectors and in 2011 interactive boards were installed in all classrooms.
Notable alumni
Ivan Tavčar, writer and politician, 1866–1868
Oton Župančič, poet, translator and playwright, 1888–1891
Josip Plemelj, mathematician, 1893–1894
Dragotin Kette, poet, 1896–1898
Anton Podbevšek, poet, 1909–1918
Miran Jarc, poet, 1910–1919
Božidar Jakac, painter, 1910–1918
Leon Štukelj, athlete and Olympic gold medallist, 1910–1916
Rado Lenček, linguist, ethnologist, finished in 1940
