Specialized school
Encyclopedia
Specialized schools are secondary school
s with enhanced coverage of certain subjects that constitute the specialization of the school. They should not be confused with vocational school
s, whose goal is to deliver skills for a particular type of job.
there were two typical types: physical/mathematical schools, with enhanced education in physics
and mathematics
, sports schools, and schools with advanced study of a foreign language of choice. This tradition continued in a number of post-Soviet states
, notably Russia
, Kyrgyzstan
and Belarus
, with many schools renamed into liceums.
There also were schools with musical education, but they were in their own category and called "secondary musical school". In secondary musical schools, the primary goal was musical education since the 1st grade (i.e., they may be classified as vocational school
s), with obligatory general secondary education provided in a somewhat truncated form. (Note: In the terminology of the Soviet Union, the "secondary school
" included primary education
as well, i.e., it encompassed grades 1-10.)
Foreign language schools started study of a particular foreign language since the 1st grade (normally in Soviet schools foreign language was introduced in the 5th grade) and, since some grade (commonly the 5th) some subjects were delivered in this language. Language schools specialized in English, German, French, and Spanish languages, with English schools being most common in late Soviet Union and Spanish least common.
Physmath schools (physical/mathematical schools) delivered enhanced education in physics and mathematics. Most commonly, this enhancement started at higher grades, typically starting at 8th or 9th grades.
A fact of note was a very high percentage of Jewish students in physmath schools. As a strange quirk of Soviet anti-semitism
, there was no informal quota for Jews in specialized schools, unlike some prestigious universities and research institutions.
There are three categories of sports schools:
In modern Russia the sports schools are officially named as 'учреждение дополнительного образования' (supplementary education institution), e.g., 'supplementary education institution "School of High Sports Mastery"'.
These schools were specialized in particular sports: soccer, diving
, gymnastics
, etc.
The first children sports school was created in 1934. In 1987 there were about 7,500 CYSSs, 1,400 ORSs and about 200 SHSMs, with about 5,000,000 of students.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s with enhanced coverage of certain subjects that constitute the specialization of the school. They should not be confused with vocational school
Vocational school
A vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
s, whose goal is to deliver skills for a particular type of job.
Soviet Union and post-Soviet states
Of the specialized school in the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
there were two typical types: physical/mathematical schools, with enhanced education in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, sports schools, and schools with advanced study of a foreign language of choice. This tradition continued in a number of post-Soviet states
Post-Soviet states
The post-Soviet states, also commonly known as the Former Soviet Union or former Soviet republics, are the 15 independent states that split off from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in its dissolution in December 1991...
, notably Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
and Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, with many schools renamed into liceums.
There also were schools with musical education, but they were in their own category and called "secondary musical school". In secondary musical schools, the primary goal was musical education since the 1st grade (i.e., they may be classified as vocational school
Vocational school
A vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
s), with obligatory general secondary education provided in a somewhat truncated form. (Note: In the terminology of the Soviet Union, the "secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
" included primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
as well, i.e., it encompassed grades 1-10.)
Foreign language schools started study of a particular foreign language since the 1st grade (normally in Soviet schools foreign language was introduced in the 5th grade) and, since some grade (commonly the 5th) some subjects were delivered in this language. Language schools specialized in English, German, French, and Spanish languages, with English schools being most common in late Soviet Union and Spanish least common.
Physmath schools (physical/mathematical schools) delivered enhanced education in physics and mathematics. Most commonly, this enhancement started at higher grades, typically starting at 8th or 9th grades.
A fact of note was a very high percentage of Jewish students in physmath schools. As a strange quirk of Soviet anti-semitism
Antisemitism in the Soviet Union
The Russian Revolution overthrew a centuries-old regime of official antisemitism. The Soviet Unions success, during its existence, in struggling with this legacy, and the degree to which its government fought against, or was itself guilty of antisemitism, is a topic of some debate...
, there was no informal quota for Jews in specialized schools, unlike some prestigious universities and research institutions.
There are three categories of sports schools:
- Children and Youth Sports SchoolChildren and Youth Sports SchoolSports school is a type of educational institution for children that originated in the Soviet Union. Sports schools were the basis of the powerful system of physical culture and sports education of the USSR...
(USSR, Детско-юношеские спортивные школы, ДЮСШ). Some of them were after-school sports schools, others were specialized sports schools. - Olympic Reserve SchoolChildren and Youth Sports SchoolSports school is a type of educational institution for children that originated in the Soviet Union. Sports schools were the basis of the powerful system of physical culture and sports education of the USSR...
(школа олимпийского резерва, специализированная детско-юношеская спортивная школа олимпийского резерва, СДЮСШОР) - School of High Sports Mastery (школа высшего спортивного мастерства, ШВСМ)
In modern Russia the sports schools are officially named as 'учреждение дополнительного образования' (supplementary education institution), e.g., 'supplementary education institution "School of High Sports Mastery"'.
These schools were specialized in particular sports: soccer, diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
, gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, etc.
The first children sports school was created in 1934. In 1987 there were about 7,500 CYSSs, 1,400 ORSs and about 200 SHSMs, with about 5,000,000 of students.
Schools and notable alumni
- MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
- Moscow Secondary School 15, physics and mathematics
- LeningradLeningradLeningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
/ St. Petersburg- Leningrad Secondary School # 239 / Saint Petersburg Lyceum 239 (ФМЛ 239), physics and mathematics
- Grigori PerelmanGrigori PerelmanGrigori Yakovlevich Perelman is a Russian mathematician who has made landmark contributions to Riemannian geometry and geometric topology.In 1992, Perelman proved the soul conjecture. In 2002, he proved Thurston's geometrization conjecture...
- Grigori Perelman
- Leningrad Secondary School # 30 / Saint Petersburg Lyceum 30 (ФМЛ 30), physics and mathematics
- Leningrad Secondary School # 239 / Saint Petersburg Lyceum 239 (ФМЛ 239), physics and mathematics
- MinskMinsk- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
- Minsk Secondary School 50, physics and mathematics
-
- Minsk Secondary School 87, English language
- Ekaterinburg
- Secondary School 144, English
United States
- National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and TechnologyNational Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and TechnologyNational Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology is an alliance of specialized high schools in the United States whose focus is advanced preparatory studies in mathematics, science and technology....
- Specialized high schools in New York City