The terms ‘grammar school’ and ‘cantonal school’ are often used interchangeably in the cantons of Zurich and Aargau, but there is a difference between a grammar school and a cantonal school.

Find out what the difference is between a grammar school and a cantonal school in the following article.

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The most important points in brief:

The grammar school is a general secondary school covering lower and upper secondary levels, which culminates in the Matura, a qualification that enables pupils to study at university, the ETH and teacher training colleges (PH).
In the canton of Aargau, there is generally only the four-year short-term grammar school; in the canton of Zurich, there is also the six-year long-term grammar school.
Although the term ‘cantonal school’ is often used synonymously with ‘grammar school’, there is a difference between a grammar school and a cantonal school.
In addition to the grammar school, a cantonal school may also accommodate other types of secondary school, such as a commercial secondary school (HMS)/business secondary school (WMS), a specialised secondary school (FMS) and/or a computer science secondary school (IMS).
Furthermore, a cantonal school may, if applicable, include a state-run grammar school, as the cantonal school is run by the canton and funded by taxpayers’ money. Private grammar schools are therefore not found at cantonal schools; rather, private grammar schools are generally run as commercial enterprises.

Table of contents

What is a grammar school?
What is a cantonal school?
Conclusion: Difference between grammar school and cantonal school

What is a grammar school?

In both the canton of Aargau and the canton of Zurich, the grammar school (or ‘Gymi’, short for Gymnasium) is a secondary school covering lower and upper secondary levels that provides a broad general education. Upon completion of the grammar school, pupils in both cantons are awarded the Matura, which enables them to study at a university, the ETH or a university of teacher education.

In the canton of Aargau, there is generally only the four-year short-term grammar school, which begins after the 3rd year of district school, i.e. after the 9th school year (11th HarmoS year). Only at the sports grammar school at the Alte Kantonsschule Aargau does the grammar school programme last five years. There is no long-term grammar school in the canton of Aargau.

In the canton of Zurich, there is generally the six-year long-term grammar school programme, which begins after the 6th year of primary school (8th HarmoS year), and the four-year short-term grammar school programme, which starts after the 2nd or 3rd year of secondary school, i.e. after the 8th or 9th school year (10th or 11th HarmoS year). However, there are exceptions here too. The K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl, a grammar school specialising in the arts and sport, lasts 7 years (long-term grammar school programme) or 5 years (short-term grammar school programme), whilst the Liceo Artistico, an arts grammar school at the Freudenberg Cantonal School, lasts 5 years (short-term grammar school programme).

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In the canton of Zurich, pupils must pass an entrance examination to progress to the grammar school. In the canton of Aargau, pupils can progress from the district school to the grammar school without sitting an examination, provided they have achieved the required marks. Those who have not achieved the required marks must pass an entrance examination in order to be able to transfer to the grammar school after all.

However, this grammar school entrance exam can only be taken in the year following graduation from the district school. As a result, the pupils concerned effectively lose a year. The next grammar school entrance exam in the canton of Aargau will take place on 15 March 2027.

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What is a cantonal school?

Although the term ‘cantonal school’ (or ‘Kanti’, short for Kantonsschule) is often used as a synonym for ‘grammar school’, it actually encompasses more than just the grammar school. This is because there are also cantonal schools that not only house a grammar school, but also other types of secondary school, such as a commercial secondary school (HMS)/business secondary school (WMS), a vocational secondary school (FMS) or a computer science secondary school (IMS).

The term ‘cantonal school’ specifically indicates that this school is funded by the canton using taxpayers’ money.

Conclusion: Difference between grammar school and cantonal school

A cantonal school is therefore not the same as a grammar school. Rather, there is a difference between the terms ‘grammar school’ and ‘cantonal school’. This is because a cantonal school may offer other types of secondary school alongside a grammar school, such as HMS/WMS, IMS and/or FMS.

On the other hand, not every grammar school is part of a cantonal school. This is because there are also private grammar schools in the canton of Zurich which are not funded by the canton and are therefore not organised within the framework of a cantonal school. Private grammar schools are generally run as commercial enterprises, whilst cantonal schools and the state-run grammar schools within them are funded by taxpayers’ money.

There are no private grammar schools in the canton of Aargau. Schoolchildren from Aargau who wish to attend a private grammar school would therefore have to go to the canton of Zurich, for example.

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