Schools in St. Blasien: Black Forest boarding, local schools and getting there

St. Blasien is a small town in the southern Black Forest, in the district of Waldshut, close to the Swiss border. For families, the main point is scale: this is a quiet hill town, not a city with a range of schools. Decide first whether you are sending a child here or moving here.

Getting there without a railway

St. Blasien has no railway station. Regional buses leave from St. Blasien bus station (Busbahnhof). In the 2025 regional bus timetable, line 7322 runs roughly hourly between St. Blasien and Waldshut via Höchenschwand, taking about 45–50 minutes. Waldshut is on the High Rhine railway along the Swiss border. Check the current timetable on bahn.de or the state planner efa-bw.de, because bus times change and some journeys run only on school days.

The Kolleg describes itself as easily reached from Zurich and Basel airports. From either, plan a rail journey to Waldshut or another railhead, then the bus or a transfer up into the hills. Ask the school what it arranges at the start and end of term. For a day pupil, a home in St. Blasien or a village on a direct bus route is far simpler than a home down on the Rhine.

Living here: Baden-Württemberg’s school system

Children in Baden-Württemberg attend a four-year Grundschule before moving to secondary school. For families arriving now, two state changes matter:

• G9 is back. From the 2025/26 school year, the nine-year Gymnasium is again the standard form, introduced from Klassen 5 and 6. The Abitur therefore comes after nine Gymnasium years for pupils entering now.
• Gymnasium entry has new rules. Under the new Klasse 4 transfer procedure, parents must want the Gymnasium, and in addition either the class conference recommends it or the child reaches the required level in the state-wide Kompass 4 test. If neither applies, a potential test at a Gymnasium can still open the route.

A child arriving from abroad mid-way through school needs a careful grade placement and German support; ask the town and the receiving school what is offered before signing a lease.

Choose a local state school if you will settle in the region, your child can learn through German, and a free school matters more than boarding. Look further afield if you need English-medium teaching: there is none in St. Blasien.

The Kolleg

Kolleg St. Blasien is a state-recognised Catholic Jesuit Gymnasium with day pupils and boarders. It teaches in German and leads to the Baden-Württemberg Abitur, not the IB. It suits a pupil who wants a German-language academic school with a residential community and is comfortable with its Christian character. For a local family, it is also the Gymnasium in town. Our profile covers entry points, the Euroklasse and 2026–27 fees.

Nearby alternatives

• Schule Schloss Salem, on Lake Constance: compare it if you want boarding with a choice between Abitur and the IB Diploma.
• Schools in Basel: English-medium IB and bilingual Swiss schooling across the border. Relevant only if your family will live in or near Basel.
• Schools around Zurich: for a family whose work is in the Zurich area.

The St. Blasien overview, Germany guide and boarding or day guide cover the wider decision.

Friendly orientation, not formal admissions advice. Always confirm dates with the school.