Riga State Gymnasium No.1

The school was founded in 1211, a decade after the foundation of Riga itself. Its name and language of instruction have changed several times during its history. Latvian became the main language of instruction in 1919.

Today, Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 is known for its strong programs in the natural sciences, mathematics and computer science. Students wishing to enroll at the school take an admissions test in mathematics. Its admissions rate, with as many as six candidates competing for each position, is one of the lowest in the country. Since 1997 the school enrolls 30 to 40 people in its International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme each year, where instruction is offered in English. It was the first school in the Baltic States to offer the IBO Diploma Programme.

The school has graduated a number of people well known in Latvian history and Latvian politics, including among many others the writer and poet Rainis and former prime minister Einars_Repse.

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