Especially around Copenhagen, the public is here for it. In Denmark, the exuberance of youth on this right of passage carries a communal sense of occasion and achievement. In the capital, locals wave and cheer to the long honk, honk, honk of open-air trucks full of grads as they tour around town. Some raise a glass and clap from outdoor patios or brightly ding bells from the seats of their bikes. Two of our three children took part in these raucous graduation festivities. The eldest boys attended a Danish Gymnasium with an international department.
They completed the two-year International Baccalaureate โ or IB โ degree. And while their schooling was slightly different from the traditional Danish structure, their graduation celebration was not. Before all the partying begins, a quick summary of the Danish education system. Typically kids stay with that exact same group of students for the following 10 school years, finishing primary in Year 9 or 9. Klasse โ compulsory here. What comes next is an impressive array of choices varying from different levels of higher education to specific trade and vocational training.
From here the option is up to each student. It is a higher-level generalized course of study and takes 3 years to complete. Graduates are then eligible to apply to university. A two-year generalized education that prioritizes trainee courses towards a specific profession or further education.
A rigorous two-year curriculum requiring language, math, and courses in area of focus. In Denmark, courses are taught in English. But IB is not strictly for foreign students, many Danes who have lived abroad may take this route. Many go on to one of the above-mentioned programs.
End-of-high-school traditions usually begin with the last day of teaching. Unlike schools in the US, students are given dedicated time off just for exam study.
