There are 22 public cantonal schools in the canton of Zurich. Choosing one can be a difficult task. To get an overview of which schools are available and what type of Gymnasium they offer, it is best to start by looking at the cantonal school system.
List of all Gymnasiums in the canton of Zurich
There are different types of Gymnasiums. On the one hand, there is the long-term Gymnasium, which can be attended after the sixth grade of primary school and lasts six years. On the other hand, there is the short Gymnasium which can be attended after the second or third year of the Gymnasium and lasts four years. Both options ultimately lead to the Matura. Some Gymnasiums offer both types, while others only offer the short-term Gymnasiums.
Gymnasiums with short and long cycles
- Freudenberg Cantonal School
- Hohe Promenade Cantonal School
- Küsnacht Cantonal School
- Limmattal Cantonal School
- Rämibühl Literary Gymnasium
- Realgymnasium Rämibühl
- Rychenberg Cantonal School
- Uetikon am See Cantonal School
- Wiedikon Cantonal School
- Zimmerberg Cantonal School
- Zurich Oberland Cantonal School
- Zürcher Unterland Cantonal School
- Zurich North Cantonal School
Only for short-term Gymnasiums
- Büelrain Cantonal School
- Cantonal School Enge
- Hottingen Cantonal School
- Im Lee Cantonal School
- Liceo Artistico
- Rämibühl Mathematics and Science Gymnasium
- Stadelhofen Cantonal School
- Stadelhofen Cantonal School
Adult education center
- Cantonal school for adults preparing for the school leaving certificate
Tips for choosing a school – What you need to know
Listen to your gut feeling when making decisions
With so many options available, it can be difficult to make the right decision. As a general rule, you should listen to your intuition or gut feeling when making a decision. It is often said that the decision your intuition makes is often the right one. The more you think about a decision, the more second-rate solutions you will come up with.
Listen to other experiences
It may also be helpful to hear other opinions about the decision. Perhaps you know someone who has already attended this cantonal school and would recommend it to you. It may also help to share your thoughts with others and talk about the decision.
Compare profiles and view schools
You might also want to think about what kind of profile you would like to study. This will allow you to see whether the cantonal school offers this profile. This can help you decide between schools. Generally speaking, you will have a feeling which one suits you best. It also makes sense to take a close look at the individual cantonal schools and find out what their focus is.
Sources
- Public secondary schools (August 2025)
- Making the right decisions with simple rules (August 2025)




