Otesalu Gymnasium I

**Otesalu Gymnasium I** (Estian: *Otesalu Gümnaasium I*), often shortened to **OGI** or simply **I**, is a public gymnasium in Otesalu, Estland. OGI is the oldest continuously-operating secondary school in Estland, first being established as the boys-only Otesalu School in 1545, which served as an educational institution for the Estian elite.

Following the reorganization of the Estian education system in 1886, the school was renamed Otesalu Gymnasium I, in line with the newly established gymnasium system. Since its foundation, the school instructed students in a classical studies program, and following the reorganization, began offering the classical studies program of gymnasium instruction. The school became coeducational in 1935. OGI is largely considered to be the most prestigious secondary school in Estland, also having the lowest acceptance rate of all gymnasiums in Estland. It has educated a number of successful figures in Estian politics, business, academia, and foreign affairs.

## Admissions

Recent acceptance rates of Otesalu Gymnasium I
 2019
 2020
 2021

Admissions to the school adhere to the nationwide gymnasium admissions process. The admissions process begins in the second half of a student's final year of primary school. OGI requires that applicants submit their primary school transcript, a personal essay, and letters of recommendation from two primary school teachers and a non-teacher advisor.

The average overall primary school grade for an incoming *K1* at OGI in 2019 was 8.63/9, making the admissions process highly competitive. OGI is known nationwide for having the lowest acceptance rate and most stringent acceptance requirements. Students receive their decision letters in July of the year they graduate primary school, and they must confirm whether they accept or decline their enrollment by the second Monday in August. Since 2000, acceptance rates have not increased beyond 20.0%.

## Academics

Otesalu Gymnasium I offers only a program in classical studies, and is the only gymnasium in Estland to only offer the classical studies program. In annual rankings of Estian gymnasiums, OGI is typically ranked as the most academically rigorous gymnasium in the country.

### Scheduling

The school is in session from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, although most students do not maintain a complete full-day schedule. Most students enroll in eight classes per year and four classes per semester; some students opt to take one class a day for four days a week, while others opt for two classes a day for two days a week, or any other combination of this. Typically, registration for the next semester is done at the halfway point in the preceding semester. More senior students receive preference in scheduling. Students entering their *K1* year register for their first semester two weeks before classes begin, typically in late August.

Each class lasts for three hours with 30 minutes being reserved for a break in the middle. Students may schedule their courses any way they wish, and are responsible for incorporating their own meal breaks.

### Curriculum

In line with national education requirements, students focus the majority of their coursework on courses within their program, while also being allowed to enroll in elective courses. National curriculum requirements require that students take 18 classes within their program in order to graduate, while OGI implements its own curriculum requirements. The school's classical studies department, which makes up the large majority of its faculty, divides itself into five sectors: literature, history, philosophy and ethics, religious studies, and foreign language. All students are mandated to complete their educational program using at least three courses from each of these five sectors, while the remaining three courses may be fulfilled based on the choice of the student.

In addition to the 18 courses required to come from within the classical studies program, OGI requires that its students complete at least four courses from outside of the program, with the school offering introductory classes from other programs in addition to classes such as art, music, drama, physical education, and home economics. The school also requires students to take at least two courses in the Ditrovian language, which cannot be used to satisfy the elective courses requirement. Students may also enroll in additional courses which may be completed using electives or classical studies courses.

### Assessments

As the Estian national education curriculum does not mandate nationwide standardized testing, OGI offers its own program of school wide standardized testing. At the end of each semester, students must sit for their final exams in each class that they are enrolled in. Final exams are created by the faculty members of the department, and are uniform regardless of the individual teacher that the student has. Final exams cover the entire semester of content, and significantly factor into the student's final grade for the course.

Apart from final exams, OGI organizes its grading and assessment system in line with the national education standards. Students receive a grade of 0–9 for each of their classes: 0 denotes incomplete work, 1–2 denotes failing to meet expectations, 3–4 denotes meeting expectations, 5–6 denotes exceeding expectations, 7–8 denotes significantly exceeding expectations, and 9 denotes a perfect score. All grades except for a 0 or a 9 may be altered with a minus (–) or plus (+) to further specify where a student falls. If a student receives a grade of 0–2 in a class, they do not receive credit for it. If it is an elective they can retake the class the next year or choose to not receive the credit, but if it is a required class they must retake it during the summer or the following year and receive a grade of 3–9. Unlike in other gymnasiums, OGI administrators may put students on academic probation or expel them from the school if they continuously are failing their courses.

## Student life

### Uniform

Otesalu Gymnasium I is renown throughout Estland for being the only secondary school that mandates students wear uniforms. The usage of uniforms at the school is connected to its origins as the country's first secondary school, when uniforms were worn by all students. Since the 20th century, the uniform of OGI has developed into a status symbol within Estian popular culture, often being a representative of the Estian elite.

The OGI uniform consists of a blazer, dress shirt, tie, slacks and a belt (or skirt for girls), dress socks (for boys) or tights (for girls), and dress shoes (for boys) or flats (for girls). Until 2008, girls were only allowed to wear their uniform with skirts, but this rule was then struck down and female students became permitted to wear slacks as well. The OGI uniform allows students to incorporate accessories and jewelry, including piercings, into their daily outfits, and also does not have regulations regarding hairstyles, hair color, or facial hair.