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ALEA School

Germany, Bad Orb

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The school at a glance
Instructs in German, English
Fees €6,000
Ages 11 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2025
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages German, English, Spanish
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, Languages, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Middle School, Secondary School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

ALEA SCHOOL in Bad Orb, Germany, operates on two campuses (Lindenallee 52 and Parkallee; Parkallee is in planning). It serves students aged 11–18 in a co‑educational, private day school. The curriculum blends the Hessian core with the International Baccalaureate framework, and students can complete the IB Diploma Programme. Instruction is bilingual, with roughly half the lessons in German and half in English; from grade 7 Spanish is offered. ALEA has been an IB World School since July 9, 2026. An independent school with an international profile, it supports projects through the ALEA Foundation and plans a three‑year collaboration with St Leonard's School in Scotland (2026–2028) to strengthen curriculum design, teacher development, school management, and international partnerships. The Lindenallee campus opened in 2023; the Parkallee campus will provide about 16,000 m² for around 200 students and will include a dojo to foster intercultural encounters. The school is home to the Foxes, with Amber and Oak as mascots.

Lindenallee 52, 63619 Bad Orb, Germany

The Essentials

ALEA School has typical class sizes of 18, instruction in German, English.

Location
Bad Orb, Germany. Lindenallee campus is located at Lindenallee 52, 63619 Bad Orb, Germany. It is part of ALEA SCHOOL and offers a private international education.

Stages
Secondary education (Gymnasium) with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, combining Hessian core curricula with the IB framework.

Type
Co-educational, private day school.

Additional learning support
Individual support is central; Support-Unterricht targets German (including LRS), English, and Science. Sessions run in the morning (7:30–8:15) after an intake diagnostic; participation is communicated to families. An optional 'Individual Studies' program in the afternoon supports self-directed learning.

Country affiliation
Germany

School day structure
Supervised drop-off runs 7:30–8:15. Homeroom 8:15–8:25. Lessons run 8:25–15:55 with a 9:55 break and a lunch break 12:00–12:45. The day ends around 16:40 with clubs and independent study time.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
There is a school uniform; uniforms strengthen identification and a sense of belonging.

Food Options
Lunch is provided daily. Lindenallee campus lunches are taken at TAPATA at ALEA PARK with changing dishes; the Parkallee campus will have a fully equipped canteen for the entire student body.

Governance and Ownership
ALEA SCHOOL is independently run with an international profile and combines the Hessian state curriculum with the IB framework, potentially offering the IB Diploma Programme. The ALEA Foundation (in formation) supports the school; Henning Strauss is the founder and sponsor (CEO and owner of STRAUSS).
Fees

Annual tuition at ALEA School ranges from EUR 6,000 for 2026/27.

Application fees
- No separate application or registration fee is published for ALEA SCHOOL.

Tuition fees (by month, term, and year-group)
- Core tuition: €500 per month for all enrolled students (single basic monthly fee applies across year groups).
- Meal allowance and costs for excursions or extracurricular activities are charged in addition to the €500 monthly basic fee.
- There are no published separate tuition rates by year group; the fee model uses the single monthly basic fee rather than different amounts for different grades.
- Per-term/per-year arithmetic (for database use): the published amount is defined as a monthly fee of €500. Exact per-term or per-academic-year totals are determined by the number of months the school bills; per 12 months this equals €6,000 (12 × €500). The school's published fee model does not list a grade-by-grade or term-by-term breakdown.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school publishes its fee model as a monthly basic fee but does not publish a specific billing schedule, invoicing frequency, payment deadlines, late-payment penalties, or formal payment terms. Parents should note that the base fee is described on a monthly basis.

Sibling discount
- A 25% discount applies to siblings on the regular school fees.

Boarding fees
- ALEA SCHOOL is presented as a local day campus and no boarding program or boarding fees are published; the school's fee page compares private boarding costs in general but does not list any ALEA boarding fees. ALEA does not publish a boarding fee schedule.

Other costs and fees (uniform, meals, trips, materials, activities)
- Meal allowance: meal costs are charged in addition to the €500 monthly basic fee; a separate meal allowance amount is not published.
- Excursions and extracurricular activities: costs for excursions and certain extracurricular activities may be charged in addition to the basic fee; no fixed price list for excursions or activities is published.
- Uniforms, textbooks, personal equipment, transport or other ancillary fees are not listed as fixed mandatory charges on the published fee model. No uniform fee schedule is published.

Refund information
- No published refund policy, withdrawal penalty schedule, or pro‑rata refund rules are provided in the school's fee materials.

Fee payment options
- The school does not publish specific accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, SEPA, direct debit, or credit card) or banking details in the fee materials. Contact the school secretariat for payment arrangements.

Scholarships and fee reductions
- A school scholarship program exists, including partial and full scholarships: the Norbert Strauss partial scholarship (covers €400 of the school fees, awarded multiple times per year) and the Bad Orb full scholarship (covers the entire school fees, awarded across the year as published). Scholarship awards can cover tuition up to 10th grade per the published scholarship framework.
- Additional individual financial assistance can be provided from a school fund for families in exceptional financial need.

Important administrative dates
- The published application deadline for the 2026/2027 school year is February 28, 2026. (This date appears within the school's application information.)

Note on missing details needed for full term/year breakdowns and payment processing
- The school's published fee information provides a single monthly basic fee (€500) plus meal and occasional activity costs, and a sibling discount and scholarship framework. The school does not publish a per-term or per-year-group fee table, nor does it publish an explicit billing schedule, detailed payment terms, list of accepted payment methods, application fee, uniform fees, detailed excursion price lists, or a refund policy. These items were not available in the school's published fee materials.
Academics

ALEA School teaches IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 11 to 18.

Curriculum
ALEA SCHOOL combines the Hessian core curricula with the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate, and the program can be completed with the IB Diploma Programme. The school uses a bilingual approach with roughly half of teaching in German and half in English; Spanish is offered from grade 7.

Student Teacher Ratio
Class sizes will range from 12 to 24 students per class.

Gifted and Talented
Support classes are tailored to students' needs and include talent development, with dyslexia support in German, English and Science. The Individual Studies program provides learning coaching to support self-organization and project planning.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a dedicated subject at ALEA SCHOOL. It combines personality development with emotional intelligence. In SEL, students reflect on their social skills and learn to resolve conflicts. The program helps students develop personal responsibility and healthy interpersonal behavior. Results are documented in a personal portfolio to track growth.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Support-Unterricht is differentiated and tailored to the needs of students and is offered in German (including LRS), English, and Science. Sessions run in the morning from 7:30 to 8:15 to align with peak concentration. After an intake diagnostic, teachers determine which students receive support or targeted challenges, and participation is communicated to families. The sessions follow the contents of the regular curriculum with repetition, practice, and individual adaptation. In the afternoon, Support-Unterricht is not mandatory, leaving time for clubs and personal development. Additionally, Individual Studies (IS) is an optional afternoon program where teachers act as learning coaches to support independent study, homework, and project planning.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is taught as the first foreign language (1st FL). In the timetable, English is listed as 1st FL for Grades 5–6 and 7–8. Approximately 50% of total instruction is delivered in English, with the specific subject mix varying by year.

Mental Wellbeing
Social Emotional Learning supports mental wellbeing by combining personality development with emotional intelligence. Students reflect on their social skills and practice conflict resolution, building personal responsibility. SEL helps cultivate resilience and positive relationships, complementing academic learning. Progress is documented in a personal portfolio to monitor growth.

Safeguarding
The school sees itself as a safe space. The school grounds are smartphone-free. Digital learning and media literacy are integral, with emphasis on data protection and cybercrime awareness. Tablets are available for use in lessons. The school promotes responsible use of media.
Parent Experience

History
ALEA SCHOOL is an independently run secondary school with an international profile. It combines the Hessian state core curriculum with the International Baccalaureate framework, and students can graduate with the IB Diploma Programme. The school teaches in English and German, with a bilingual curriculum designed to enable students to obtain a bilingual diploma. The ALEA Foundation (in formation) supports projects and the school's development, including a three‑year collaboration with St Leonards School in Scotland from 2026–2028 to strengthen curriculum design, teacher development, school management, and international partnerships. The Parkallee campus is being developed alongside the Lindenallee campus in Bad Orb, and spaces such as a dōjō are integrated to foster intercultural encounters and personal growth.

Community
The ALEA SCHOOL community offers extracurricular activities such as horseback riding, golf, gardening, cooking, and yoga. The campus is set in the Spessart region and features in-house interscholastic events at the ALEA Arena, with the ALEA Cup welcoming delegations from international partner schools in California and Scotland. The Dinotorium serves as an auditorium and venue for the student parliament and weekly assemblies, while the Parkallee campus will include spaces like a dōjō and a Palm House to enrich learning. Educational partnerships with institutions such as Senckenberg Nature Research and the Frankfurt Palm House bring scientists into classrooms and organize field trips to research sites.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
ALEA SCHOOL operates on two campuses in Bad Orb: the Lindenallee Campus (Lindenallee 52) and the Parkallee Campus that is in planning. The founding Lindenallee campus was inaugurated in early July; since mid-August the first two Schlaufüchse classes have filled the building. Planning is underway for the final Parkallee campus on Kurparkstraße; the building ensemble including outdoor spaces will provide about 16,000 m² of space for around 200 ALEA Schlaufüchse. The school combines Hessian core curricula with the IB Diploma Program.”

Academic Facilities
The ALEA SCHOOL is a gymnasium in private sponsorship with an international profile. It combines the Hessian core curricula with the philosophy of the IB (International Baccalaureate) and can be completed with the IB Diploma Program. Language of instruction in the IB program is English and German. The school has been an IB World School since July 9, 2026.”

Extra Curricular Facilities
The afternoon clubs are voluntary and not graded; after a four‑week taster period, students choose one or more clubs for a half year. Clubs cover Sustainability, Horse Riding, Sports, Creativity, Music, Golf, Yoga, Botany, IT, First Aid, and Schlaufuchs News, with costs included in the ALEA SCHOOL fees. The school is the Home of the Foxes, with Amber and Oak as official school mascots. The Sustainability Club runs projects such as the Climate Kiosk and Model United Nations (MUN) to promote environmental awareness and global issues.”
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
After a joint taster week at the start of the school year, students choose optional clubs for a half-year. The clubs include Sustainability featuring the Climate Kiosk and Model United Nations, as well as IT and First Aid. The Sustainability Club is led by Yannick Diemel and Anna O'callaghan; Horse Riding is led by Kirsten Dzierzawa; Music is led by Marius Wiesen.

Arts & Creative
The Music Club focuses on making music together and having fun, with opportunities to form a band or work on a project, and it offers individual support. There is a Dance Club. Creativity is listed among ALEA's clubs as an area of creative pursuit.

Cultural & Language
Half of ALEA SCHOOL's teaching is in German and half in English, with the aim of a bilingual qualification. Starting in grade 7, Spanish is offered as an additional language. Ōwairaka Māori is a cultural language club listed among ALEA's clubs.

Social & Hobbies
Golf and Yoga are offered as after-school clubs. The school also runs a Music Club and a Dance Club for social and creative hobbies. Horse Riding and Botany clubs provide outdoor and nature-based activities.

Community & Service
The Sustainability Club runs climate‑action projects, including the Climate Kiosk that donates proceeds to environmental projects, and includes Model United Nations activities. Costs for these clubs are included in ALEA SCHOOL fees.

Leadership & Professional
There is a School Board that governs the school. ALEA OUT LOUD (AOL) is a school-profile subject designed to develop voice, body language, and presentation skills. The Sustainability Club is led by Yannick Diemel and Anna O'callaghan, with Horse Riding led by Kirsten Dzierzawa and Music led by Marius Wiesen.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) combines personality development with emotional intelligence. The school offers sports and wellbeing activities including Horse Riding, Golf, and Yoga. Monthly assemblies and other activities support wellbeing and community.
Languages

Language Provision
German and English are offered as part of the language program; starting in Grade 7, Spanish is offered as an additional language. German remains the language of instruction and teachers can communicate in German when needed. A bilingual curriculum begins in Grade 5 and a primary school level of English is sufficient to start; teaching assistants provide support in English-language subjects.

Bilingual Teaching
Half of teaching at ALEA SCHOOL is in German and half in English. The goal is to enable every ALEA student to obtain a bilingual qualification. In Grade 5, a bilingual approach is implemented with roughly 50% of total teaching in English, with some subjects taught in English and others in German, varying by school year.

Immersion Programs
The immersion method immerses students in English as a normal part of school life—in class, in the hallways, in clubs, and during lunch—so language is used as a natural means of communication. The approach is described as an effective method for developing comprehensive language skills. English-language learning is integrated throughout the ALEA SCHOOL experience.
Admissions

Admissions
Step 0 (September / October): Information Day. An information day is held at the start of the application period. Interested families of current fourth graders can meet the ALEA SCHOOL team and community and learn more about the school concept beyond what is published. September / October also marks announcement and registration via the website.
Step 1 (Summer holidays to end of November): Written application. The first step is to submit a written application digitally via the Student Application. All required information must be provided in full, and the application must include the last two school reports and a birth certificate.
Step 2 (December): Orientation day. After an initial evaluation of the application documents, qualified applicants are invited to an introductory day to observe and get to know the child in a natural learning environment; this day helps both sides assess fit.
Step 3 (January / February): Admission interviews. Selected applicants and their parents participate in admission interviews, usually conducted by the school management or a member of the admissions team, to clarify questions and align mutual expectations.
Step 4 (February): Mid-year report. In the final step, the current mid-year report card (for 4th grade) must be submitted as proof of performance.
Step 5 (March): Final decision. After reviewing all documents and impressions, a final decision is communicated by email; families are informed if their child is not accepted; a waiting list is maintained.
Admission criteria: The school uses a holistic approach that considers academic achievements, voluntary work, artistic/musical/academic leisure activities, family background, and the persuasiveness of the application; comments on behavior and work attitude are given particular weight.
Waiting list: If there are more applications than places, the school may place applicants on a waiting list; a waiting list is maintained to determine enrollment at a later date.
FAQ (Application period): The application deadline for the 2026/2027 school year is February 28, 2026; if there are more applications than places, a waiting list may be used to enroll at a later date.

Scholarships
Good to know: Both full and partial scholarships are available; depending on the type, either the entire tuition or part of it is covered, and both models cover school fees up to the 10th grade. You can apply for a scholarship at the same time as your regular application or at a later date. Anyone can apply for a scholarship; the award committee considers several criteria, with primary emphasis on the family's financial eligibility (based on the average net household income in the Main-Kinzig district). Additional factors include voluntary work, special achievements, and a particularly convincing application; behavior and work attitude, social commitment, and creative hobbies are also considered. Scholarship models confirmed so far include: 1) The Norbert Strauss partial scholarship (5x per year) covering €400 of school fees; 2) The Bad Orb full scholarship (2x per year) covering the entire school fees. More scholarship programs are in development, and there will be both full and partial scholarships, up to the 10th grade as indicated. Application involves providing basic information, a motivation letter, and a teacher recommendation; after submission, the awarding committee reviews the submission and contacts applicants with next steps. The application form collects First name and surname, Email, Motivational video (mp4, max 40MB), and a declaration that the net household income is below the district average, with consent to forward the video to potential scholarship providers. For questions, contact the ALEA SCHOOL team.

Waitlist
Overview: When applications exceed available places for a year group, ALEA SCHOOL may place some applicants on a waiting list. The waiting list is maintained to determine enrollment at a later date, and families are informed by email about the status of their application. This process ensures that enrollment can occur as spaces become available.
School Events
The school has not added events
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