The School's History

The school was founded by philosphy candidate Johan Mantzius in 1868. Until 1920, it was a private school that operated under the name Birkerød Boarding School. It started with only 20 pupils, including 3 boarding students, but it grew relatively quickly to around 70 boarding pupils and 50-100 students from Birkerød and the surrounding area.

In the beginning, the school was a Grundtvig-style children's school for boys. Through the years, more and more parents wanted their children to take exams at the school. In 1884, Mantzius was granted the right to take the preliminary exam, and in 1886 also the matriculation exam. At that time, quite a few boys were boarding, from age 7-8 until matriculation. On January 1, 1905, the school was opened for girls as well, and in 1973, the boarding school was also opened for girls. 

In 1920, the school was taken over by the state and was named Birkerød State School. H.C. Engelsen became the principal, and the numbder of students increased to around 350, with still approximately 70 boarders.

Until 1967, the school was housed in various buildings near Birkerød Church. In 1967, the school finally moved to its current location in the middle of beautiful nature, and the municipality took over the former buildings. In 1968, the school added the HF program, and from 1970, the school only admitted upper secondary students. In 1991, the school started offering the "International Baccalaureate", which plays a major role today, especially in the boarding school. During that period, the number of students hovered between 600 and 700 students, 60 and 75 teachers, and between 60 and 78 boarders.

On January 1, 1986, the school's name was changed to Birkerød Gymnasium & HF, and the state handed it over to Frederiksborg country. In 2007, Birkerød Gymnasium & HF became Birkerød Gymnasium, HF, IB and Boarding School. At the same time, the school became an independent institution. In 2010, BIrkerød Gymnasium took over the buildings as the last part of the transition to  ownership.

In recent years, the school has undergone multiple renovations and structural renewal:

In 2009, the classrooms were modernised and the auditoriums in the E-wing were established.
In 2010, the administration corridor was modernised. 
In 2012, the school was expanded with four new classrooms (the K-wing).
In 2013, the B-wing was renovated and a new science room was inaugerated.
In 2014, the new entrance and plans for a new assembly hall were announced.
In 2016, the new F-wing extension was finished.