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Volksschule SmartCity - Leopoldinum

Austria, Graz

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The school at a glance
Instructs in German, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 6 - 11 years
Pupil numbers 350
Type Co-educational
Opened 2019
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP)
Taught languages German, English
Strengths STEM, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Primary School
Introduction

Volksschule SmartCity Leopoldinum opened in September 2019 in Graz on the Smart City campus near Helmut List Halle and Science Tower. It is an officially authorized IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme to all students, with multilingual instruction including English and German classes. The school uses a three-cluster design for grades 1 to 4, with four classes per cluster around a central Lernlandschaft, fostering mixed-age collaboration and flexible learning spaces. Staff are trained to implement the PYP, supporting inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning and globally minded learners. A certified STEM (MINT) program emphasizes mathematics, science, engineering and technology through hands-on activities. Music plays a central role through an international choir and an after-school conservatory; the Meistersinger Choir earned prizes in 2023 and 2024. English is a central focus with native teachers, and German offerings complement the program. The school emphasizes wellbeing and community partnerships with families and local institutions worldwide.

Waagner-Biro-Straße 99, 8020 Graz, Austria

The Essentials

Volksschule SmartCity - Leopoldinum has 350 pupils, instruction in German, English.

Location
Located in Graz, Austria. The school sits opposite the Helmut-List-Halle and the Science Tower, near BULME and FH Joanneum. Address: Waagner-Biro-Straße 99, 8020 Graz.

Stages
Primary (Volksschule).

Type
IB World School offering Primary Years Programme (PYP).

Additional learning support
Inclusion-based education; cluster classroom model to meet individual learning needs.

Country affiliation
Austria
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school offers on-site after-school care (Ganztagsbetreuung or GTS) connected to the school, run by a qualified pedagogical team and in cooperation with the class teachers. The daily schedule includes lunch from 12:00 to 14:00.

Food Options
Lunch is provided during the after-school care from 12:00 to 14:00.
Fees
Application fees

- There is no separate application or enrolment fee charged by Volksschule SmartCity – Leopoldinum for entry into the public Volksschule. Enrolment is done through the City of Graz pre‑registration/enrolment system for elementary schools.

Tuition fees (per school year / per grade)

- There is no tuition charged for attendance at this public Volksschule (no annual or per‑term school tuition for grades 1–4). Public compulsory schools in Austria are provided without a tuition charge; parents may incur separate costs only for optional services, meals or extracurricular providers.

After‑school care (Ganztagsbetreuung / GTS) — fees by registration (monthly amounts)

- After‑school care is a chargeable, optional service administered by the City of Graz (Städtische Tagesbetreuung). Charges are income‑scaled and shown as monthly amounts; the listed monthly amounts include a care component and a meal component. The municipal contribution tables set the monthly amounts according to the number of days per week registered. The published contribution tables for the school‑year framework (most recently available tables covering 2025/26 and the City of Graz 2026/27 enrolment process) are used to calculate the fee for each family.

- The monthly total amounts (STB_inkl. Essen) from the City of Graz contribution table for schools not individually listed (school‑year 2025/2026) are as follows. Amounts are shown by family net monthly income band (Stufe) and by how many days per week the pupil is registered for care:

- Registration 1–2 days per week — monthly total (STB_inkl. Essen) by income Stufe:
- Stufe 1 (family net income up to EUR 2,206.00): EUR 44.40.
- Stufe 2 (EUR 2,206.01–2,521.00): EUR 57.60.
- Stufe 3 (EUR 2,521.01–2,836.00): EUR 65.60.
- Stufe 4 (EUR 2,836.01–3,151.00): EUR 78.10.
- Stufe 5 (EUR 3,151.01–3,466.00): EUR 86.10.
- Stufe 6 (EUR 3,466.01–3,781.00): EUR 94.10.
- Stufe 7 (EUR 3,781.01–4,096.00): EUR 106.50.
- Stufe 8 (EUR 4,096.01–4,411.00): EUR 114.50.
- Stufe 9 (from EUR 4,411.01): EUR 114.50.

- Registration 3 days per week — monthly total (STB_inkl. Essen) by income Stufe:
- Stufe 1: EUR 61.60.
- Stufe 2: EUR 73.70.
- Stufe 3: EUR 85.70.
- Stufe 4: EUR 106.30.
- Stufe 5: EUR 118.30.
- Stufe 6: EUR 130.30.
- Stufe 7: EUR 150.90.
- Stufe 8: EUR 162.90.
- Stufe 9: EUR 162.90.

- Registration 4 days per week — monthly total (STB_inkl. Essen) by income Stufe:
- Stufe 1: EUR 79.30.
- Stufe 2: EUR 95.30.
- Stufe 3: EUR 111.20.
- Stufe 4: EUR 137.90.
- Stufe 5: EUR 153.90.
- Stufe 6: EUR 169.80.
- Stufe 7: EUR 197.00.
- Stufe 8: EUR 212.90.
- Stufe 9: EUR 212.90.

- Registration 5 days per week — monthly total (STB_inkl. Essen) by income Stufe:
- Stufe 1: EUR 95.90.
- Stufe 2: EUR 115.80.
- Stufe 3: EUR 135.80.
- Stufe 4: EUR 169.80.
- Stufe 5: EUR 189.70.
- Stufe 6: EUR 209.60.
- Stufe 7: EUR 243.80.
- Stufe 8: EUR 263.70.
- Stufe 9: EUR 263.70.

- The contribution table shows the care portion and the meal portion separately; the monthly totals above are the combined figures ("STB_inkl. Essen"). The municipal contribution table is used to calculate the exact monthly bill for each registered pupil.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- After‑school care charges and the material/supply charge (Sachaufwand) are invoiced in 10 monthly instalments across the school year (monthly advance invoices). The municipal administration issues the contribution assessment and collects payment.

- The City of Graz operates an official SEPA direct‑debit procedure for the Städtische Tagesbetreuung; a SEPA direct‑debit authorisation form is provided for payment collection. Changes or cancellations of registered care days during the school year are subject to municipal deadlines and rules (changes and cancellations are generally possible only up to 31 January to be effective from the second semester; special under‑year entry procedures apply). Multi‑child reductions and a single‑parent reduction are applied in the municipal tables.

Boarding / residential accommodation

- Boarding is not provided. The after‑school programme specifies a latest daily pick‑up time (17:00), confirming that this is an after‑school care arrangement rather than an overnight boarding facility.

Other costs and typical additional fees

- Meal and care charges for the GTS (after‑school) appear as separate components on the municipal contribution schedule; the combined monthly amounts printed above include both. Some voluntary extracurricular clubs and externally run after‑school lessons (for example music conservatory lessons) are offered and may carry separate fees from the external provider. Trips, project days and consumable materials (workshop materials, excursion costs, etc.) are typically charged separately when they occur. Parents' association contributions or voluntary fundraising activities may also result in additional occasional costs.

Refunds and adjustments

- Refunds and adjustments are governed by the municipal Städtische Tagesbetreuung rules. The City of Graz applies reductions where multiple children from the same family attend (multi‑child reduction) and provides a single‑parent reduction; changes to registered days and formal requests for contribution recalculation must follow the municipal deadlines and procedures. Changes and cancellations of care days during the school year are effective only according to the municipal timetable (changes/abmeldungen until 31 January for semester effect); under‑year admissions have defined procedures for a recalculation of the contribution.

Who issues and collects after‑school fees / payment options

- The after‑school care fees are administered and invoiced by the Städtische Tagesbetreuung Graz (municipal school‑care service). Payment collection is managed by the municipal process; a SEPA direct‑debit (Lastschrift) form is provided as the official collection method. The municipal information and the contribution table set the calculation, billing and payment process. For optional external activities (music lessons, external clubs) separate payment arrangements with the external provider apply.

Summary (short)

- No application fee; no tuition for attendance at the public Volksschule (grades 1–4). After‑school care (GTS) is chargeable and income‑scaled: monthly totals depend on number of registered days per week and on family net income; the municipality invoices these amounts in 10 monthly instalments and offers SEPA direct‑debit as a payment method. Multi‑child and single‑parent reductions apply.
Academics

Volksschule SmartCity - Leopoldinum teaches IB (PYP) for students aged 6 to 11.

Curriculum
The school is an officially authorized IB World School offering the Primary Years Program (PYP). All staff have been trained and certified to implement the PYP so every child receives IB education, regardless of English or German class. The curriculum emphasizes inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning and multilingualism, with a strong focus on English taught by native-certified teachers. The school is a certified STEM (MINT) school and emphasizes mathematics, science, engineering and technology through STEM activities. Music is integral with an international choir and after-school lessons, and soft and social skills, personal, social-emotional and physical education are part of the program. English language classes are offered in 1st–4th grade, with spaces available for the 2026–2027 school year.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school has Personal, social-emotional and physical education (PSPE) as a core focus. PSPE stands for Personal, social-emotional and physical education, and we strive to lay a solid foundation for educating well‑rounded, globally minded citizens.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school has an Inclusion/psychosocial support system featuring a psychosocial support team with school psychologists, social workers, and educational staff who provide counseling and support for students, families, and staff. The team is mobile and on-site with multilingual and intercultural competencies; counseling is voluntary, confidential and free; Beratungslehrer:innen promote emotional and social development and support students facing challenges, with diagnostics, collegial guidance, and coordination with internal and external support systems.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school has English-medium classes and a strong focus on learning and speaking English; English classes are available in 1st–4th grade, taught by native-English-certified teachers; spaces remain for English classes for the 2026–2027 school year.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through the psychosocial support team, which provides psychosocial counseling and support for students, families, and staff; the team includes psychologists, social workers and educators; services are available during standard hours with additional appointment options. Beratungslehrer:innen support emotional and social development, promote self-esteem and provide strategies for conflict resolution, with diagnostics and connection to internal/external helpers to maintain a positive school climate.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding is supported through the psychosocial support team and a network of internal and external helpers; the school coordinates with school psychology services and external partners to safeguard student wellbeing and address concerns including learning difficulties, conflicts and crises.
Parent Experience

History
Opened in September 2019 in Graz, Volksschule Smart City Leopoldinum began as a three-cluster primary school for grades 1–4. The cluster design uses four classes per cluster and a central Lernlandschaft for cross‑grade work, enabling mixed‑age collaboration and individualized learning. The school is an officially authorized IB World School offering the Primary Years Program (PYP) to all students, including those in German and English classes. It started with about 330 students and has grown to over 350 students, reflecting its expansion on the Smart City campus near Helmut-List-Halle and the Science Tower, with a focus on MINT education. The school emphasizes multilingual, international, and child‑centered education aimed at developing globally minded learners.

Community
The school's community includes a large student choir (Volksschul‑Smart‑City‑Chor) with over 60 singers from the 2nd to the 4th grade, and it has been recognized as a Meistersinger Schule, with Meistersingerpreis awards in 2023 and 2024. The music program features an international music curriculum, a choir, and a post‑school music conservatory as part of its offerings. The campus emphasizes MINT education and language development, including English language learning, and hosts regular events such as concerts and performances, including the Winter Choir Concert.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The VS Smart City Parents' Association operates as a partner to the school, collaborating closely to shape school activities. It supports the school financially and physically and provides a bridge between parents and the school. The association includes elected parent representatives from each class who play an active role in governance and event organization. Information and important dates for the Parents' Association are published on its dedicated site.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Three clusters (grades 1–4) share a large central open space called Lernlandschaft, used for experiments and small- to large-group work. Each cluster consists of four classes and is arranged around the Lernlandschaft to support flexible teaching formats. A staff team room, storage space for learning materials, and toilets for pupils are provided.

Academic Facilities
Academic spaces are organized around the cluster concept and Lernlandschaft. The central Lernlandschaft is used for experiments and collaborative work, with surrounding classrooms to support hands-on learning. A staff team room and storage for learning materials accompany the spaces.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Chorus and an international music curriculum are offered. The Meistersinger choir consists of over 60 singers from the 2nd to the 4th grade, and there is an after-school music conservatory.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Program (PYP). It is multilingual, international, and child centered, placing the whole child at the center of its work and preparing students as global citizens. It is a certified STEM school (MINT) that uses inquiry based learning and focuses on problem solving in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. English is a central focus with a strong emphasis on learning and speaking English, supported by native English teachers.

Arts & Creative
The school offers an international music curriculum, a choir and after school lessons from the music conservatory. The Primary School Choir consists of over 60 singers from grades 2 to 4 and the school has earned the Meistersinger Prize in 2023 and 2024. Music is a key focus within the arts program and includes opportunities for performances and additional music related activities. After school music lessons are provided through partner institutions.

Cultural & Language
The school is multilingual and international and places emphasis on languages as part of its education. English is a central focus with native English speaking teachers and English language classes across the primary grades. The school is an officially authorized IB World School offering the Primary Years Program, which supports international mindedness. German language offerings are available as part of the school program, with German classes described among the enrollment options.

Social & Hobbies
The school provides music and choir activities as part of its cultural life and offers an after school program. An after school program (Ganztagsbetreuung or GTS) is available. The VS Smart City Parents' Association supports the school and helps connect families, while also coordinating information and dates for members. The school hosts events such as choir concerts and other school activities that involve student participation.

Community & Service
The VS Smart City Parents' Association is an association of parents whose children attend Smart City Primary School. It works closely with the school and provides financial and physical support and acts as a bridge between parents and the school. The elected parent representatives of each class play a special role. The school collaborates with a broad network of partners such as AVL, WKO, CINT, Graz City and local education authorities to support its programs and community engagement.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Personal, social-emotional development and physical education are part of the focus areas. The school places the whole child at the center of its work and aims to develop responsible, globally minded citizens. Wellbeing and holistic development are integrated with academic programs through targeted social and emotional learning and physical education.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught: German and English. English classes are available in 1st–4th grade; spaces exist for the 2026–2027 school year. English is taught by native-English certified teachers with a strong focus on learning and speaking English. For more information or to join the waiting list for English classes, email vs.leopoldinum@vs-leopoldinum.edu.graz.at. German classes are also offered.

Bilingual Teaching
German-language classes and English-language classes are offered. All students receive IB Primary Years Program education in either language track.
Admissions

Admissions
All classes for the 2026–2027 school year are completely full. There are still spaces available in the English-language classes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade.

Waitlist
A waiting list exists for German-language classes; to join, email vs.leopoldinum@vs-leopoldinum.edu.graz.at.
School Events
The school has not added events
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