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Gymnasium Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj

Serbia, Novi Sad

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Serbian, English, French
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 1320
Type Co-educational
Opened 1816
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Serbian, English, French, German, Russian
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Middle School, Secondary School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Gimnazija Jovan Jovanović Zmaj in Novi Sad is a public upper-secondary school that offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme alongside a Bespoke Curriculum. The IB is taught to students in the final two years, with classes conducted in English to foster critical thinking and university preparation. Students choose subjects from six groups, with Serbian language and literature, English language and literature, and Mathematics as mandatory. Group 3 and Group 4 options include Psychology, Economics, Digital Society, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science. The core requirements—Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, Service—are mandatory for all Diploma candidates. The school also provides university guidance to help graduates study abroad or in Serbia. Facilities include three modern computer science rooms, laboratories for maths, physics, chemistry, and biology, a 30,000-volume library, a ceremonial hall, and a gym. The school's long history underpins a tradition of academic and cultural engagement and global outlook.

Gimnazija „Jovan Jovanović Zmaj“, Zlatne grede 4, 21101 Novi Sad, Serbia

The Essentials

Gymnasium Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj has 1,320 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in Serbian, English, French.

Location
The school is located in Novi Sad, Serbia, at Zlatne grede 4, in the city center. It is accessible within the city's transport network and central to the area.

Stages
Upper secondary school (gymnasium). The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) government-funded since 2018. Most subjects are taught in English, with Serbian A Literature taught in Serbian.

Type
Public gymnasium (upper secondary school).

Country affiliation
Serbia

School day structure
The school day is organized in two blocks of 45-minute periods. There are seven periods in the morning from 7:30 to 13:25, followed by seven periods in the afternoon from 13:35 to 19:30.
Fees
Application fees
- No application fee is charged for admission to the school's state-funded programmes, including entry to general gymnasium classes and to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP).

Tuition fees (by year group and term)
- There are no tuition fees charged to students enrolled in the school's state-funded programmes. This applies to all year groups; there are no per-term or per-year tuition charges for state-enrolled students.
- The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is offered as a government‑funded programme within the school; the school does not levy a separate IB tuition charge for enrolled IB students.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Because the regular school programme is state-funded, there is no recurring tuition billing schedule for standard enrolment (no termly or annual tuition invoices for state-funded students).
- When optional paid items are offered (for example: preparatory courses, organized excursions, extra-curricular paid services, or special materials), those items are billed per activity or per event. Advance payments, deposits and final settlements for paid activities are handled according to the contractual/payment terms for each activity (advance-payment and final-settlement clauses are used for contracted activities).

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- The school does not operate an on-site boarding house. Student accommodation, when required, is provided through regional student dormitories (дом ученика); any accommodation fees are set and charged by those dormitory institutions, not by the school.

Other costs and fees (uniforms, textbooks, materials, trips, optional courses)
- Textbooks and standard school learning materials are the responsibility of the family; the school publishes required textbook lists and reading lists for relevant year groups. Costs for textbooks and stationery should be budgeted by parents.
- Optional preparatory classes and extracurricular activities are scheduled by the school and may require a separate fee when offered; those fees are charged per course or per session where applicable.
- School excursions and similar optional trips are charged separately when organized; contractual terms for such excursions include provisions on advance payments and refunds where an advance is taken.
- There is no compulsory uniform fee assessed by the school as part of standard enrolment; personal clothing and everyday supplies are provided by families.

Refund information
- Because the core school programme is state-funded and carries no tuition, a tuition-refund policy for regular enrolment is not applicable. For paid optional activities (preparatory courses, excursions, contracted services), refund and advance‑payment procedures are governed by the specific contractual terms for each activity; contractual documentation for excursions and public procurement includes standard clauses addressing return of advance payments and final settlement.

Fee payment options
- Payments connected to school finances and contracted services are processed through standard banking/payment methods (payment orders / bank transfers, documented bank confirmations and accounting entries). Official payment and accounting procedures rely on bank payment instruments and treasury transfer mechanisms for institutional funds. Credit-card payment capability is not described as a standard method for school fees or contracted activity payments.

Summary (what parents should budget for)
- No application or tuition fees for state-funded enrolment or for the school's government‑funded IB DP; therefore no termly/yearly tuition invoices for enrolled students.
- Usual parental costs are textbooks, stationery, personal supplies, and any voluntary paid items such as preparatory courses, extracurricular programmes, and excursions (each charged separately when provided). Payment for charged activities is handled per event and normally via bank/transfer/payment order procedures; refunds for paid activities follow contractual provisions.
Academics

Gymnasium Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum.

Curriculum
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is offered for third- and fourth-grade high school students. Interactive classes are conducted in English, supporting critical thinking and broad preparation for university study. Students choose subjects from six groups, with Serbian language and literature, English language and literature, and Mathematics as mandatory, and options from Group 3 (Psychology, Economics, Digital Society) and Group 4 (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science). The core components are the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), which are mandatory for all IB students. The program is designed to prepare graduates for study abroad or in Serbia, with university guidance provided by the school.

Higher Education Progression
The program is recognized by leading universities worldwide, and graduates are holders of numerous scholarships and awards.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The IB Diploma Programme addresses the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students. The school fosters an inclusive environment that supports belonging, safety, self-worth, and holistic growth for all learners. The IB Learner Profile and the school's mission promote empathy, respect, and active global citizenship through collaborative learning and service. Language development and intercultural understanding are integral to well-being, with mother tongue learning supported in addition to English. A culture of collaboration, mutual respect, support, and problem solving underpins social-emotional growth within the IB framework. Mental health and well-being considerations are recognized as central to student development.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school has a Learning Support Board (LSB) that ensures learning support requirements (LSR) and special educational needs (SEN) are identified, assessed, and supported. The LSB includes a school psychologist or pedagogue, the IB coordinator, and at least one teacher. It identifies and assesses LSR and SEN early and coordinates differentiation and accommodations. It maintains records of learners' support and informs teachers about appropriate approaches to meeting needs, including assessment accommodations when required. Parents and students are encouraged to share documentation, and professionals may be involved as needed to support learning. The school emphasizes inclusive education, collaboration, and respect for diverse learning needs.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is the language of instruction at Gymnasium ‘Jovan Jovanović Zmaj'. Admissions requirements and assessments are conducted to ensure that the student can access the curriculum delivered in English. All students enrolling as candidates for the IB Diploma Programme are required to be able to speak English at least at B2 level, while Serbian is studied as a mother tongue. JJZMAJ promotes mother tongue learning in addition to English. Language development is viewed as a shared responsibility of teachers, parents, and students to support language acquisition and intercultural understanding.

Mental Wellbeing
The IB Diploma Programme addresses the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students. The Inclusion Policy emphasizes well-being by promoting safety, belonging, self-worth and holistic growth for every student. A Learning Support Board coordinates support for learning needs and monitors related well-being aspects as part of addressing LSR and SEN. Mental health issues are recognized as possible learning support needs to be addressed. The school fosters a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, support and problem solving to support students' well-being.

Safeguarding
The Inclusion Policy describes safeguarding by fostering an inclusive, safe learning environment and by ensuring adherence to laws regarding students with learning support requirements. The Learning Support Board provides information about inclusion and differentiation, supports teachers and students, and ensures quality decision-making about accommodations. Consent for inclusive assessment arrangements must be obtained from the candidate or their parent/legal guardian. The school may involve professionals to assess needs and provides guidance on appropriate support, all within a framework of collaboration and respect to maintain a safe educational environment.
Parent Experience

History
The Novi Sad Gymnasium Jovan Jovanović Zmaj is one of the oldest cultural-educational institutions in Serbia. In the early 19th century, prominent Novi Sad merchant Sava Vuković donated 20,000 forints to found a Serbian gymnasium in Novi Sad. The founding charter was confirmed in 1816, and the gymnasium was governed by the Patronate of the Serbian Orthodox Church and a Guardianship body responsible for financing the school. The 1816 flag bears Jesus Christ on one side and Saint Sava on the other, and the first building stood near the Cathedral; by 1819 the school had expanded to six classes. The curriculum in the 19th century followed the Ratio educationis, with German as the language of instruction (religion taught in Serbian); a school library opened in the 1820s, and by 1849 the library contained about 1,600 volumes. The school endured the 1849 bombing of Novi Sad and was rebuilt, reopening in 1852 as a four-year gymnasium; in 1860 it received Austrian support to become an eight-year school, and a new Renaissance-style building was completed in 1900. In the 20th century the institution underwent several name changes and reorganizations, and after World War II experienced nationalization; since 1990/1991 it has operated as Gimnazija Jovan Jovanović Zmaj with a continued tradition of secondary education.

Community
The school supports a vibrant community with extensive extracurricular offerings, including choir and orchestra segments, a drama group in French, a recitation section, an ecological club, a debate club, a school newspaper Skamia (founded 1972), a linguistic workshop, a psychology section, chemistry and biology sections, an art section, and an informatics section. For years, the school has conducted cultural exchanges with the Gymnasium in Slan (Czech Republic) and, starting this year, began cooperation with Moscow's Gymnasium Elada. The campus features three modern computer labs, specialized laboratories for mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology, a library with about 30,000 titles, a ceremonial hall, and a gymnasium facility for physical education and events.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school has a Parents' Council (Savet roditelja) that serves as a consultative body engaging with school leadership. A plan for second semester activities for 2025/26 outlines projects and emphasizes broad parental participation. The plan notes that the Parents' Council elected representatives to the School Board and calls for teacher representatives to be elected at the Teaching Council meeting, with the goal of replacing the temporary School Board with a regular board comprising three parents, three teachers, and three local-government representatives. The plan also outlines potential actions, including a one-day January 19, 2026 school boycott if demands are not met, and subsequent measures such as street protests or escalated steps to secure governance changes and transparency regarding renovation and return to the school building.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Gymnasium has three modern computer science rooms and specialized classrooms for mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology with accompanying laboratories. The school library contains 30,000 titles. There is a ceremonial hall. There is a gym.

Sports Facilities
A gym is available for physical education.

Academic Facilities
Three modern computer science rooms. Specialized classrooms for mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology with laboratories. A library with 30,000 titles. A ceremonial hall.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular activities include choir and orchestra, drama in French, and recitation. There is an environmental club, a debate club, and the editorial board of the school newspaper Skamija (founded in 1972). The school offers linguistic workshops, a psychological section, chemistry and biology sections, an art section, and an IT section.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school participates in regional and republic-level academic competitions. Examples include the regional Mali PJER competition and republic-level competitions in physics and informatics.

Arts & Creative
Talent Day highlights talented students with an exhibition of biographies and achievements. Nevena Malucakov loves modern ballet; she has trained since 2016 and is a member of the Adagio Dance Studio, training twice weekly while balancing school. Jovan Đokić plays basketball and violin; he started with piano before choosing violin, and balances sports and music with his school commitments. Minja Petrekanić has played volleyball for six years, trains four times weekly in practice and four times weekly in the gym, and has private guitar lessons.

Cultural & Language
European Day of Languages is celebrated with a panel of positive messages in Serbian, Hungarian, English, German, and Greek. The school's young librarians meet to speak, recite, read, and sing in multiple languages including Slovenian, Greek, Russian, Romani, Serbian, Hungarian, Italian, Tatar, German, and English. Posters with greetings in various languages are created in computer class to showcase linguistic diversity. The school hosts guests from Kosovo and Metohija to promote cross-cultural exchange and lasting friendships.

Community & Service
Week of Remembrance and Unity was observed to nurture respect, understanding, friendship, and mutual support. Students and teachers participated in activities that emphasize that school is a space for trust, empathy, and belonging. The school hosted children from Kosovo and Metohija for ten days, organizing visits and a joint outdoor gathering that fostered lasting friendships.

Leadership & Professional
The school has a Student Parliament, providing opportunities for student leadership and involvement in school life.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports and performing arts are integral to school life. Students participate in basketball and volleyball, and some students pursue ballet and violin, balancing training with academic commitments. Ballet students often train with external studios, while private music lessons accompany their musical activities.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction for the IB Diploma Programme; Serbian is the mother tongue and is taught as a core language. Serbian A: Literature is taught in Serbian, while English language and literature is taught in English. The program supports English language development to meet a minimum level of B2 for IB candidates.

Bilingual Teaching
English is the language of instruction in the IB Diploma Programme. Serbian is taught as the mother tongue, with Serbian A: Literature taught in Serbian; all other IB classes are taught in English. IB candidates must have English at least at a B2 level.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Applications for enrollment in the Gymnasium are submitted in person at the school on July 1, 2026 and July 2, 2026, from 8:00 to 15:00. During the summer break, documentation can be submitted to the on‑duty staff in Room 10 on the 3rd floor of the Secondary Mechanical School. A notice for enrollment into the 7th grade invites students who scored 40 or more points on the aptitude test to enroll in the 7th grade. The final ranking list for enrollment in the International Baccalaureate program is published; the IB top 20 results are listed.
School Events
The school has not added events
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