Austria to introduce special AHS school form for gifted students

Austria is planning to introduce a new special form of General Higher School (AHS) specifically for gifted students, starting in autumn 2027. Proposed by Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr, the initiative aims to transition previous school experiments into the regular school system.

Under the draft law, students with high potential could complete their lower secondary education within three years. The program is designed to offer adapted pedagogical support leading up to the Matura. To ensure flexibility, these special classes will be hosted at existing school locations, allowing students to return to regular classes if they find the increased requirements unsuitable.

Admission to the program will require a selection process including standardized intelligence tests, personal interviews, and group exercises to assess motivation and work habits. By 2030, four such specialized AHS locations are projected to be established.