On September 22, 1878, with the aim to gather resources for the creation of a school, the German honorary consul Bernhard Staudigel founded along with a group of compatriots the “Joint stock corporation German School”. In the following year, on January 7, the so-called Deutsche Schule would open its doors to 52 students at a rented building located on Rua Florêncio de Abreu, São Paulo downtown.

Image: First Administration Board of the German School.

A few years later, the joint stock corporation was dissolved, giving way to the German School Association. In addition to the school fees, the new sponsoring entity also began to rely on regular dues from its associates and spontaneous donations, allowing for the purchase of the building on Rua Florêncio de Abreu in 1889, among other things.

Image: First facilities of the German School on Rua Florêncio de Abreu.

According to historical documents, the School’s goal was to grant children of German immigrants an education that enabled them to express in the language of their parents and preserved the history and geography of the Brazilian nation.

Image: 1st-grade class, German School, 1893.

The gradual expansion of the School required moving to new facilities. In 1910, the New School Construction Fund (Schulhausbaustiftung) made it possible to buy a parcel within a few months and construct the new building there. This way, the former Rua Olinda, currently Praça Roosevelt, became the new official school headquarters on June 15, 1913.

Image: German School on Rua Olinda, 1913.

A major milestone in the history of Deutsche Schule, which adopted the same curriculum as German schools of the same kind, was conducting the first Abitur in 1929. Having received this certificate, the students leaving the School were now qualified to enroll at all German universities, as well as most universities in Europe and North America.

Image: German School classroom.

In order to have its curriculum acknowledged by Brazilian authorities as well, the School Board created the Brazilian-German Gymnasium as an add-on to the German School main building in 1935, offering an educational program in compliance with Brazilian law.

Image: Fitness Room.

The nationalization policies taken place during Getúlio Vargas’s rule and the difficulties resulting from World War II demanded deep changes from the Institution. Among other measures, the School and its sponsoring entity adopted the name Visconde de Porto Seguro in 1942, as a tribute to the Brazilian historian and diplomat of German descent Francisco Adolfo de Varnhagen.

Image: Biology Lab.

After the previous construction turbulences were over, the School went through a new period of expansion and development starting in the 1950s. In 1955, the sponsoring entity assumed the new legal form “Foundation”.

Image: Schoolyard, Praça Roosevelt.

Aware of its social duties, the School Board created two free courses in 1966: one afternoon 1st grade group, and one evening adult literacy group.

Image: First class at the Free School, 1966.

At the beginning of the 1980s, agreements between Visconde de Porto Seguro Foundation and German companies based in the region of Campinas such as Mercedes-Benz, Krupp, Bosch and Transformadores União ensured the construction of a School campus in São Paulo inland. With the aim to offer top-quality education to the children of expatriate employees of these companies, Valinhos Campus started its activities in February 1983.

Image: Start of activities on Valinhos Campus, 1983.

In order to meet the increasing demand for admissions on Morumbi Campus, Visconde de Porto Seguro Foundation decided to open a second school site in the city. Only 4 km away from the Morumbi headquarters, the new Panamby Campus opened its doors to students in 1997.

Image: Start of activities on Panamby Campus, 1997.

A new concept in preschool education, featuring different areas and a pedagogical plan tailor-made for children from ages one to four, came about in 2002 with the inauguration of Portinho Panamby. Four years later, the Portinho was opened on Morumbi Campus, whereas kindergarten in Valinhos came into existence in 2010.

Image: Portinho Panamby.

To increase its capacity for receiving children and teenagers from lower-income backgrounds, the newly built Vila Andrade Campus started its activities in March 2011 with circa 600 new morning and afternoon openings.

Image: Start of classes on Vila Andrade Campus.

By purchasing a neighboring building, Vila Andrade Campus was expanded and fully renovated. As of March 2021, it received about 1,200 students in its modern, wide learning areas.

Image: Bird’s eye view of the newly constructed Vila Andrade Campus.

We are an International School: Since 2022, Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro has been acknowledged as an International School with two curriculum options as per international agreement with the German Federal Government: International and Bilingual.

Image: Library on Morumbi Campus.