Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð
| Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
Hamrahlíð 10 , , 105 Iceland | |
| Information | |
| School type | Gymnasium, Public |
| Established | 1966 |
| Rector | Steinn Jóhannsson |
| Staff | 130 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Age range | 15-25 |
| Number of students | 1,200 |
| Education system | Credit-based |
| Language | Icelandic, English |
| Campus size | ca. 30,000 square metres (320,000 sq ft) |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Mascot | Miðgarðsormurinn |
| Nickname | MH |
| National ranking | 2nd (2012) |
| Publication | Beneventum |
| Newspaper | Fréttapési |
| Affiliation | International Baccalaureate Organization |
| Website | http://www.mh.is/ |
Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð (English: Hamrahlíð College, and usually referred to as MH) is a public gymnasium located in Hlíðahverfi, Reykjavík, Iceland. The school was founded in 1966 by the Icelandic Ministry of Education; with the first graduation occurring in 1970. The school's first rector was Guðmundur Arnlaugsson.
The school's objective is to prepare students for rigorous tertiary studies both locally and in an international environment. It offers four Icelandic-taught programmes leading to the Stúdentspróf qualification: languages, natural sciences, social sciences and performance dance; and one English-taught programme leading to the IB Diploma. The newest addition is an "independent programme" which allows slightly more room for mixing the other ones together. The school also offers evening classes for older students and coordinates annual language tests for foreign students who wish to apply to local schools.
Since foundation, the school was meant to be a pioneer project, and has therefore received relative freedom in advancing its education policy. It was the first in the country to adopt a university-style credit system, which was soon replicated by several other schools and eventually became the basis for all government-regulated upper secondary curricula.
MH is one of the most selective upper secondary schools in the country. It prides itself for its services to students with disabilities and students whose mother tongue is not Icelandic, who also enjoy priority in the selection process.
Some famous Icelanders that once attended MH include Björk, Paul Oscar and Jón Gnarr, the former mayor of Reykjavík.