The High School “Sfântu Nicolae” from Gheorgheni, Harghita county, carries out its activities in the building situated on No.3-5, Lacu-Roșu Avenue and since 1919, it bears the name of the patron saint of Gheorgheni, Saint Nicolas. The name was granted by Order No. 19772, on the 6th of November 1919, issued by the Ruling Council of Alba-Iulia.
During the academic year of 1920, the Romanians from Upper Mureş Valley, requested, through a memorandum addressed to the Resort of the Culture and Instruction, that in Gheorgheni, in addition to the Hungarian department of the high school, a Romanian department to be added. The memorandum was supported by the archpriest Ilie Câmpeanu, originally from this city and it was well received. Therefore, for the academic year of 1920-1921, the first high school class taught in Romanian language, in Ciuc county, was born, consisting of 19 students. From that moment, Liceul Român de Stat “Sfântu Nicolae” (Romanian State High School “Sfântu Nicolae”) ran until 1940 and the headmasters were Professor Dr. Szocs Geza (1919-1925), Mr. Alexe Mănciulescu (1925-1928) and Mr.Teodor Chindea (1928-1940).
The World War II-nd period had a massive impact on the evolution of the events. One by one, several institutions operated here, starting with Gimnaziul Regal Maghiar de Stat (The Royal Hungarian State Secondary School, Hungarian language), Liceul Coeducativ de Stat (The Public Co-educative High School, Hungarian Language), Liceul Sfântu Nicolae (Saint Nicolas High School, Romanian Language), in parallel with Liceul Teoretic de Stat (The Theoretical State High School, Hungarian Language), so that from 1948 the high school became Liceul Mixt Roman (The Mixed Romanian High School). In 1956, Liceul Mixt Român merged with Liceul Teoretic de Stat (Hungarian language) and functioned like that until 1990. From 1990, two high schools emerged which functioned as two separate entities, under the names of Liceul Teoretic Român and Liceul Teoretic “Salamon Erno”. (G.D. No. 521/1990 from the 12th of May 1990). In 1995, the high school regained its traditional and extremely beloved name, Liceul Teoretic “Sfântu Nicolae”. (“Saint Nicolas” High School)
In this period, in which the high school has regained its prestige, the headmistresses were Mrs.Deszo Emilia (1990-1996), Mrs.Baricz Ana (1996-2019) and Mrs.Nan Cosmina Maria (2019-to present). By their effort, by the teachers’ hard work and dedication and with the support of the local community, Liceul Teoretic “Sfântu Nicolae” has become one of the most appreciated academic institutions of Harghita county, today, the high school being a modern institution, well equipped with teaching material and very well-trained teaching staff. The high school provides education for students coming from Gheorgheni area, Lacu Rosu (Red Lake) and Bicaz, offering education in the Philology and Natural sciences fields. The teachers carry out their activities in 17 classrooms, most of which containing modular furniture, 4 laboratories, 3 thematic classrooms. The school also possesses a 12.800 volumes library and a sport facility for the primary school.
Today, the name of the High School is made visible at European level by the teachers and students that have been participating to various European Projects in which the High School is involved. Therefore, from 2009 to 2012, the school participated in the Comenius “Start -Solutions Through Tales and Art” project, having as partners schools from Lithuania, England, Czech Republic, Hungary, Turkey and Italy. This project was followed by Erasmus+ projects namely “ Technology for education” (2016-2018, with schools from Turkey, Sweden, Portugal, Italy), “Birds without borders” (2018-2021 with schools from Slovenia, Turkey, Portugal and Lithuania), Incubator for Future European Entrepreneurs” (2018-2021, with schools from Poland, Greece, Portugal and Lithuania) and “Science is All Around Us” (2020-2022, with schools from Turkey, Portugal, Croatia and Poland).
The high level of training that the pupils of Saint Nicolas High School benefit from is mirrored by their excellent results obtained at competitions, school Olympiads and national evaluation exams. In the last 10 years, around 70 high school pupils have been the school's renown at the national or international school Olympiads, and achieved great results. We give just a few examples: 2010-2011, Mazilu Andrei and Amariei Diana (fourth place at the National Chemistry Olympiad, Mrs.Suciu Elena), 2011-2012, Dandu Simona ( fourth place at the International Romanian Culture and Spirituality Olympiad, Mrs.Nan Cosmina Maria ), 2013 -2014 Boissy Logan (first place at the National French Language Olympiad, Mrs.Hermeniuc Ionela). In fact, these students continued the generations of graduates who distinguished themselves by the prestige obtained in their careers after graduating from this high school, such as: Gârbea Cornel (actor), Buzoianu Eugen (school inspector), Mihu Cerchez (mathematician), Ion Micu (forester and hunter), Dușa Traian ( Manager of the House of Culture, Târgu-Mureș), Suciu Petru (engineer), Pintea Vasile (contemporary artist), Urzică Marius Daniel (performance athlete, participated in 3 editions of the Olympic Games, gold medalist at Sydney Olympics, 2000).Mrs. Ana Baricz - former headmistress of the high school - “The 23 years time while I was principal remained in my memory as a period of great transformations and great achievements. In all the work I passionately did in this high school, I was helped by the wonderful team of teachers, auxiliary and non-teaching staff. "Saint Nicholas" High Scholl will always remain a part of my heart or, a part of my heart will always beat for this high school. "Mrs. Ducu Carmen, former student of the school, currently a teacher and school inspector - “Gratitude is the word that best defines how I feel about the school that has been part of my life for more than 40 years. “Secondary School No. 6 ”,“ “Salamon Erno Theoretical High School ”,“ Romanian Theoretical High School ”or“ Sfântu Nicolae Theoretical High School ”, whatever its name was, this school was part of me throughout my life and witnessed my becoming as a person, as a teacher, as deputy headmistress and school inspector.Today, I am who I am, because people dedicated to the vocation of teacher believed in me, were my role models, were the ones who helped me to discover myself and find my way.”Mrs. Cosmina Maria Nan-headmistress- “The place where I became professional, the place where I met people, the place that sculpted my development through elite encounters. It's home. The place where I changed my perspective on relating to people. The place that must remain over time. In very few situations do I use this word, I must. Now, I am giving it an essential role of our existence in these places, which has become “Home” for many of us. I cover it with the hope of continuity, of agreement with the purpose of the earth and of the idea of nation”.Ms. Simona Dandu - 2012 graduate - “High school is about becoming. About teachers who teach you to fly alone, about someone who hugs you and becomes your role model. High school is a story about how we overcame our daily fear of failure and entered those gates and lived. I strongly believe that beyond the gates of high school I learnt the most important lessons. We can only thank those who endured our youth. "