SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta (also known as SMANDEL) is a selective, coeducational public high school in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is located on Jalan Taman Bukitduri, South Jakarta. The school is distinguished by Ministry of Education as Rintisan Sekolah Bertaraf Internasional (RSBI), or pioneering international school, and one of designated Excellent Schools in the province of Jakarta. The school is colloquially referred to as Delapan (Indonesian: Eight) by Jakartans.
SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta is known for its selective admission process, achievements in science competitions such as the National Science Olympiad, and an excellent performance of its students in the Indonesian university entrance examination known as SNMPTN. The school has been ranked as one of the best high schools in the country for multiple times. Many of its students study in University of Indonesia and Bandung Institute of Technology, considered Indonesia's most prestigious colleges along with Gadjah Mada University, as well as universities abroad, many of them pursue degrees in medicine and engineering.
History
SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta opened its doors on August 1, 1958. At that time, the school was located at Taman Slamet Rijadi. The present school building in Bukitduri was opened by Governor Ali Sadikin on March 30, 1971.
In 2004, the school became the resource center for the studies of physics and astronomy in Jakarta. Also in 2008, SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta started an international program in cooperation with Cambridge University.
Principals
Drs. W.Y. Topanu
Drs. Sukarno
Drs. Suyono
Dra. Hilma Dahnir
Drs. Rosman Harahap
Drs. Subroto
Drs. H. Kurdi S. Drs. H. Nurdin Amir Dra. Hj. Pangestuti Dra. Hj. Elida Agoes Dra. Hj. Elida Agoes Drs. H. Sugiarto, Drs. H. Triyana, Drs.H.Suhaman, Drs.H.Nanang Gunadi, Hj. Wieke Salehani, Hj. Nahdiana, Drs. Tulus Winardi, Drs. Agusman Anwar Drs. Mukhlis
Academics
The school curriculum adheres to the standard Indonesian high school curriculum. The duration of study is three years. In the first year, students take up to 17 classes each semester, i.e. three science classes, four social studies classes, four language classes, integrated math class, religion, civics, physical education, music, and IT. In the second year, students are streamed into science and social studies programs, this reduces the number of classes to about 14 per semester.
More than 80% of the students studying at SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta are streamed into the science program. Tutorials are mandatory for all students in grade 11 and 12. Teachers from a partner tutor school come to class twice a week to help students learn. Students take three foreign language classes, including English, German, and one elective foreign language class (Japanese, Mandarin, or French). At the end of senior year, students take the National Examination in order to receive a diploma.
The school offered Program Kelas Internasional (International Class Program) which is based on the British curriculum, and an academic accelerated program for gifted students. However these programs were abolished in 2016 when a new government curriculum was applied.
Admission
Admission for RSBI class usually opens in April and can last until June (abolished in 2016). The applicants take multiple examinations to test their academic aptitudes, foreign language fluency, and computer literacy. In addition, every applicant undergoes an interview and a psychological testing. The admission officers take applicant's score in National Examination, a standardized test for all students who wish to graduate middle school, into account.
The International Class Program (abolished in 2016) opens its admission earlier, usually in March. All the applicants wishing to be enrolled in international class undergo a similar process as applicants for RSBI class.
Two months after commencing their studies in high school, students of 10th grade who are attending RSBI class are eligible to apply for acceleration program (abolished in 2016). They then go through another selection process which involves their parents. Accepted students go to school six days a week (including lab on Saturday) and finish their high school in two years.