Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires (National School of Buenos Aires) is a public high school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, affiliated to the University of Buenos Aires. In the tradition of the European gymnasium it provides a free education that includes classical languages such as Latin and Greek. The school is one of the most prestigious in Latin America. Its alumni include many personalities, including two Nobel laureates and four Presidents of Argentina. History Its origins date to 1661, when it was known as Colegio Grande de San Carlos, when the colonial government entrusted the Jesuit Order with the education of the youth. After the Papal suppression of the Jesuits from Spanish Empire-controlled South America in 1767, the institution languished until 1772, when governor Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo reopened the school as the Real Colegio de San Carlos. Vértiz, already appointed Viceroy of the Río de la Plata, renamed the school Real Convictorio Carolino in 1783, a name that endured until 1806. Thereafter, the school changed its name and program several times. President Bartolomé Mitre redesignated the institution as the Colegio Nacional in 1863, and since 1911 the school has been administered by the University of Buenos Aires. Originally only for men, the school has admitted female students since 1957. Nowadays, students from the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires rank among the best in most science Olympiads, such as the IPhO, IChO and IBO. Alumni Alumni include many of Argentina's founding fathers, Presidents, members of political parties of all ideologies, internationally recognized scientists, artists, and two Nobel laureates. A partial list includes: Nobel laureates Politicians and jurists Heads of State Other Alberto Manguel – writer, bibliophile, essayist, journalist Herman Aguinis – business school professor, researcher, author Luis Agote – devised the first effective method of blood transfusion Roberto Aizenberg – Surrealist painter Miguel Cané – writer, diplomat and lawmaker Gregorio de Laferrère – playwright and lawmaker Martiniano Molina – chef and elected mayor of Quilmes Partido Mario Firmenich – Montoneros guerrilla leader Alejandro Korn – philosopher and lawmaker Ernesto Jaimovich – politician Manuel Mendanha – plastic artist Film directors: Manuel Antín (founder of the Universidad del Cine), Fabián Bielinsky, Ana Katz, Nicolas Entel (winner Festival de Cine de La Habana) Salvador Mazza – epidemiologist who helped control Chagas disease locally Father Carlos Mugica – activist priest, assassinated in 1974 José Pablo Ventura – student activist, assassinated in 1977 José