Schools in Germany

School in Germany is free in public schools and mandatory from about age 6 until 16 or older, depending on the track. Rules differ by federal state (Bundesland). After primary school (Grundschule), many states split pupils into different secondary tracks around age 10. That early split is controversial but deeply embedded.

Public schools charge no tuition. Books and materials are often free or low cost. School attendance (Schulpflicht) applies to all children living in Germany, including families without permanent residence. Missing school without a valid reason is illegal.

For childcare before school age, see Childcare and Daycare in Germany. For monthly family payments, see Child Benefit in Germany.

School structure by age

Kindergarten (Kita / Kindergarten) is optional for roughly ages 3 to 6. It prepares children for school but is not the same as Schulpflicht.

Primary school (Grundschule) covers about ages 6 to 10, grades 1 to 4 in most states.

Secondary school starts around age 10 and runs until about 16, 18, or 19, depending on the track and state.

Secondary school types (national overview)

Details vary by Bundesland. The classic three-track model looks like this:

• Gymnasium: usually 8 to 9 years after primary school, ending around 18 or 19 with the Abitur (university entrance qualification).
• Realschule: often 6 years, ending around 16 with the Realschulabschluss. Leads to vocational training or further schooling toward Abitur.
• Hauptschule: often 5 years, ending around 15 or 16 with the Hauptschulabschluss. Leads to apprenticeships and basic vocational training.
• Gesamtschule: combines tracks under one roof so the track decision can happen later. Not available in every state.

Moving between tracks is possible. Continuing upward (for example from Realschule toward Abitur) is harder than moving down, but pathways exist in every state.

Enrolling your child

All children living in Germany must be enrolled, regardless of visa status.

Primary school: the child must usually be 6 by the state cutoff (often August or September). You often receive a letter from the city about one year before school starts. Pupils are usually assigned to a catchment school by home address.

Secondary school: parents often choose a school, but popular schools may be full and can refuse new pupils.

Steps to enroll:

1. Wait for the official letter or check your city website for primary enrollment dates.
2. Register at the assigned or chosen school with passport, registration proof (Anmeldung), and vaccination or health records as required.
3. For secondary school, apply by local deadlines and bring Grundschule reports if applicable.
4. Ask about language support if your child is new to German.
5. Register Hort or afternoon care separately if you need it (rules and fees vary by city).

For address registration, see Anmeldung.

New arrivals and German language support

Children who are new to Germany and still learning German are often placed in welcome or preparatory classes, depending on the state, for example:

• Willkommensklasse
• Vorbereitungsklasse
• DaZ classes (Deutsch als Zweitsprache, German as a second language)

These usually last about 1 to 2 years before transition to a regular class. Placement is often by age, not by previous grade level abroad. That can frustrate advanced students who already studied the material in another language.

Support may include extra German lessons, bilingual programs at some schools, and integration helpers in some regions.

Choosing a secondary track

In most states the key decision comes at the end of grade 4 in Grundschule.

How it is decided varies:

• some states rely heavily on teacher recommendations
• in most states, parents have the final say

Grades, behaviour, and teacher advice matter even when parents decide. You can often change tracks later, but moving up is usually harder than moving down.

School day, homework, and after-school care

A typical day runs about 08:00 to 13:00 for younger pupils and longer for older ones, with two breaks for snacks and lunch.

Some schools offer full-day school (Ganztagsschule) with afternoon activities. Many primary pupils use Hort (after-school care) when parents work. Hort is separate from lessons and usually requires registration and a fee (details vary by city).

Homework is expected daily; workload grows with age.

Private and international schools

About 10% of pupils attend private schools. These include international schools (English or bilingual), religious schools, and alternative models such as Waldorf or Montessori.

Fees range from a few hundred euros per month to well over a thousand, depending on the school.

Private schools suit some short-term stays, specific pedagogies, or families who need an international curriculum (for example IB). Public school remains the default for most residents.

Useful links

• Make it in Germany: school system (English)

Local guides

• Schools in Dresden and Saxony (Dresden)