Business and Services Directory. German public education makes it possible for qualified kids to study up to university level, regardless of their families' financial status. The German education system is different in many ways from the ones in other countries, but it produces high-performing students.
The overwhelming majority of German students attend public schools. The whole German education system, including the universities, is available to the children of bona fide expatriates.
The catch, of course, is that the classes are conducted in German, which is usually all right for school beginners but becomes more and more of a problem as the children get older. But, there are also many private schools. Although education is a function of the federal states, and there are differences from state to state, some generalizations are possible. Children aged three to six, may attend kindergarten. After that, school is compulsory for nine or ten years.
From grades 1 through 4 children attend elementary school Grundschule , where the subjects taught are the same for all. Then, after the 4th grade, they are separated according to their academic ability and the wishes of their families, and attend one of three different kinds of schools: Hauptschule , Realschule or Gymnasium. Grundschule teachers recommend their students to a particular school based on such things as academic achievement, self-confidence and ability to work independently.
However, in most states, parents have the final say as to which school their child attends following the fourth grade. Advertisement Get advice from local expats in Germany and find out what they have to say about schools in your city.
