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Find a school for my child
A brief guide to school education in Germany: Grundschule, transition to secondary school, Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule, Gesamtschule, Abitur, and support for new students.
- I recently arrived in Germany
- Address family and children’s needs
- Find a school for my child
Resources and next steps
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Articles that directly answer the selected question.
The School System in Germany: Stages, Types of Schools, and What Parents Need to Know A brief guide to school education in Germany: Grundschule, transition to secondary school, Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule, Gesamtschule, Abitur, and support for new students. Open article The School System in Germany: School Types, Grades, Grades, and Vacations How Germany’s school system works: compulsory education, Grundschule, Gymnasium, Gesamtschule, Hauptschule, Realschule, grades, school breaks, and the adjustment of migrant children. Open article Secondary School in Germany: Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium and Gesamtschule How secondary school works in Germany: the differences between Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium and Gesamtschule, the qualifications pupils receive, and how they relate to Ausbildung and university admission. Open article Children's Adaptation in Germany: Daycare, School, and the German Language A practical guide for parents about moving to Germany with children: how to find a Kita place, how the school system works, what language support classes may look like, and where families can look for help. Open article
What to do step by step
Individual actions and stages to complete.
Prepare your documents
Mandatory conditions, documents, and evidence.
Schulpflicht in Germany: Compulsory Education, Absences, and Fines How compulsory schooling works in Germany: when Schulpflicht begins, how long it lasts in each state, who is responsible for attendance, and the consequences of truancy. Open article Vaccination in Germany: STIKO Schedule, Measles, Impfpass, and Vaccines for Children and Adults How vaccination works in Germany in 2026: STIKO recommendations, mandatory measles protection, vaccines for children and adults, the Impfpass, FSME, and payment through Krankenkasse. Open article
What else may help
Articles that provide additional context.
School Education in Germany: How the System Works, Grades, and Types of Schools An overview of the German school system: Grundschule, Sekundarstufe I and II, Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, Gesamtschule, school certificates, Ausbildung, and compulsory education. Open article The Education System in Germany: Levels, Schools, Vocational Training (Ausbildung), and Universities How the education system works in Germany: Kita, Grundschule, secondary school, Ausbildung, Abitur, Hochschule, Universität, Fachhochschule, and Weiterbildung. Open article German School: Nachhilfe, Grades, and Child Development How parents can make sense of the German school system: what a recommendation for Nachhilfe means, how grades are formed, why oral participation matters, and where to look for creative activities for a child. Open article Sex Education in German Schools: What Children Learn and What Parents Need to Know A neutral overview of sex education in German schools: the legal framework, lesson topics, age, parental involvement, differences across federal states, and issues facing migrant families. Open article
