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Family · School

The German school system

School is compulsory, free at state schools, and organised by the federal states — which means the system genuinely differs depending on where you live.

Reviewed · Last updated August 2026

7 min read

Einfach Germany editorial team

Quick answer

Schooling is compulsory from around six and free at state schools. Primary school (Grundschule) lasts four years in most states, after which children continue on different secondary tracks — Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule or comprehensive forms. Education is a state matter, so structures, transition rules and even holiday dates differ.

Important

Education is governed by each federal state, so tracks, transfer rules and school-entry ages differ. Check your state’s education ministry and the individual school.

1. Compulsory, free, and state-run

Children must attend school from around the age of six, and state schools are free. Home schooling is not generally permitted, which surprises families from countries where it is.

Because education is a state competence, almost every structural detail below varies. Treat this as the shape of the system rather than the rules of your city.

2. Primary school

Grundschule usually covers four years, and in a couple of states six. Children normally attend the school for their catchment area, and the school day can be shorter than a working day unless it is an all-day school.

At the end of primary school there is a recommendation for the secondary track, and how binding that recommendation is depends on the state.

3. The secondary tracks

Gymnasium leads to the Abitur and to university. Realschule leads to a mid-level qualification and commonly into Ausbildung or a Fachhochschule route. Hauptschule is more vocational. Many states also run comprehensive schools (Gesamtschule) combining the tracks.

The tracks are less final than they look: routes exist between them, and an Abitur can be obtained later through several paths. Families arriving mid-schooling should ask the school directly about placement.

Good to know

Track choice at ten years old feels dramatic to many newcomers. In practice there are bridges between tracks and several later routes to the Abitur, but ask the school how transfers work in your state.

4. Arriving with school-age children

Contact the local school authority soon after registering your address. Many states offer preparatory or welcome classes with intensive German teaching before or alongside mainstream lessons.

International and bilingual schools exist in larger cities and charge fees. They can ease a transition, though they are a significant cost and are not the only route for a child arriving without German.

5. Frequently asked questions

They will be placed in school regardless, and many states provide preparatory classes with intensive language support. Schools are used to this.

Generally yes, and free. Quality varies by school and area as everywhere, and the differences between states are real, so ask locally.

The school-leaving qualification that gives general access to university. It is normally taken at a Gymnasium, and there are other routes to an equivalent qualification.

Official information

Rules and amounts change. Always verify current requirements using official sources.

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Amounts and legal requirements can change. We verify this information against official sources and show when each figure was last checked, but always confirm important requirements with the responsible authority before you apply.

Einfach Germany is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with the German government.