Germany's School System

Germany's school system is different in many ways to the American school system. The most important rule of German education is that it is provided to everyone. In addition public education makes it possible for every student to study up to an university level, the financial status of the family doesn't matter. Although, there are differences in the education system from state to state, it is possible to make some generalizations.

Most children attend the Kindergarten when 3 to 6 years old. After that, children have to go to school for at least 9 years. The grades 1 to 4 are elementary school, Grundschule, and the taught subjects are the same for all. Some elementary schools end after the 6th grade. After 4th grade (or 6th grade) the students are seperated according to their academic abilities and the wishes of their families. They will attend one of these schools: Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium.

Hauptschule provides grade 5 to 9 and has similar classes to Realschule and Gymnasium but is taught at a slower pace. This school focuses on vocational-oriented courses.
Realschule (grades 5 to 10) teaches classes that you will need for part-time vocational schools and higher vocational schools. Students who achieve a high academic level at the Realschule can switch to a Gymnasium on graduation.
When you make your decision on a Gymnasium, you have to attend the grades 5 to 13. The degree you earn at the end is called Abitur which makes it possible for students to apply at universities. A standard Gymnasium will offer education tracks like classical language, modern language, and mathematics-natural science.

Teachers of the elementary school will recommend the perfect school for a student after 4th grade but the parents will decide where their child should get the education. The schools have the final say and decide whether they want to take the student or not.

The German school system is advanced and makes it possible to teach every student on a level they need it. In addition German students are used to a lot of homework. Lunch is offered at some schools but most students bring their own to school or walk to a close store to buy something. Mostly students need to make their decision if they want to eat lunch at school at the beginning of the school year. Then they will eat at the school the whole year and the meals are fixed on the amount of the students who signed up to eat at the school cafeteria.
In general the school day starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 3.30 p.m., some days 1.45 p.m. but it also depends on the school and the grade a student is attending.

After the Abitur a student can reach a higher education which is free. The institutes and universities will charge no tuition, but the students have to take examinations to prove that they're qualified.

The next table shows the school system in a short way.

School	Grade	Age
Kindergarten/Pre-School	no grade	3 - 5 year-olds
Grundschule/Elementary School	1 - 4 (some schools 1 - 6)	6 - 9 year-olds (6 -11)
Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule (Secondary School, First phase; the first two years are still the orientation stage)	5 - 9/10	10 - 15/16 year-olds
Abitur (for students of the Gymnasium)	11 - 12/13	16 - 18/19 year-olds