School attendance is compulsory in Germany: children must attend a recognised school from about the age of six. There is well-developed language support for children who do not speak German.

Compulsory schooling and catchment areas

Compulsory schooling begins once you live in Germany. In many federal states, primary school children are assigned to a school based on where they live (the catchment area), usually the nearest primary school.

Welcome and preparatory classes

Children without German often do not join a regular class straight away but first spend six to twelve months in preparatory classes (called Willkommensklassen in Berlin and Deutschklassen in Bavaria). The focus is on learning German intensively.

After-school care and all-day schools

All-day schools and after-school care (Hort) provide supervision after lessons, help with homework, lunch and clubs. Costs vary by city and federal state and often depend on the parents' income.

Gymnasium, Realschule or a comprehensive school

After year four (year six in Berlin and Brandenburg), the type of secondary school is chosen based on grades and the primary school's recommendation: the Gymnasium, which leads directly to the Abitur, or a more practically oriented school such as the Realschule.

What to check

  • Contact the education office or the school as soon as you have registered your address.
  • Attend the school entry health check for children starting school.
  • Apply for a school transport ticket (Schülerticket).
  • Apply for an after-school care place in good time before the school year starts (in Berlin with a Hort-Gutschein).

Example situation

A nine-year-old without German attends a welcome class for two terms, then moves into a regular year-three class and is chatting fluently with classmates by the end of the school year.

Next step

German schools are prepared to take in children who do not speak German; preparatory classes help them settle in and move into a regular class.

Official information on this topic

Checklists and examples are organisational recommendations. Requirements depend on the procedure, the city and your situation; check them with the relevant office before you act. Please discuss legal and tax questions with an authorised professional.

This article was prepared with the help of AI. The example illustrates the approach and does not describe a client case.