The school system in Baden-Wuerttemberg

Elementary school in Baden-Wuerttemberg takes four years to complete.

After elementary school, parents decide which school their child goes on to next. The current school will give a recommendation with regard to this decision. There are five options: 

• Hauptschule
• Werkrealschule
• Realschule
• Gemeinschaftsschule 
• Gymnasium

Hauptschule and Werkrealschule are quite similar; they begin with 5th grade and end with 9th or 10th grade. These schools prepare your child for their professional life at an early stage. Your child can obtain the Hauptschulabscluss (after 9th or 10th grade) or a Werkrealschulabschluss (after 10th grade). With all three degrees, your child will have the opportunity to start vocational training. Students with the Werkrealschulabschluss and good grades can transfer to a Gymnasium.

The Realschule in Baden-Wuerttemberg starts with 5th grade and ends with 9th or 10th grade. Here, students can graduate with a Realschulabschluss after 10th grade. But it is also possible to leave Realschule after 9th or 10th grade with an Hauptschulabschluss. The Realschule in Baden-Wuerttemberg offers two different levels of education per class and subject. With any of these two certificates, your child will have the opportunity to start vocational training. Students with a Realschulabschluss and good scores can switch to a Gymnasium later.

The Gemeinschaftsschule in Baden-Wuerttemberg starts with the 5th grade and ends with the 9th, 10th or 13th grade. Here the students can choose in which educational level they want to study in each subject. In these schools, the children are supported and supervised closely in their education. In a Gemeinschaftsschule, your child can obtain a Hauptschulabschluss (after the 9th or 10th grade), a Realschulabschluss (after the 10th grade) or the Allgemeine Hochschulsreife or Abitur (after finishing the 13th grade). These three degrees qualify a student for vocational training. With an Abitur, your child can choose between vocational training and university education.

Gymnasium starts with 5th grade and ends with the Abitur after accomplishing 12th grade. Here, students have to study intensively and be very diligent. Your child will learn at least two foreign languages in a Gymnasium. Students who leave Gymnasium after the 9th or 10th grade can obtain -at least- the Hauptschulabschluss or Realschulabschluss. With an Abitur, your child can choose between university education and vocational training.

Six months after your arrival in Germany, your child has to go to school.

In due time, you will be informed by a letter about the address of the designated school and the registration process. Children who do not speak German yet are initially tutored in special German courses.

The staff at your accommodation centre will assist you in the registration process.

In due time you will receive an invitation letter with all the necessary information and an appointment for registration from the elementary school responsible for your child. You must register your child personally on the designated date. The primary school responsible for you is the closest primary school to your home. If you did not receive such a letter, just contact the nearest elementary school. During registration, your child will be examined by a doctor, and his German language skills will be checked.

The staff in your child's kindergarten can help you with the registration process.