Organise school

In Germany schooling is regulated by the federal states

For children and young people of compulsory school age it has to be clarified after moving which school they attend.

• •The exact rules on compulsory schooling, school type and registration differ between the federal states.

Is your child newly arrived from abroad?

For newly arrived children, the school or school authority clarifies which school and grade level fit.

• •If your child does not yet speak enough German, there are different forms of language support depending on the state.
• •The aim is to integrate the child into regular lessons as well as possible.

Whom do you contact?

First check the official school or education page of your federal state and the information of your city or school authority.

• •Depending on where you live, registration runs directly through a school, the school authority or another local procedure.

What should you have ready?

Which documents are required depends on the state and the school. Useful can be:

• •The child's ID document
• •Registration or address data
• •Proof of birth
• •Previous school reports or certificates
• •Information on the previous grade level
• •Further documents the school may request

School types can have different names than you know

Primary and secondary schools are organised differently depending on the state and can have different names.

• •For a newly arrived child, ask which school type and grade level are recommended or planned.

German not yet secure?

Missing German skills do not mean that you first have to organise a school or a private German course yourself.

• •Ask the school or school authority about the language support provided at school.

What you can do now

• •Open the official school information of your state or place of residence.
• •Contact the responsible school or school authority.
• •Have the previous school documents ready.
• •Clarify school type, grade level and language support.
• •Complete the registration according to the local procedure.