Schule — School System in Germany

Schulpflicht — Compulsory Education

In Germany, Schulpflicht (compulsory education) begins at age 6 years old and lasts 9–10 years in full-time education, after which some young people complete their education in vocational school. The Stichtag (cut-off date) varies by state — often September 30th. Sending your child to school is mandatory; failure to do so is subject to penalties.

School Registration (Schulanmeldung)

You register your child at the Grundschule in your district (Schulbezirk) — the municipality assigns a specific school based on your registered address, so first register your address. Schulanmeldung for children starting school in autumn typically takes place in autumn/winter of the previous year (registrations for 2026 were already in autumn 2025). In summer 2026, approximately 730,000 children will start school.

School Levels and Types

Gesamtschule combines educational tracks and allows students to choose their specialization later. Children without German language skills initially attend Willkommensklasse (welcome class) with intensive German instruction, and parents can study the language through Integrationskurs. Public schools are free of charge, and families receive Kindergeld for school-age children. For earlier childcare, see Kita.