Schule — School System in Germany

School Attendance Obligation (Schulpflicht)

In Germany YOU MUST send your child to school:
- From age 6
- For 9-10 years (depends on the state)
- No school = financial penalty or imprisonment!

Stages of Education

1. Grundschule (Primary School)

• Age: 6-10 years old
• Grades: 1-4
• All children together

2. After Grundschule — Division!

How to Enroll Your Child?

1. Anmeldung (Registration) at the local school
2. Schuleingangsuntersuchung — Pre-school medical examination
3. Documents: Birth certificate, Anmeldung, vaccinations

How Much Does It Cost?

Public school = FREE

BUT parents pay for:
- School supplies (~50-100€/year)
- Field trips (~100-200€/year)
- After-school care (Hort) — 0-200€/month
- School lunches — 3-5€/day

Financial Assistance

If you have low income:
- Bildung und Teilhabe (BuT) — see separate article
- Free lunches
- Free school supplies
- Free field trips

Important Words:

Important for Foreigners!

• Your child does NOT need to know German — there are preparatory classes
• School MUST accept your child (Schulpflicht)
• Polish weekend schools available (Polish language, history)