German School System for International Families: What Parents Need to Know
When a family considers a move to Germany, salary is rarely the first question. The children come first. The German school system for international families can look impenetrable from the outside: sixteen federal states, different school types, different deadlines, and terminology with no direct equivalent in other languages.
This article sets out the available options, the deadlines that matter, and what companies should keep in mind when supporting families through the move.
Compulsory schooling applies from day one
Every child aged six or over who is resident in Germany must attend school. Nationality and residence status make no difference. As soon as the family completes its address registration, the obligation applies, regardless of how long the stay is planned to last.
Two points regularly catch international parents off guard. Homeschooling is prohibited in Germany, apart from narrowly defined exceptions such as prolonged illness. And even families who intend to use a private school must still register the child at the assigned state school in their catchment area. That registration remains the formal starting point, even when the child never attends.
The school year begins in August or September depending on the federal state. Enrolment depends on a cut-off date, usually falling between 30 June and 30 September. A birthday just before or after that date shifts the start by a full year.
Why the German school system for international families feels so complex
Education in Germany is governed by the individual federal states. That means sixteen systems, each with its own curriculum, its own school types and its own terminology for broadly similar things. In North Rhine-Westphalia, children move on to secondary school after year four. In Berlin and Brandenburg, they stay in primary school until the end of year six.
For a newly arrived family, that difference genuinely matters. Two extra years in primary school give a child who is still learning German considerably more time before any decision about their academic path is made. Families with some flexibility over location should know about this.
The federal government’s official portal, Make it in Germany, gives a reliable overview of the basics. The specifics, however, are set by each state’s education ministry.
Three routes worth knowing
State schools are free of charge and the natural route for most families. Teaching is in German. Many states run preparatory or language support classes, where children without German skills learn the language first and move gradually into mainstream lessons.
International schools teach in English and usually lead to the International Baccalaureate. They charge fees, often in the mid four figures per year, and places in metropolitan areas are limited. Applications typically involve an entrance assessment, previous school reports and teacher references. One detail worth noting: in some federal states, including North Rhine-Westphalia, attending an international school requires an exemption from the school authority, because compulsory schooling is fulfilled through German schools by default.
Bilingual state schools sit between the two. They teach partly in English or another partner language while remaining free of charge. Availability varies considerably by region, so early research pays off.
What actually helps on arrival
Experience from supporting many families points to a consistent pattern. Children pick up the language faster than their parents expect. What takes longer is the sense of belonging, and school shapes that far more than any curriculum does.
In practical terms, that means starting early. School places in sought-after areas are limited, international schools maintain waiting lists, and registering at a state school requires a confirmed address. Families who begin the search only after arriving lose weeks during which the child sits at home.
Registration usually requires the address registration certificate, the birth certificate, a passport, proof of vaccination including measles, and previous school reports. Reports issued abroad should be translated, ideally with certification.
How companies can support families in practice
The school question decides the outcome of an international hire more often than the salary negotiation does. A professional whose child cannot find a place, or who struggles to settle at a new school, will eventually start questioning the decision to come.
Companies taking responsibility here do not need to build expertise of their own. Raising the topic early, avoiding leaving the family to search alone, and providing support that understands the regional situation covers most of it.
At HereLocation, we support families through our children and education service: choosing suitable schools, handling registration and paperwork, attending appointments, and settling into daily life. If you would like to know how this could work for the families joining your organisation, get in touch.
Learn more and start the conversation.
📩 You can find more information about our Germany-wide service here.