School system in Schleswig-Holstein

In Schleswig-Holstein, the elementary school takes four years to accomplish. After elementary school, parents decide which school their child attends next. The current school will help parents by offering their recommendation. There are two options:

• Gemeinschaftsschule
• Gymnasium

The Gemeinschaftsschule starts with the 5th grade, and students can graduate after successfully finishing the 9th, 10th or 13th grade. Up to the 10th grade, all students are grouped into several learning units with different levels of performance. Your child can earn Ersten Allgemeinbildenden Schulabschluss (after 9th grade), the Mittleren Abschluss (after 10th class) or the Abitur (after 13th class). The Ersten Allgemeinbildenden Schulabschluss and the Mittleren Abschluss will qualify your child to start vocational training. With an Abitur, any student can choose between vocational training and university education.

The Gymnasium starts with the 5th grade and ends with the Abitur at the end of the 12th grade. Students should study quite intensively and be very diligent. Those who leave the Gymnasium after the 9th or 10th grade often automatically obtain the Ersten Allgemeinbildenden Schulabschluss or the Mittleren Abschluss. After the 11th grade, your child can also earn the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification). With an Abitur, your child can decide between vocational training and university education.

In Schleswig-Holstein, all refugee children are required to attend school immediately upon arrival.

As long as you live in an initial reception centre, your child will most probably take part in the classes there. Afterwards, your child will be tutored in a school with a DaZ centre (roughly: "German as a second language" centre). You will receive a letter from the School Office ("Schulamt"), containing the address and other necessary information about the school responsible for your child. You have to register your child personally at the designated school.

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

You will receive a letter from the primary school responsible for your child before the registration deadline. You should register your child there in person. 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 give you advice on the registration process.