Education and Schools in Frankfurt

The standard of education and schools in Frankfurt is on par with the rest of Germany. German public and private schools in the city offer an excellent level of teaching, and Frankfurt is home to a number of Germany’s top universities. 

While the German school system is highly regarded globally, most expats opt to send their children to international schools in Frankfurt. These schools offer expat students the opportunity to continue studying the curriculum from their home country. Continuing studies in their native tongue plays a significant role in allowing children a smoother transition into expat life in Frankfurt.

Schools in Frankfurt usually break for holidays in April, July/August and October, with an additional break in December for Christmas.

Public schools in Frankfurt

If you have children young enough to pick up the language quickly or you plan to stay in Frankfurt on a long-term basis, you should consider standard German public schools. There are no tuition fees attached to these institutions, but there may be registration fees or minimal extras that will need to be financed.

You may initially find the system complicated, but it is ultimately based on achievement and is tailored to the abilities of each student.

Children attend kindergarten at the age of three and start grundschule (primary school) at age six. From this age, students learn a standard set curriculum.

After this point, they attend one of three types of secondary schools: hauptschule, realschule or gymnasium. From this point on, German education is thus not divided by age, but rather according to what direction a student chooses to take their education.

A child's academic ability usually determines which school they attend, but the final decision also often rests with the parents. Bear in mind, though, regardless of which school a child attends, all students are required to complete at least nine years of education. 

Hauptschule, while offering the same subjects as realschule and gymnasium, teaches children at a slower pace and includes vocational courses. During Grade 10, students study at a vocational training school and then attend berufsschule, where they receive further education and apprenticeship training up until Grade 12. 

Realschule, on the other hand, is attended up to and including Grade 10, after which students go straight to berufsschule. Depending on their academic progress, realschule students can go to a gymnasium upon graduation.

Gymnasium is generally accepted as the type of school for top students. Subjects included here are mathematics and natural science, as well as classic and modern language studies. It covers Grades 5 through 13 and successful scholars receive an Abitur.

Useful links

• State School Offices in Hesse – Finding a school in Frankfurt

Bilingual schools in Frankfurt

Public bilingual schools are a good alternative and worth considering, especially if there is no provision for the payment of school fees within an expat’s employment package.

There are nominal fees attached to bilingual schools in Frankfurt, and they're a great option for those planning to spend a good few years in Frankfurt and who are keen to have their children integrate with the local German population.

In these state-sponsored schools, there are usually two streams of curricula based on a child's mother tongue and German. In Frankfurt, there are currently bilingual schools that teach in German and either French, English, Greek, or Japanese.

Bilingual schools are a popular option for Germans who want their children to experience a broader education. For this reason, spaces fill up quickly. If you are preparing for a move to Frankfurt, you should make arrangements as far in advance as possible.

International schools in Frankfurt

There are just a handful of international schools in Frankfurt. There isn't as much choice in Frankfurt as you would find in the German capital of Berlin.

Most of the international schools in Frankfurt are English-speaking and follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Some also follow the American, British, or Japanese curricula, among others.

You should note that tuition fees at international schools are expensive in Frankfurt. If you're moving to the city as part of an international transfer, you should be sure to negotiate an education allowance as part of your contract. 

Read more

• International Schools in Frankfurt

Special-needs education in Frankfurt

Children in Germany, regardless of disability, have the right to early childhood education, and primary, secondary and tertiary schooling. Children with disabilities are supported as far as possible in mainstream schools, and there has been a push for more inclusive educational practices in vocational schools and general education.

The journey to receiving special educational needs support begins with either the school or parents contacting the local education authority (schulamt) to coordinate and authorise the diagnostic process. The child will then be assessed by a special-needs teacher or an educational psychologist in a school setting.

The results are reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of teachers, psychologists, parents, and other specialists to develop and implement an Individual Education Plan (IEP). The IEP will often detail plans to ensure the child can remain in mainstream school, but there are also special schools (Förderschulen) available for children who cannot be accommodated in mainstream schools. 

Useful links

• State School Offices Hesse – Learning in Inclusive Classrooms

Tutors in Frankfurt

Education is highly valued in Germany, and many parents use tutors to help improve their children's academic performance. Tutors might assist in specific subjects such as maths or science. Expat parents typically hire a tutor to improve their child's German language proficiency. Tutors are also used to prepare for important exams or university entrance exams.

Newcomers to Germany might also find that their child may benefit from having a guiding hand in navigating a new school system, or just to build some confidence.

Useful links

• Elite Tutor
• Lernzentrum Kopfsache