School

Children in Germany have to go to school.
This means “compulsory schooling”.
Children must go to school from the age of 6 or 7.
If a child turns 7 by June 30, must the child will start school that year.
If a child turns 7 between July 1 and September 30, can the child will start school that year. The parents decide whether the child will go to school.
Parents must register their children at a school.
For younger children there is primary school.
Children attend grades 1 to 4 in primary school.
Many schools offer an “open day” every year.
This means that you and your child can attend school that day without an appointment.
You can look around the school and talk to the teachers.
Here are the dates for this “open day” for all schools this year.
Here There are tips for starting school. 

Parents cannot register their children at all primary schools.
There are specific primary schools for the children in a particular residential area.
These areas are called “school districts.”
Here see which primary schools are in which district.
There are certain days each year when you can register your child at a primary school.
Here see the dates for the coming school year.
You must go to the school you have chosen for your child. 

Bring the following documents with you: 

• Registration form. You can find the here on the right side:  

If both parents have custody, both must sign. 

• ID card / passport of the persons with custody 
• Proof of custody – does only one person have custody or two? 
• Copy of child's birth certificate 
• Proof of measles vaccination. Children must receive this vaccination before starting school. 
• The information letter from the School Office. You'll automatically receive this by mail if you're registered in Leipzig. 

If two people have custody of the child, both people should go to the registration.

All children must learn almost all subjects in elementary school, such as math, sports, and art. The exception is religion. Parents must decide whether their child should learn about the Catholic or Protestant religion, or whether they should learn ethics instead.  

When you register your child at a school, they will be given an appointment for a medical examination with a doctor. This is called a "school entrance examination." All children must complete this examination before starting school, and parents must attend. 

Some children do not speak German or only speak a little German.
There are other school classes for these children in regular primary schools.
The classes are called “German as a Second Language” or DaZ classes.
Not all schools have DaZ classes.
Here see which schools in Leipzig have DaZ classes.
Here you can read more about the DaZ classes. 

For children who have to attend DaZ classes, there is a meeting with parents, children and the school administration.
The meeting is called “special educational counseling.”
The school authority in Leipzig is called the “State Office for Schools and Education” or LASUB.
You must make an appointment and go there with your child.
You make an appointment by phone.
Here are the contact details and address of LASUB:
Address: Nonnenstraße 17A, 04229 Leipzig
Phone: 0341 4945-50
E-mail: poststelle-l@lasub.smk.sachsen.de
Please let us know before the appointment if you need a translation.
The school authority will organize a translation for the appointment.
Bring your child’s registration certificate/registration with you.
Your child may have documents from their school back home, such as report cards or certificates. Bring them with you if you have them. 

After the meeting, a letter arrives from LASUB.
This letter states which school the child must attend.
This is called “assignment”.
The school is sometimes a bit far away because not all schools have DaZ classes.
Sometimes siblings have to go to different schools.
Sometimes children have to wait a long time before they have a place in a school.
If it takes a long time, contact the school office and ask.
Or ask a counseling center for help.
All children in Leipzig have the right to attend school. 

You often have to pay for things at school. For example, school supplies or a class trip. If your parents don't have much money, you can get help with these things. 

This assistance is called "Education and Participation." Education and Participation covers the following things from the job center or social welfare office: 

• School trip: When a child travels somewhere with the school for one or more days. The overnight stay is also paid for. 

• School supplies: For example, a school bag, sports equipment, and pens. At the beginning of the school year (in August), you receive €116. On February 1, you receive €58. If you receive money from the job center, you automatically receive this money for school supplies.  

If you receive housing benefit and/or child benefit, you must apply for this money at the social welfare office. 

• Student ticket: If your child has to travel to school by bus, tram, or S-Bahn, this is also covered. For example, the education ticket here.  

• Tutoring: If a child needs extra help, private lessons are available outside of school. For example, in math or German. The school must confirm that the child needs this tutoring. Here is the list of where you can get this tutoring. 

• Lunch at school: If the child receives food at school, it will also be paid for.  

• Social and cultural participation: There is €15 per month for things like membership in a sports club or music lessons. 

Here is the list of providers for sports and here is the list for providers of music and culture. 

You can ask the job center or social welfare office for this assistance. You can also get help if you don't receive benefits but don't have enough money for such things.
Here It explains in detail how and where you can apply for the various funds. 

All elementary schools also have an after-school care center. The after-school care center is usually located in the same building as the school.
In the after-school care center, children receive care in the morning before school (from 6:00 a.m.) and in the afternoon after school (until 5:00 p.m.). Care is provided by educators, not teachers.
In the after-school care center, children can play, do crafts and even do homework.
School is free. However, parents have to pay a monthly fee for after-school care. This fee is called a "parental contribution." The amount depends on how many hours the child attends the center.
Here see how much it costs. 

If parents don't have that much money, they don't have to pay any or less for after-school care. This is called a "reduced parental fee." You can get this form from the Parental Fees Office at the Youth Welfare Office.
You must complete the form here Download, fill out and send to the youth welfare office.
If you receive money from the job center, social welfare office, or child benefit, please include a copy of the notice. The notice is the letter stating how much money you will receive each month.
If you don't receive such benefits but don't have that much money, send proof of your income with the form. For example, pay stubs from a job.
If you receive a discount, check the expiration date. You may receive a discount for six months. You will then need to renew the discount before the end of the six months if your child is still attending daycare. 

After primary school, a child goes to secondary school.
In Leipzig this is either a secondary school or a high school.
There are different school certificates at the end of these schools.
These certificates are called “school leaving certificates”.
The secondary school runs from grade 5 to grade 9 or 10.
If a child finishes school after the 9th grade, they receive the Hauptschulabschluss (secondary school leaving certificate).
If a child finishes school after the 10th grade, they receive the Realschulabschluss.
If a child finishes school after the 12th grade, he or she receives the Abitur. 

In the 3rd and 4th grades there are discussions between teachers and parents.
These discussions are called “school career counseling” and help in deciding which school the child should attend.
In the 4th grade of primary school, a child receives an educational recommendation.
The teachers write this educational recommendation for the child.
This educational recommendation tells you whether a child should go to a secondary school or a high school.
To attend Gymnasium, a child must have an average grade of at least 2.0 in the school subjects German, mathematics and general knowledge.
If a child receives an educational recommendation for secondary school but wants to go to a Gymnasium, the child must take a test.
The test is called “Performance Assessment for Registration Without Educational Recommendation.”
Here there is more to it.
Even if children initially attend a secondary school or a high school, they can change later.
Here There is a video about educational recommendations in Saxony.

After secondary school there are various options.
For example, training at a vocational school or studying at a university.
Because there are so many different options, parents and their children can get advice about them.
There are many places with information and help on career guidance for students and parents.
Here all such places are listed. 

On holidays and in the school holidays children do not go to school.
Otherwise they have to go to school.
If a child is sick, parents must inform the school.
Parents must call the school (school office) early on the day (at the latest by 9:00).
If the child is sick for more than a few days, parents must obtain a sick note from a doctor's office. 

Sometimes families do not want to send their children to school for a day or a few days, for example because they are visiting family abroad.
Parents must ask for permission to do this.
This permission is called “exemption from school” and is applied for from the class teacher or school administration.
Parents must apply in writing.
Exemption from school must be well justified.
Parents must explain exactly why the child cannot go to school for those days. 

Tutoring 

Perhaps your child is having difficulties in school. For example, with math or German. Children can receive extra help for all school subjects. This is called "tutoring."
Children receive this help free of charge here from the club Students educate students.
This website offers students free German courses and tutoring. 

There is also tutoring that is normally paid for. If parents don't have that much money, you don't have to pay. If you receive citizen's income, housing benefit, or child benefit, the tutoring is free. Children receive this tutoring paid for by the job center or social welfare office. This is part of the "Education and Participation Package." You can read more about this under point 4 above. 

There are also places where children can get free help with their homework:
At Home eV
Dresdner59 

School social work 

Schools and after-school care centers also have school social workers. These are employees from other organizations who offer support to everyone in the school. If, for example, there are conflicts between students or parents and teachers are unable to resolve something, school social workers can step in and provide support. 

Special schools 

There are also schools for children with special needs in Leipzig.

These schools are called special needs schools. Here more about this. 

Heritage language instruction 

There is a voluntary program for children who speak a foreign language. The children receive instruction in that foreign language. This is separate from regular school and takes place outside of school hours. 

It's called "heritage language instruction." It's not available in every school and not for every language. Here See which languages are available for 2023/2024. You can also see where and when these classes will take place.