Germany's School System: Public Dominance with Private Options

Germany has a dual school system:

• Public Schools (~90% of students): Government-funded, tuition-free, high quality. Includes Gymnasium (academic), Realschule (intermediate), Hauptschule (vocational), and Gesamtschule (comprehensive).
• Private Schools (~10%): Often run by religious organizations, non-profits, or pedagogical associations (e.g., Waldorf, Montessori). Charge tuition (state-subsidized in some states). Must meet state standards.

Homeschooling is generally illegal. The system emphasizes tracking from age 10–12, though this varies by state (Bundesland).