Schools and Gymnasium entry in Saarland

Primary school in Saarland lasts four years, and children usually move on in Grade 5. Gymnasium is the academic pathway that leads to the Abitur, and the Gemeinschaftsschule is the other main secondary school type.

Parents choose between Gymnasium and Gemeinschaftsschule, a school that offers several qualification pathways. The primary school advises you and gives a recommendation, but the final decision rests with parents.

A child who has completed Grade 4 successfully can apply to Gymnasium even without a Gymnasium recommendation. It is still worth discussing why the recommendation went the other way, and what support your child would need.

One detail worth knowing: the published registration process asks for the original Grade 4 half-year report, so keep it safe and check which documents your school wants.

This page describes the ordinary move from primary school. Later transfers into Gymnasium, and specialist schools with their own profiles, can have different requirements.