Yes, switching to a private school is generally possible in the middle of the school year if the receiving school has places available and the legal requirements of the respective federal state are met.
Yes, private school costs are partly tax deductible in Germany: 30 percent of tuition, up to €5,000 per child per year, can be claimed as special expenses if the school meets the state recognition criteria.
Yes, changing schools at the semester break is generally possible in Germany, since no law restricts a change of school to the end of the school year, provided the receiving school has a place available.
To switch to a private school, you usually need current report cards, a certificate of attendance from the previous school, a copy of the birth certificate, and the new school's completed application forms.
Switching to an international school usually takes place in several clearly defined steps: initial contact and application, submission of the required documents, an admissions interview, and the school's final decision.
Changing schools usually works in several steps: parents determine the right time, gather the required documents, enroll their child at the new school, and support them during the settling-in period.
Switching to a private school usually gives children smaller classes, more individual support, and a structured curriculum geared toward academic excellence, often with international diplomas and multilingual education.
Children without language skills usually integrate into an international school better than expected, because they pick up the language through daily practice while teachers and classmates actively support the process.
You prepare your child for changing schools by talking to them early, taking their fears seriously, and clarifying practical arrangements in good time, ideally aiming for the start of a new school year.
Children can attend an international school from their first year of life, because many international schools offer kindergarten programs, and switching later is possible throughout the year with an admissions test to find the right grade level.
