General Information

Since 1 August 2013, children from the age of one can legally claim a place in a childcare facility.

As a child-friendly city, Dresden offers a wide variety of child-care possibilities. The available care facilities include day nurseries, playgroups, daycare centers, or nannies. Attendance of a day nursery or a daycare center is not free of charge. Fees depend on the type of organization (state-run, church-run, or private) and the parents' income. 

• Children under the age of 3
• Children aged 3-6 
• School system 
• Children with a different native language than German 
• Secondary School
• Grammar School

Usually children at the age of one to three years are cared for at a crèche (Kinderkrippe/Kita). In some daycare centers, there are children of different ages mixed in one group, i.e. a mixture of crèche and kindergarten.

Another popular choice for German parents of young children is private childcare/nannies (Tagesmütter). These generally take care of groups of 4 – 5 children in their homes (usually aged between 8 weeks and 3 years). The nannies must go through training and be certified by Child Care Services to run private childcare. 

Over 80% of all children between three and six years attend a kindergarten in Germany. Very often the Kinderkrippe and the Kindergarten are in the same building so that children can change at the age of 3 very easily to the Kindergarten group. The Kindergartens and Kinderkrippe are run by local authorities, religious organisations (generally protestant or Catholic churches) or by private associations.

The International Office will try to support you in arranging for childcare. However, places in day nurseries and daycare centers are in great demand and correspondingly hard to find. Therefore, it is extremely necessary that you inform us as soon as possible if you have childcare needs.

The MPI-CBG offers their parents and guarantees a limited number of kindergarten places at some kindergartens close by.

You can also apply for a municipal Kinderkrippe and Kindergarten only once the child has been born. Application forms can be downloaded or acquired from the International Office.

There is also a private Kindergarten near the Institute at the Dresden International School where the language of instruction is English (http://www.dresden-is.info/index.php). 

In Germany, school is compulsory for all children. School regulations vary in Germany’s 16 states. In Saxony children normally start to attend school in the summer of the year they turn 6. The school system is made up of primary schools, secondary schools and grammar schools. Most schools are half-day but all-day schools are becoming more common, in Dresden as well.

Primary school covers first to fourth grade in Saxony. Primary schools are attended by all children and teach the basic knowledge and skills that prepare the pupils for their move to the various types of secondary school. Subjects taught usually include German, math, general science/local studies, art, music and sport.

Depending on the children’s achievements during elementary school, they get introduced either to a type of secondary school called “Mittelschule”, or to an academic high school called “Gymnasium”. The students at Gymnasium have to go through nine classes before they can graduate with higher education entrance qualification. A Gymnasium graduation is the most common way that qualifies for university. 

Most primary schools in Dresden offer a before/after-school program called Hort. Pupils will be supervised from the end of school until 6 pm and usually during holidays. Parents’ fees for this service depend on the hours of supervision. The adult employees are trained in pedagogy. Children take part in leisure activities and finish a large part of their homework here. 

The School Administration Office (Schulverwaltungsamt) informs parents of the registration dates about 9-19 month before enrolment at school. School registration has to be done in the responsible public Primary school. Additionally parents can register their child at any private school.

For more information on registration please ask the International Office. 

Parents with children with a different native language than German get special assistance in preparation classes until they speak German that allows the to take part in normal classes.

There is an International School in Dresden with Pre-School, Primary School and Secondary School (http://www.dresden-is.info/) in Dresden It is the sole international all-day school in Dresden, providing all lessons in English. Students graduating from the International School may receive an International Baccaleaurate Diploma and may attend universities in the U.S., Europe, the U.K. and other specified universities.

Parents who enter Germany within the running school year usually need to register at the Saxon Education Agency (Sächsische Bildungsagentur) – unless they register at a certain private schools. For more information please contact the International Office of the CBG. 

Secondary schools convey both general knowledge and information to prepare the pupils for their future jobs. Fifth and sixth grades have an orientation function, i.e. the curriculum during these two years is the same in secondary and grammar schools. After successful completion of secondary school at the end of year 10 it is possible to continue the secondary education and eventually acquire the Abitur. 

The Gymnasium takes on especially well-performing pupils and prepares them for demanding careers or university studies. Pupils attend Gymnasium for eight years to acquire a final qualification called the Abitur. The Abitur is regarded as a certificate of aptitude for higher education in Germany. The International Baccaleaurate Diploma from the Dresden International School is also eligible as a certificate for higher education and students graduating from this school may attend universities in the U.S., Europe, the U.K. and other specified universities (http://www.dresden-is.info/).

For further information on school system in Saxony please visit the city’s website: https://www.dresden.de/en/living/schools/Schools-in-figures.php

List of all Mittelschulen in Gymnasien in Dresden