How are schools in Germany different than in the USA?

Anke Jahn, one of our volunteers, recently sat down with Isabel Schueppel, a 16 year old student who has attended both American and German schools to discuss differences between the two systems. read more

Summer vacation functions differently in Germany and the U.S. as well. While U.S. students have 8-9 weeks of summer vacation, German students have 6 weeks off. Isabel believes that the overall time spent in school is the biggest difference between American and German schools. read more

As in the United States, local authorities set education policy. Germany's 16 states regulate every aspect of the system, including laws that require attendance from age 6 through 15, the German Way website says. Unlike in the United States, however, German law doesn't allow for homeschooling of children. read more