In Germany, the authority for schools and higher education lies with the federal states (Bundesländer). As a consequence, aspects of how schools are organized, which exams are taken when and if primary school runs through grade 4 or grade 6 vary from state to state.

Nevertheless, one common basic structure of the educational system across all federal states exists: The preschool sector (Kindergarten) is non-mandatory in Germany. Once a child turns six, parents are obliged to send their child to school for at least nine years. No homeschooling option exists. Primary school is comprehensive and runs from grade 1 through 4 or 6.

The secondary school sector is highly fractioned and organized in three different types of high schools: Gymnasium, a type of high school, which runs through grade 12 or 13, which graduates are able to enter University; Realschule (roughly: Secondary School), which runs through grade 10; and Hauptschule, which runs through grade 9 or 10. Both schools entitle graduates to start an apprenticeship. In addition to these three types – or rather, as a political counter statement to the separation of students according to their perceived academic abilities – some states have opened an increasing number of Gesamtschulen (roughly: Comprehensive Secondary School).

Schools in the German educational system are predominantly publicly-funded and the number of private or independent schools is rather low (14%). While Germany has been working intensely towards a more inclusive educational sector since 2009, separate schools for children with special educational needs still exist.