School enrolment
Education fair on 15 November 2025
Secondary schools and grammar schools introduce themselves
When?
15 November 2025, 9 am to 1 pm
Where?
Chemnitz Exhibition Centre (Hall 2), Messeplatz 1
Admission and parking are free.
What?
Do you already know which school you will go to after primary school?
There are many options. Which one suits you best? Secondary school or a grammar school?
Should it be a state or public school?
What options are there after leaving school?
We'll help you find the answers.
Come to the education fair with your parents and see which schools there are in Chemnitz - every school has a stand.
Teachers and students will be on hand to answer your questions and explain things to you in detail.
Contact persons from the State Office for Schools and Education will be available to answer questions about school careers, educational pathways and qualifications. Staff from the education authority will answer questions about school transport.
Childcare is available for younger siblings.
Registration of future Year 5 pupils at secondary schools and grammar schools for the 2026/2027 school year
Parents decide whether to transfer from primary school to a secondary school on the recommendation of the school.
Pupils in year 4 will receive their educational recommendation on 6 February 2026, after which they will be enrolled at secondary school.
In preparation for enrolment at secondary school, all interested parties have the opportunity to find out more at the education fair on 15 November 2025.
Registration at a secondary school is preferably done by post at the school of first choice. To do this, register your child at the secondary school or grammar school of choice by 27 February 2026.
You will receive a confirmation of receipt from the school by email as proof. For this reason, it is essential that you provide your e-mail address.
What documents are required for enrolment?
- Enrolment form (handed out by the primary school)
- Original educational recommendation
- Copy of half-year information grade 4
- Copy of annual report grade 3 (for enrolment at grammar school)
- Copy of birth certificate
- Copy of documents on special educational needs, if applicable
- Copy of proof of sole custody if applicable
The admission letter will be issued by the respective school on 22 May 2026.
Note on the educational recommendation
The educational recommendation for grammar school is issued if the average grade in the subjects maths, German and general studies is 2.0 or better and none of these subjects is graded "sufficient" or worse. In all other cases, the educational recommendation for secondary school is issued.
According to a new regulation in Saxony, the educational recommendation only has an orientating character. This means that parents can also enrol their child at a grammar school of their choice with a recommendation for secondary school. In this case, the grammar school will arrange a mandatory counselling interview (3 to 12 March 2026). Failure to attend the counselling interview counts as a withdrawal of the application for admission to a grammar school. A decision on possible admission is made in this counselling interview. In addition to the educational recommendation, the decision criteria are the most recent school report and the written performance survey.
The children will take part in the written assessment on 3 March 2026. The tasks are created centrally and take into account the subjects German, maths and general studies, which are decisive for the educational recommendation.
If a recommendation is nevertheless made in favour of the secondary school, parents have three weeks to inform the school in writing that they wish to maintain their enrolment at the grammar school. The headmaster then has the final authority to decide on the child's admission.
Further information on school enrolment
Primary school enrolment for the 2026/2027 school year
Children born between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020 will be required to attend school at the start of the 2026/2027 school year. Registration is possible on Thursday, 14 August 2025, and Tuesday, 19 August 2025, from 2 pm to 6 pm at the desired municipal primary school in the relevant school district.
If the child is registered at an independent primary school, a municipal primary school in the relevant school district must be notified in writing by 15 September 2025. At least one custodial parent must be present for enrolment and must submit the following documents
- fully completed registration form (available at www.chemnitz.de and at the local primary schools)
- Identity card of the parent/guardian registering the child
- Birth certificate of the child starting school
- In the case of sole custody, proof of this is required
In the interactive city map of Chemnitz, the primary schools are displayed according to the residential address. > Primary school search in the interactive city map
Further information and application:
School entrance examination - online appointment now possible
During the school entrance examination, the child's level of development is determined. Health restrictions that are important for school attendance can be recognised and support options identified. The examination is compulsory. An appointment for a new school entrance examination is also required for children who were deferred in the previous year.
Appointments can now be booked via the City of Chemnitz's participation portal:
> www.chemnitz.de/termin_schulaufnahmeuntersuchung
Examination dates will be available from August. If you have any questions or problems, please call the public authority number 115.
The examination takes place in the Office for Health and Prevention, Am Rathaus 8, on the 3rd floor and lasts a total of 60 minutes.
> Further information on the school entrance examination
