Schools and school enrolment
In Chemnitz there are:
- 41 primary schools (grades 1 - 4)
- 14 secondary schools (grades 5 - 10)
- 7 grammar schools (grades 5 - 12)
- 11 special schools (for pupils with special educational needs)
- 8 vocational school centres
These schools are municipal schools run by the City of Chemnitz. Your children can attend these schools free of charge.
In addition to the public schools, there are also independent schools. These are general education schools and vocational schools. You have to pay school fees at these schools.
School enrolment for primary school
Compulsory schooling begins for all children who turn six by 30 June of the year in which they start school. Children who turn six between 1 July and 30 September of the current calendar year can also be voluntarily enrolled in primary school by their parents. The enrolment of your child at a primary school always takes place one year before school enrolment.
The municipal primary schools in the city of Chemnitz are assigned to nine joint school districts. You must register your child at a primary school within your school district. This is determined by your home address. You are free to choose the primary school within your joint school district. Parents register their child in person at the desired municipal primary school in the relevant school district. Enrolment is done in writing using an enrolment form. You can also enrol your child at an independent primary school.
School entrance examination
Before starting school, a school admission examination is carried out at the Office for Health and Prevention. It serves to determine the child's level of development. Participation in this examination is mandatory by law.
Appointments can be booked via the City of Chemnitz's participation portal:
School registration for a secondary general school
At the end of primary school, pupils move on to a secondary school from year 5 onwards. This is either a secondary school or a grammar school. Parents make the decision based on the educational recommendation from primary school. You then register your child at a secondary school. Registration takes place directly - preferably by post - at the desired secondary school or grammar school.
Enrolment of immigrant children and young people of compulsory school age at Saxon schools
Children and young people of school age whose language of origin is not German or not exclusively German can only register via the online registration portal of the State Office for Schools and Education. Use the portal to enter your personal details as well as an e-mail address and telephone number. You will then receive an appointment for special educational counselling. As a rule, this appointment takes place at the future school. The aim of the special educational counselling is to inform you about the educational opportunities for your child and to find a suitable school. Many pupils first attend the preparatory class. Here they learn the German language in the subject "German as a second language". They are then gradually integrated into mainstream lessons.