In the 2025/2026 school year, a total of 8,998,200 students were educated across approximately 32,800 general education schools in Germany. According to statistics released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Wednesday, this figure accounted for nearly 80 percent of all students. An additional 2,258,000 students attended around 8,300 vocational schools in the country.
Regarding general education schools, 84 percent of students (7,529,500) held German citizenship, while 16 percent (1,468,700) did not. Roughly 91 percent (8,179,300) of these students attended public schools, compared to 9 percent (818,800) who attended private schools. The proportion of international students in private schools was significantly lower than in public schools. At public schools, 83 percent of students were German (6,770,600), and 17 percent were foreign (1,408,700). Conversely, approximately seven percent (60,000) of those in private schools lacked German citizenship.
At vocational schools, the demographic breakdown showed that 81 percent of students (1,827,600) held German citizenship, and 19 percent (430,100) held only a foreign nationality. The majority of vocational students (about 90% or 2,023,700) studied at public vocational schools, with approximately 10 percent (234,300) attending private vocational schools.
Another review of the 2025/2026 academic year highlighted changes in student enrollment. A total of 811,200 students entered the school system. This represents a slight decrease of about 2 percent compared to the previous year (829,700). The vast majority of enrollments-91 percent (735,500)-were timely, meaning the children were six years old by the official starting date. Only 7 percent (53,200) of all enrollments were late, while a small portion, nearly 3 percent (22,400), were early.
Completing the 2025 academic year, 769,000 students left general education schools. Of these, 228,700 students earned the Abitur (General Higher Education Entrance Qualification). 770 individuals received the Fachhochschulreife (Specialist University Entrance Qualification). Around 339,800 graduates achieved a Middle School Leaving Certificate (such as a Realschulabschluss). 134,800 exited general education schools with a First School Leaving Certificate (for example, a Hauptschulabschluss), and 64,900 left without any first certificate. Among those who did not receive a first certificate, about 26,100 held a special pedagogical qualification.
Importantly, the concentration of non-German citizens varies significantly depending on the qualification earned. For graduates who achieved the General Higher Education Entrance Qualification, only 5 percent lacked German citizenship. This figure increased to 13 percent for those with a Middle School Leaving Certificate and jumped to 25 percent for those with only a First School Leaving Certificate. Among departing students who lacked a First School Leaving Certificate, 35 percent held only a foreign nationality.
In terms of staffing, 760,300 teachers worked in general education schools during the 2025/2026 school year. The majority, 73 percent (556,800), were female, though the gender ratio fluctuated depending on the school type. The highest percentage of women was found in kindergartens, primary schools, and pre-classes, running between 86 and 93 percent. The highest percentage of male teachers (42 to 44 percent) was observed at evening high schools, real schools, gymnasiums, and colleges. Sixty-six percent of teachers in general education schools worked full-time, compared to 44 percent working part-time, with 86 percent of the part-time educators being women.
At vocational schools in the 2025/2026 school year, 125,000 educators were employed. Again, the majority of staff were female (55 percent). The highest proportion of men (55 percent) was found in full-time vocational training courses, and 53 percent at part-time vocational schools. The female presence was notably high at specialist academies (76 percent) and technical schools (62 percent). Teachers in vocational schools tend to work full-time slightly more often than those in general education, with about 63 percent working full-time. Among those working part-time, 75 percent were female.
