Best schools in Frankfurt
Education in Frankfurt
The word ‘Frankfurt’ originally meant crossing but if you choose to live in central Frankfurt am Main, you will probably live on the north bank of the river in Holzhausenviertel or attractive Westend and only cross the bridge to grab some culture or go to the latest cool restaurant in Sachsenhausen. Most of the international schools are also north of the river.
Frankfurt is relatively small (750,000 inhabitants) and traffic is manageable, so the international schools can be fairly easily reached by car, even if you live in one of the central neighbourhoods. The schools do tend to be outside the favourite residential spots but, again, the size of the city means that twice daily trips to the suburbs are do-able. A couple of the schools are relatively close to metro stations but although the shuttle is swift, be prepared to walk for 15 minutes at each end.
The vast majority of Germans attend state schools for the excellent reasons that the educational standard is high and they’re free. Schooling starts age 6 and covers elementary, middle and high school. Another advantage (apart from the extra cash in your pocket) is that the schools - in particular the elementary sector - are almost all reachable on foot or by metro, if you live in central Frankfurt.
However, this system presents a practical problem for international families with two parents at the coal-face (particularly if it is in the banking section) as they are usually only open in the mornings. Also, as they don’t operate all day, they tend not to offer any of the extra stuff that international parents are used to (sport, in particular).
Before and after-school care for primary school children is often provided by on-site school clubs (Schulhort or Kita for kindergarten children) but beware they can stop at 4pm and always close by 6pm.
Fees at international schools are fairly hefty (although cheap compared to neighbouring Switzerland), depending on the grade your child is in. Don’t be surprised if everything, apart from tuition, comes with an additional charge.
Choosing a school in Frankfurt
While German state education is extremely good, bear in mind it is very different from the American or English programmes when it comes to grading. So if you want your child to transition easily, you will probably need to consider one of the international schools, which operate the same grades system as back home.
The international schools are low in quantity but high in quality, which is what you would expect from a German city where families expect their children to be well-taught and qualified. Consequently, they tend to have long waiting lists. There is always the possibility that some of the global education groups will leap at the opportunity to supply demand but opening schools takes time, so don’t hold your horses, just start the process of signing up as soon as you get an inkling that Frankfurt is on the cards.
