FAQs for Admissions

Our student population is very diverse with over 25 nationalities represented at the school. Germans make up the largest share, however, there is a significant number of international students from Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as many students from the United States.

In 1961, the German School was founded with the goal of offering students a learning environment in which they have daily and intensive exposure to German culture and language. Up to 650 students attend the German School from Preschool through 12^th grade. Many of our families have lived in several different countries before moving to the Washington D.C. area. There is a variety of nationalities and experiences and we all learn from one another. Our student community is marked by tolerance which brings about respect and fairness, leading to a swift integration of new students.

OVERVIEW OF CLASS SIZES:

Due to open enrollment throughout the school year the average class sizes may vary.

PRESCHOOL STUDENT TEACHER RATIO

Our Preschool groups are organized according to the regulations by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Office of Child Care (OCC) and depend on the room size and the number of children.
Groups of 2-year-olds: 1 teacher for up to 6 kids
Groups of 3- and 4-year olds: 1 teacher for up to 10 kids

We have over 70 teachers at the school from a variety of backgrounds. Around 12 of our teachers are sent to Washington by the German Government for a teaching period of 3 to 6 years to teach, upon completion of which they return to their home district and resume their previous teaching duties.  The rest of our teachers are hired locally with the vast majority coming from Germany and having settled in the Washington, D.C. area. All our teachers hold advanced teaching certificates and instruction is held according to  German curricula.

Our students graduate with a dual degree which consists of the U.S. High School Diploma and the German International Abitur (DIA) www.internationalabitur.org. With these, our students are well-equipped to attend any prestigious university worldwide and to follow a promising and international career path. Despite the geographically often large distances, alumni are closely connected, cultivating friendships and maintaining professional ties worldwide. Our graduates have been accepted by a range of renowned universities, to name just a few:
- Carnegie Mellon University, USA
- Duke University, USA
- Georgetown University, USA
- Harvard University, USA
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany
- Johns Hopkins University, USA
- King’s College London, UK
- Ludwig Maximilian Universität München, Germany
- Oxford University, UK
- Princeton University, USA
- Stanford University, USA
- Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
- Yale University, USA

Yes, the school provides a fee-based bus service to many areas throughout Maryland, Virgina and Washington, D.C. for a fee. Information about the school bus service is under CAMPUS LIFE > Bus.

Parents play an important role at the German International School. For information on the getting involved please go to: ABOUT US > Parents' Association > Parent Involvement.

For information on the enrollment process, please go to: ADMISSIONS > Enrollment Process & Deadlines.

For information on the enrollment deadlines, please go to: ADMISSIONS > Enrollment Process & Deadlines.

For information on the approval time, please go to: ADMISSIONS > Enrollment Process & Deadlines.

Please refer to the current Tuition and Fee Schedule at ADMISSIONS > Tuition.

Preschool students do not need to be fluent in German to succeed; however, it is beneficial to the child to have at least a basic understanding prior to attendance.

From School Entry Level through grade 12 a certain level of German language skills is required in order to follow academic classes. For non-native speakers, the German School conducts a German language evaluation in order to determine the German language skill level of your child.

Please refer to this page for current cut-off dates: https://giswashington.org/age-entry-requirements.html

At the preschool level, for children who are turning the necessary age mid-year, enrollments during the year are also possible. Parents have the option to pay in order to reserve the spot until the child turns the required age.

2-year-olds do not need to be potty-trained. Our staff changes diapers throughout the day. Children participating in the program for 3 to 4-year-olds need to be potty-trained prior to starting class.

All students must be immunized in accordance with Maryland State Law. Please complete and submit all necessary forms that are posted at ADMISSIONS > Forms.

Please note U.S. vaccine requirements are different from those of the EU. Generally speaking, turning the health forms over to a pediatrician as soon as possible is recommended in order to ensure the appropriate and timely immunization of children.

German is the primary language of instruction. English is the required first “foreign language” taught at the school starting in first grade. Additionally, students choose between French and Spanish when they enter 6th grade, and they have the option to add Latin in 8th grade and Spanish in 9th grade. There is also remedial instruction available in English, French, Spanish, and German.

Beginning with the basics of the English language in Elementary School up to complex analysis of literature in the upper level of the Secondary School, the German International School offers a comprehensive English program that teaches reading, writing and speaking, helping students reach native-level knowledge of the English language. By providing special attention and safety nets for beginners as well as offering demanding tasks and literature to advanced and gifted students, we prepare our students for their daily and professional life with interesting and challenging English classes. Living in their American host country, students have the opportunity to advance and deepen their knowledge of the English language through visiting theaters and museums, participating in Model United Nations, poetry and other workshops, lectures as well as in interdisciplinary projects.

Students earn the German International Abitur (DIA) and the U.S. High School Diploma upon completion of twelfth grade. For more information please go to ACADEMICS > Grades 5 through 12 > DIA & High School Diploma.

Students who join us from Germany and who are on the Realschul-Level are integrated in the classroom and graduate with the Realschulabschluss upon completion of tenth grade. Please contact our Admissions Coordinator at admissions@giswashington.org to discuss specifics.

Yes, German International School students can participate in PSAT and SAT preparation courses. For further information, please go to: ACADEMICS > Grades 5 through 12 > SAT Preparation & Exams.

Yes, Advanced Placement (AP) classes are part of the academic program. For further information, please go to: ACADEMICS > Grades 5 through 12 > AP Courses and Exams.

We offer a wide range of afternoon program activities from Computer Science, Conducting Experiments, to Fiber Arts and Hip Hop dancing. For older students SAT Prep and Model UN are available, as well. To see the overview of current afternoon courses please go to one of these pages:

> ACADEMICS > Elementary School > Afternoon Program
> ACADEMICS > Grades 5 through 12 > Afternoon Program

In the German school system the academic education of students has priority over their athletic development. Nevertheless, because of the influence of American culture, the German School offers a much wider range of athletic extracurricular activities compared to schools in Germany.

Having an indoor pool, several gyms and outside field space, the school provides opportunities for every student to participate in a variety of sports on a regular basis. In addition to regular physical education classes and extracurricular activities the school frequently competes with public and private schools in the area. Typical sports teams include Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis and Swimming. Students participating in the Athletic Program work toward individual goals and in the direction of physical awareness, mental determination, social cooperation, respect and fairness. Throughout their development, the sports experience prepares the student to understand life’s many challenges. With the support of family and friends, our Sports Program encourages a lifetime obligation to promote physical health and wellbeing.

Yes. The German School has libraries in the Elementary School building as well as in the Upper School building including a library for preschoolers. Together, these libraries dispose of about 36,000 books, CDs, DVDs etc. in German, English and other foreign languages. The Elementary School library has the largest collection of German language youth literature in North America.

> Library of the Preschool
> Library of the Elementary School
> Library of Grades 5 through 12

Yes. The school has two computer labs and a bank of computers in the library. In addition, there is a computer linked to a smartboard in every classroom.

As a model for environmental protection in Maryland, the German School has been teaching its students to separate trash since 2005 and has received several awards from Montgomery County for its successful recycling program. Students are not only taught to appreciate and preserve the environment, but the school also decided to build the Science Building (opened in 2011) in accordance with a green concept. The new building has been registered for certification with the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED Gold Status (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).