International and Bilingual Schools in Berlin
If you are a family of non-native German speakers and are considering a move to Berlin, you will be happy to hear that there are quite a few international and bilingual schools in Berlin. However, finding an open spot for your child can be quite tricky. It is best to start the school application process as soon as you begin planning for your move. If you are offered a spot on the waiting list at one of the schools, certainly take the opportunity to place your child in the queue. Since international schools are made up of a large percentage of expats, school spaces can open up throughout the year.
Archer Relocation has compiled a list below of the finest international and bilingual schools in Berlin. While we can’t promise acceptance into the school of your choice, we are here to provide a consultation on the educational choices in Berlin and assistance with the administrative work associated with the school application process. To schedule your initial Berlin School Search Consultation, please choose a time here.
Tuition-Free (Public) International and Bilingual Schools in Berlin
Charles Dickens – A primary school (through Year 6) located near Grunewald and the Olympiastadion, Charles Dickens has a European branch (native English and native German) and a German branch. In the European branch, students learn in both their mother tongue and partner tongue. The school aims for a target of 50% native German and 50% native English students. This is a public bilingual school, and the admissions process requires a release from your local German Grundschule.
JFK – JFK is a bilingual (German and English) school with a rich history in Berlin. The school offers an Entrance Class (children 5 years of age), Elementary School (Grade 1 – Grade 6) and High School (Grade 7 – Grade 12) and is located in Zehlendorf. JFK was originally founded in 1960 to promote multiculturalism and bilingual education in the U.S. Embassy and military personnel community. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and exit of the Allied Forces, the school’s mix of students shifted to a greater percentage of German families striving for a bilingual education for their children. Admission into the school, given that JFK is a tuition-free school, can be tough unless you are a U.S. Embassy family. The school receives a large amount of applications each year, so be sure to have your admissions packet complete, in PDF form and emailed to the Admissions office before the deadline of Jan 31st for the Entrance Class and March 31st for the Elementary and High School each year.
Nelson Mandela – Nelson Mandela is a UNESCO school, funded and founded by the State of Berlin. The school, located in Wilmersdorf, focuses on German and English instruction for children in Year 1 up to Year 12. The curriculum is based on the International Primary Curriculum, International Baccalaureate, and the educational requirements set by the Berlin Senate.
Photo Credit: Berlin Metropolitan School
Tuition-Based International and Bilingual Schools in Berlin
Berlin British School – Curriculum: International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), English National Curriculum, Bilingual Ersatzschule, International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP). Located near the Olympiastadion, the Berlin British School provides education for children ages 2 through 18 mixing elements from the British educational system with the IB curriculum. All students wear a school uniform.
Berlin International School – Curriculum: Berlin Rahmenlehrplan, Mittlere Schulabschluss (MSA), International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP). Berlin International School is located in a lovely, green area of Dahlem and has approximately 820 students from 60 different countries. Instruction is in English and German.
Berlin Brandenburg International School – Curriculum: International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), Reggio Emilia, Middle Years Programme (MYP), International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) and Career-related IB. Over 25 years old, Berlin Brandenburg International School is an English-language school with over 700 students. The school is located in leafy Southwestern Berlin on an immense campus. BBIS also offers a boarding school for Years 9 – 12.
Berlin Metropolitan School – Curriculum: International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), Berlin Rahmenlehrplan (MSA) and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP). One of four international and bilingual schools in Berlin’s city center, Berlin Metropolitan School is the oldest and largest of the intown choices. The school offers education to children in the ELC (ages 3 to 6 years), Primary School (Year 1 – Year 6) and Secondary School (Year 7 – Year 12).
Berlin Cosmopolitan School – Curriculum: International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), Berlin Rahmenlehrplan (MSA), Bilingual Abitur and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP). Berlin Cosmopolitan School is another option if you are considering living in town in the former East, as the school is nestled amongst some of the more posh streets in Mitte. An Early Years, Primary and Secondary School education is offered, and the school has over 700 students enrolled. All students wear a school uniform.
Berlin Bilingual School – Curriculum: Berliner Rahmenlehrplan, International Primary Curriculum (IPC), UK National Curriculum for England and Wales, Mittlere Schulabschluss (MSA), the Edexcel (International) General Certificate of Secondary Education (I/GCSE) and Abitur. With the primary school in Friedrichshain and Secondary School in Prenzlauer Berg, over 420 students attend Berlin Bilingual School.
Phorms – Curriculum: Cambridge International Primary Programme, Mittlere Schulabschluss (MSA), Abitur, USA Advanced Placement (AP). With over 800 students from ages 2 -18, Phorms is another bilingual option for families living in the city of Berlin. The approach at Phorms is full immersion, with heavy concentration in English in earlier years and increased German in later years.
Platanus – Curriculum: Berliner Rahmenlehrplan, Mittlere Schulabschluss (MSA). Situated in the northern Berlin district of Pankow, Platanus offers a bilingual education to students who speak either German or English at a native level. The school offers education to students in Kindergarten through grade 10, with a strong focus on math and science in the secondary school years. Platanus strives to meet the individual learning needs of each student, providing an equal-opportunity environment for students of all levels and abilities. Approximately 450 students are currently enrolled at Platanus.
As an international family, you will have no shortage of choices for international and bilingual schools in Berlin. However, the number of options can seem daunting. Archer Relocation is here to help facilitate the process should you need us. To schedule your initial Berlin School Search Consultation, please choose a time here.
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Archer Relocation has been providing relocation services to families, individuals and companies in Berlin since early 2015. Managing Director, Emily Archer, founded the company desiring to use her first-hand experience as an expat to make the relocation process as smooth as possible for others moving to Berlin. Read other useful information about moving to and living in Berlin, such as ‘How to Find a Berlin Apartment’, on our Berlin Blog.
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