Realschule

Situation of the school 

The Realschule is a type of secondary school in Germany.

In the German secondary school system, the Realschule is ranked between Hauptschule (lowest) and Gymnasium (highest). After graduating from a Realschule, good students are allowed to attend a professional Gymnasium or a general-education Gymnasium. They can also attend a Berufskolleg or do an apprenticeship.
In most states of Germany, pupils start at a Realschule at the age of ten or eleven and typically finish school at the age of 16–17. In some states, Realschulen have recently been replaced by Oberschulen or Sekundarschulen. In 2006 1.32 million German students attended a Realschule.
At a Realschule, a pupil gets an extended education and learns at least one foreign language, usually English. In the state of Baden-Württemberg, after the 6th grade, the pupil has to choose between technology, Home economics, and a second foreign language, usually French. The new subject becomes the pupil's fifth main subject, after German, maths, science and English, and it is also possible to learn other foreign languages in free workshops. Other subjects are geography, social sciences, economics, history, religious education, and physical education. After the 8th grade a pupil has to choose between arts and music.
High school diplomas obtained in Canada or the United States are usually acknowledged as a Mittlere Reife (graduation from a Realschule).^[1] In some cases however students may apply for certain subjects at a university. All students holding an American high school diploma may apply for the Studienkolleg, and after successfully graduating from this they may attend a German university.^[2] Those holding a high school diploma can choose from a wider range of possible major subjects at a German university if they did well on the SAT or ACT. Those who scored higher than 1300 on the SAT or higher than 28 on the ACT may apply for any subject at a German university.^[3]
Gymnasia and Realgymnasia are the classical higher or secondary schools of Germany.