Plans and data for the academic year 2025-2026 in schools
In the upcoming school year of 2024/2025, Germany's educational landscape is set to welcome over 1.5 million pupils across its 4,486 schools, both public and private. The total teaching staff in these schools is estimated to be 143,929, comprising 100,905 teachers for general schools and an additional 21,443 for various support roles. This figure includes teachers from primary schools, secondary schools (Realschulen), vocational schools, and special types of schools. The special types of schools, which cater to newly arrived students without sufficient German, are a significant part of the educational system. These schools, which can be found at middle schools, secondary schools, vocational schools, and grammar schools, aim for rapid language acquisition and integration. It's worth noting that the exact number of teachers in these special schools is not specified in the provided data. In primary schools, an estimate of approximately 13,400 children are linked to comprehensive schools, while around 92,500 children attend primary schools without a link to a comprehensive school. For the Free Waldorf Schools, the estimate is around 1,900 children. For those interested in Special Education and Counseling Centers, the estimate is around 5,200 children. However, the number of teachers in these centers is not specified in the data. The total number of classes across all schools is 69,532, and the number of pupils in Realschulen (secondary schools) is 213,132. The number of pupils in primary schools is not provided in the data. Looking ahead to the school year 2025/2026, the External Statistical Office of the State estimates approximately 113,000 children as new starters. As the start of the school year approaches, a press release was issued on September 11, 2025, announcing that teacher recruitment is in full swing. For any citizen inquiries, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport's website provides a contact form, while press inquiries can be directed to the Ministry's press office. The estimates provided in this article are based on the annual quick report of enrollments to the Federal Statistical Office and the press release on the start of school.
