Gymnasium
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academic secondary school
A type of secondary school in German-speaking countries that is usually attended after primary school and ends with the Abitur, which qualifies students for university study.
Meine Tochter besucht seit diesem Jahr das Gymnasium.
My daughter has been attending the Gymnasium since this year.
Careful: 'das Gymnasium' (academic secondary school) is not a gymnasium or sports hall! It is a type of secondary school that leads to the Abitur. A sports hall is called 'die Turnhalle' in German, and a place to work out is 'das Fitnessstudio'.
Nach der vierten Klasse wechselt er auf das Gymnasium.
After fourth grade, he is switching to the Gymnasium.
The Gymnasium is a central part of the school system in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It usually ends with the Abitur, the highest school-leaving qualification.
Mit einem guten Abitur vom Gymnasium kann man an jeder Universität studieren.
With a good Abitur from the Gymnasium, you can study at any university.
To say that someone attends this school, you use the preposition 'auf'. You say 'geht auf das Gymnasium' (goes/transfers to the Gymnasium, or goes there daily) and 'ist auf dem Gymnasium' (is at the Gymnasium; state).
Nächstes Jahr geht meine Tochter aufs Gymnasium.
Next year my daughter is going to the Gymnasium.
Realschule
Gymnasium and Realschule are types of secondary school attended after primary school. Gymnasium generally leads to the Abitur and therefore to university study, while Realschule leads to the Mittlere Reife. The choice therefore depends especially on the school-leaving qualification the student is aiming for.
Wer später das Abitur machen möchte, kann nach der Grundschule das Gymnasium besuchen.
Anyone who wants to take the Abitur later can attend Gymnasium after primary school.
Wer die Mittlere Reife anstrebt, kann nach der Grundschule die Realschule besuchen.
Anyone aiming for the Mittlere Reife can attend Realschule after primary school.
