middle school
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middle school
A type of lower secondary school that follows primary school and has different forms depending on a country's education system. It prepares students for vocational training or for moving on to higher-level schools.
Nach der vierten Klasse wechselte er auf die Mittelschule.
After fourth grade, he transferred to middle school.
The word consists of 'Mittel-' (middle) and 'Schule' (school). It refers to a type of school that lies in the middle of the educational path, that is, after primary school and before vocational training or a higher-level school.
Die Mittelschule soll die Schüler auf das Berufsleben vorbereiten.
Middle school is intended to prepare students for working life.
The term 'Mittelschule' (middle school) is not used in all German federal states. School systems and the names for school types after primary school vary greatly by region.
In Bayern gibt es die Mittelschule als eine der weiterführenden Schularten.
In Bavaria, the Mittelschule is one of the types of secondary school.
Pay attention to the prepositions: you go 'auf die Mittelschule' (to middle school; movement, accusative), but you are 'in der Mittelschule' (in middle school; state, dative).
Meine Tochter geht seit diesem Jahr auf die Mittelschule.
My daughter has been going to middle school since this year.
Gymnasium
'das Gymnasium' and 'die Mittelschule' are both schools attended after primary school. 'Gymnasium' is a specific type of school that normally leads to the Abitur. 'Mittelschule' is more general and can be organized somewhat differently depending on the country or federal state. Often, it refers to lower secondary education and to pathways into vocational training or later into a higher-level school. The words can be confusing because both concern older schoolchildren and students. If the Abitur qualification is important, 'Gymnasium' is more precise. If only a middle-level secondary school form is meant, 'Mittelschule' fits better.
Mein Vater hat sich über die Mittelschule in unserer Stadt informiert.
My father found out about the middle school in our town.
Herr Wolf fragt, ob seine Tochter das Gymnasium nach den Ferien besuchen kann.
Mr. Wolf asks whether his daughter can attend the Gymnasium after the holidays.