secondary school
Loading your saved state.
secondary school
A type of secondary school in Germany that follows primary school. Its exact focus and structure can differ depending on the federal state.
Nach der vierten Klasse wechselte er auf die Oberschule in der Nachbarstadt.
After fourth grade, he transferred to the secondary school in the neighboring town.
The word is made up of 'ober-' (upper/higher) and 'Schule' (school). Here, 'Ober-' means 'higher' and refers to the fact that this type of school follows primary school.
Mein Sohn kommt nächstes Jahr auf die Oberschule.
My son is going to secondary school next year.
To express movement, you use 'auf die Oberschule' (to secondary school). To describe a place where someone is, you say 'in der Oberschule' (in secondary school).
Er wechselt nach den Ferien auf die Oberschule.
He is transferring to secondary school after the holidays.
The German school system is different in each federal state. Exactly what an 'Oberschule' (secondary school) is and which grade levels it includes is not the same throughout Germany.
In Sachsen ist die Oberschule eine verbreitete Schulform, die zur Mittleren Reife führt.
In Saxony, the Oberschule is a common type of school that leads to the Mittlere Reife qualification.
Gymnasium
'das Gymnasium' and 'die Oberschule' can both refer to a secondary school attended after primary school. The difference is that 'Gymnasium' is a more clearly defined type of school with the goal of the Abitur. 'Oberschule' varies depending on the federal state and may combine different educational tracks. That is why 'Oberschule' is less specific than 'Gymnasium'. Learners may confuse the words because both stand for schools attended after primary school. If you want to say clearly that it is about the path to the Abitur, 'Gymnasium' is more precise. 'Oberschule' fits when this is what that type of school is called locally.
In unserem Ort ist die Oberschule direkt neben der Sporthalle.
In our town, the secondary school is right next to the sports hall.
Meine Schwester besucht das Gymnasium, weil sie später Medizin studieren möchte.
My sister attends the Gymnasium because she wants to study medicine later.