Overview

• Approximately 10% of Berlin’s sixth graders did not secure a spot at any of their top three school choices for the upcoming year.
• Children from high-demand districts like Pankow are most likely to face door-to-door commutes of up to 60 minutes.
• Education authorities abolished the Gymnasium trial year and imposed stricter entrance criteria, shifting more students into integrated secondary schools.
• Parent representatives and legal experts have urged families to file administrative objections, a step that forces the education office to review assignments.
• If objections fail, some parents are weighing lawsuits with about a 50% chance of success, though court cases can cost several thousand euros.