The German Approach

We are one of only four schools in the United States that are recognized as German Schools Abroad and offer the prestigious German High School Degree, the International Abitur.

Joining our school community allows students not only to become fluent in German as well as English but also sets them on the path to become open-minded, independent thinkers. A robust, internationally-oriented, and well-rounded German curriculum that equally emphasizes languages, sciences, mathematics, and the arts opens the doors for our students to the best colleges and universities in the United States, Germany, and worldwide.

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Early Childhood Education

In Germany preschool is called “Kindergarten’, which means children’s garden. The term was coined by the German pedagogue Friedrich Fröbel in the early 19th century.

Our teachers maintain structured yet open classrooms. From early childhood onwards, teachers encourage children to become independent and creative learners and to develop critical and analytical minds. Children are given clear expectations and boundaries and learn to live respectfully and practice tolerance in a community of their peers. Democratic principles are introduced at an early age and mutual respect and intercultural understanding are values that are translated into everyday life in the classroom and on the playground.

The German International Abitur

The German International Abitur is an internationally-acclaimed college preparatory curriculum and diploma that provides an academically exceptional and culturally rich multilingual education to students of all nationalities and backgrounds.

The Abitur program is a two-year curriculum that starts in grade 11. Depending on the subject, classes are taught in German or English, and occasionally in both languages. Over the course of two years, students are immersed in Language & Literature in German, as well as English, learn a third language, and participate in a rigorous science and mathematics program as well as the arts.

The program culminates in the Abitur exams in the spring of senior year. Students take three written and two oral exams, which are overseen by a German official. The final Abitur score includes grades from both junior and senior years, as well as the Abitur exams.

Visit our high school program and college counseling program webpages to learn more.

Career Opportunities

Our graduates benefit from a wealth of choices when applying to colleges and universities. Students who earn the Abitur have a wide range of options available when it comes to attending universities in Germany, intern in a German-speaking country, or enrolling in an apprenticeship program.

Our graduates are admitted to selective colleges and universities in the U.S., Great Britain, and other European countries, where higher education is often free of charge or costs much less than in North America. For many families, that could represent a tuition savings of $100,000 or more. University admissions directors around the world acknowledge that German International Abitur graduates stand out in a sea of applicants. Once admitted, graduates often find that they can receive college credit for high school coursework.

Germany is not only the world’s fourth-largest economy and the economic engine of Europe. It is also a major trade partner for North American countries and offers many research and work opportunities in computing, biotechnology, alternative energy, and more. Also, today in Europe, more than 100 million people speak German, outnumbering English, French, or Spanish speakers. GISB graduates are uniquely qualified to build a successful career and earn above-average salaries in this market.

To learn more about the opportunities for GISB graduates, visit GermanApproach.org, a joint website of North American schools that offer the German International Abitur.

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