International schools in Berlin

[adelle 1]

Hello!

I have three children and will be moving to Berlin in two years. At that time, they will be 5,9, and 13. The older children attend a Waldorf school here in America, and I am in the information gathering phase. I know what the options are - Waldorf, International - but could use some real advice from those who have been down this road before. Many thanks in advance!

[JonathanF 1]

Hi Adelle, we are going through the same now with our kids. Our boys are 6 & 8, currently in first & second grade in Michigan. We're looking at the Berlin International School and the Berlin Brandenburg International School. In fact, we will be having interviews there in about 3 weeks as we are going on a househunting/school look-see trip. So look me up in a few weeks and I'll be happy to share our experiences with you! :)

[mistermagoo 8]

The Nelson Mandela School in Berlin

www.nelson-mandela-school.net

 

Charles Dickens School in Berlin

www.charles-dickens-gs.de

[adelle 1]

Jonathan,

I'll be very interested in hearing about your experience in Berlin! Best wishes for your trip!

[jedi 2]

Hi

I was in the same situation last year and had no other option but the berlin international school as the british school was way too expensive. B.I.S is ok although it does cost alot specially if you got a few kids.

why dont you guys try the John .F Kennedy school as they do give preference to americans and its very good from what ive heard...being australian we didnt qualify!!!

As its state and embassy supported it doesnt cost that much and from what i hear the education standard is pretty good and compatible with the US system.

 

Good luck and do pm when you get here if you need any help.

cheers

[lolo 178]

John .F Kennedy forget about it... your kid will never get into college. Its got a bad name.

[JonathanF 1]

Places at JFK go very fast because the fees are state supported. Might be worth looking at for your kids Adelle - we were told no way as (a) they are already over-subscribed this year and ( we are British (this apparently overruled the fact that our kids were born in America and are American citizens - go figure!).

[Guest]

Only those who go to college come to learn that the period comes before the initial.

[colinmanning 200]

The Nelson Mandela school is a state funded school (i.e. not private) and is excellent - my daughter is there. Getting in is not always easy, but they have a well defined acceptance process (outlined on their web site) and it is applied very fairly.

 

From what I hear JFK is not a good school, and it seems to be an American enclave in Berlin - so your kids will not benefit form the wonderful multi-cultural experience that can be growing up in Berlin.

 

Colin

[adelle 1]

Lolo,

Are you kidding about college, or serious? I'm interested in your perspective. Thanks!

[sunny 17]

JFK school has a unique history in Berlin. And to understand the school you have to understand its history. It was set up in the 1960's as a free, German public school governed under the Berlin House of Representatives for the purpose of promoting "intercultural understanding" between the German and Americans. That's their charter and that's why they are not international in scope.

[colinmanning 200]

And thus my comment on the JFK school being an "American enclave in Berlin" - not an international school but one that focusses on maintaining very American values for the kids. If that's what you want for your kids thats your choice. However I believe in that case that your kids are missing out on one of the great aspects of growing up in Berlin, which is the open multi-cultural environment that exists here.

[Fribble 52]

Is there a French international school in Berlin?

[sunny 17]

Not sure I would call it an "American enclave" - a large percentage of the teachers and student body are German. Students study in both languages and they have the option to write the Abitur or get an American style High School diploma.

[colinmanning 200]

Well in my daughter's class in Nelson Mandela school, there are children form Germany, Ireland, Great Britain, Netherlands, Senegal, USA, Canada (maybe some that I missed!), black, white, yellow and brown, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Atheist, Agnostic. For me this means that as well as getting a good education in a bi-lingual school that is state run and not private, my daughter is experiencing different cultures first hand every day.

 

For me, this is one of the great things about bring up children in Germany, and that is one of the main reasons we came back to berlin last year, so that our 18 month old son can also grow up in this environment.

[highered 21]

 

John .F Kennedy forget about it... your kid will never get into college. Its got a bad name.

Can you provide some evidence of that?

Or do simply have some connection with one of the fee-charging international schools in Berlin?

 

Looks like lots of folks got into college last year:

http://www.jfks.de/index.php?id=46

[Tessa28 0]

There is also the Berlin Metropolitan School - not a defined 'international' school per se, but instruction is in English and all the teachers are native speakers. The website is http://www.berlinmetropolitanschool.com

[Fribble 52]

That list of school on the JFK site is not very overwhelming... saying that many of these schools are in the top 10% of colleges is being rather generous. Though of course it does seem some students were waitlisted at better schools-- not the same as actually getting in, though, is it?

[highered 21]

Well, the statement I was responding to was "will never get into college".

 

I do think it's a bit disingenuous to include waitlisted schools in the same list as accepted schools.

[adelle 1]

I must say, I was unprepared for bickering online. I have little respect personally for supposedly great american universities. At the point my children are ready, I would encourage them to find experts in their field and find opportunities to learn. It may or may not be in university. Of more interest to me is the learning environment of the various schools, the possibilities and people's personal experiences. I went to a small and unremarkable Canadian university myself and received just what I needed. Please, can we stick to the point of my question?

A little grouchy,

Adelle