Private Schools in Germany

Within the German school system, an expansion of private schools in the general educational and vocational field is to be witnessed. In this, different forms of private schools providing general education gain special public attention because they offer international degrees, bilingual instruction, or all-day schooling and are established in the larger German cities. But also traditional forms such as schools affiliated with a specific denomination, free schools, Waldorf or (private) Montessori schools are quite popular among parents and children with a specific social background. The authors describe the quantitative expansion of private schools and localize a pattern of conditions determined by different social, legal, and economic factors as the cause of this growth. Furthermore, consequences that may well be generalized and that affect the entire German school system are formulated and a requisite research program is outlined.