The German educational system has its own unique system that has similarities and differences from the system used in education in the United States. In theory, citizens are able to choose the type of education they want and are given access to their preferred occupation or profession. Education is free and most types are co-educational. It is not part of full time schooling and was originally intended as an educational supplement and to compensate for educational deficiencies.
All children have the opportunity to attend, but attendance is voluntary.
Progress reports of strengths are used instead of formal grading. There are two levels of secondary schools. This is a stage of special encouragement, observation, and orientation to help the student in deciding future educational plans and fields of emphasis. Students that attend the Realschulen are seeking access to middle-levels of government, industry and business. Curriculum is the same as of the Hauptschulen, but there is additional course work in foreign language, shorthand, word processing, bookkeeping, and computer skills.