In 1964 the Berlin Parliament enacted a law which enables the school to design its own educational policy consistent with the needs of the diverse student population while conforming to the established educational standards of the United States and Germany. Under this law, the school is governed by an Educational Directorate made up of three representatives of the German government, plus two American and two German parents who are elected annually by the parent class representatives in the Parents' Council. The Educational Directorate designs and decides the educational policy of the school. After a long construction and renovation program, there are new buildings for the sciences, the high school library and administration, for the fine and performing arts, a gymnasium, and a sports field. The high school includes grades 7-13 and serves approximately 820 students.
Instruction is offered in both languages, depending on class composition and teacher fluency.
Where practical, American and German students are taught together in the same classes. Bilingualism is, therefore, a major goal of the school. Parents send their children to the John F. Kennedy School primarily because of the appeal of a bilingual and bicultural education which features an intensive exposure to the language and traditions of the partner culture. Students with no knowledge of German initially receive intensive instruction in a beginners' course, and continue through three additional levels of study. Students of German nationality who entered the school in kindergarten are able to follow instruction in English.