John F. Kennedy School Berlin

The JFK Berlin campus is at Teltower Damm 87-93, 14167 Berlin, Germany. It is in the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district in southwestern Berlin. The school operates as a German-American public school serving Entrance Class through Grade 12.

Elementary School (EC - 6th Grade) and High School (7-12), with Entrance Class included.

Public school; German-American bilingual education; day school.

Student Support Services include Counselors, Abitur Coordinators, Special Education Teachers, Pedagogical Assistants, Registrar and Learning Support.

Germany and the United States

The school day for Grades 1-2 starts at 8:00 and ends at 13:30. Arrival supervision runs from 07:30 to 07:55.

Walking or biking; BVG public transportation (bus, U-Bahn, S-Bahn). Nearest S-Bahn: Zehlendorf (Line S1); nearest bus stops: Schönower Park (Bus 285) and Schweizerhofpark (Buses 285 and X10). All Berlin students qualify for a free BVG monthly student ticket.

The John F. Kennedy School Berlin runs a K–12 bilingual German‑American program. The language program is bilingual, English and German, and all students participate in instruction in both languages. Elementary School (Entrance Class through Grade 2) is taught bilingually with daily integration of both languages; from Grade 3 to Grade 6, all subjects are taught in the first language of the teacher. In High School (Grades 7–12), English- and German-speaking students are taught together, with three homeroom classes per grade mainly in English and three mainly in German (excluding language classes). In Grades 7–10 the goal is 50% instruction in German and 50% in English, with students exposed to both languages by graduation. Spanish, French and Latin are offered as electives, and students can pursue either the German Abitur or a U.S. High School Diploma in Grades 11–12, with the program remaining college preparatory throughout.

German Abitur is the standard track for Grades 11–12, with examinations in spring and a final grade calculated from courses and exams; in 2025 the Abitur average was 1.92. The school also offers an American High School Diploma via a dual-credential option, with AP and other college-prep coursework. AP results for the Class of 2025 show 25 subjects tested, 89 students took AP exams, 232 total exams, 90% of exams earned a score of 3 or above, and 93% of test takers scored a 3 on at least one exam. SAT results for 2024–2025 show a mean of 652 for Reading & Writing, 608 for Mathematics, totaling 1,259. Approximately 90% of JFKS students ultimately attend a university.

Approximately 90% of JFKS students ultimately attend a university. The High School Program offers two credentials: the German Abitur and the U.S. High School Diploma; Abitur graduates can enter German universities and other international universities, while Diploma graduates can gain admission to U.S. universities and institutions worldwide. College & Career counseling supports university admissions, with criteria including high school record, class rank, test scores (PSAT, SAT, ACT, TOEFL, AP), essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, and interviews.

1. The John F. Kennedy School Berlin conducts selective admissions based on previous school records and, where necessary, testing; all admissions are probationary for one year in elementary school and one semester in high school. 2. Applications are accepted only during specified application periods; JFKS admits on a space-available basis at each grade level, with hundreds of applications each year and only a limited number admitted; no exceptions to deadlines. 3. Admissions are governed by the JFKS Act and by an Educational Directorate resolution; the German language version is legally-binding and the English translation is for convenience. 4. Entrance Class (EC/EK) requires that the child has German or U.S. citizenship (or both) and that at least one parent is a German or U.S. citizen; the child must speak the language corresponding to their citizenship as a first/dominant language to support a balanced American and German contingent. 5. If citizenship/language conditions are not met, admission may be possible only by decision of the Education Directorate, subject to place availability and not blocking German/U.S. applicants; historically these conditions have not been met due to high demand. 6. 7. Application processing: after submission, a confirmation email is sent within 4–6 weeks; applications are processed in the order they are received within the application periods; submission date does not affect priority. 8. Legal framework: the Admissions Regulations govern all processes; the German version is legally binding; the English translation is for convenience. 9. Lotteries: 95 spots in the Entrance Class are divided roughly 47/48 American and 48/47 German; priority admissions are allocated by first language and nationality; remaining spaces are filled by a lottery; lottery results are communicated by email. 10. Probationary year: the first year at JFKS is probationary; families must also register with their local Einzugsschule for Grade 1 to secure a seat if probation is not passed; German registration timelines differ. 11. For Grades 1–6, international/third-national applicants can be admitted only if no German or American applicants are on the waiting list; admission is highly constrained by space and demand.

The Dr. Alan Poland Memorial Music Scholarship exists at JFKS; Recipients perform in a dedicated recital; The Alumni Benefit Concert supports the alumni scholarship program for JFKS graduates, funding the alumni scholarship program.

International students may be admitted to grades 7–12 only if there are no German or American applicants on the waiting list; admission begins after review of complete applications, with confirmation typically within six to eight weeks; the actual admission process for Grades 7–12 starts in April/May; the school maintains a waiting list and space is limited, so international applicants are rarely admitted when German or American applicants are on the waiting list.