doris
Find Schools Events My shortlist My account Ask doris
Parent Guide Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
J

John F. Kennedy School Berlin

Germany, Berlin

Shortlist
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Chief Marketing Officer

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in German, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 5 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1960
Bus Service Yes
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum German Curriculum, American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP)
Taught languages English, German, French, Latin, Spanish
Strengths Languages, Sport, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Leadership and Professional
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

John F. Kennedy School Berlin is a public, K-12 German-American bilingual school in Berlin Steglitz-Zehlendorf, serving more than 1,600 students. The program combines a German curriculum with an American approach and offers Advanced Placement in the upper grades, enabling graduates to pursue either the German Abitur or a U.S. High School Diploma. From Elementary through Grade 6, instruction is bilingual, with daily integration of English and German; in Grades 7–12, instruction is balanced across languages, preparing students to graduate fluent in both. The campus at Teltower Damm hosts facilities, including a library serving both language programs, computer labs, a media center, and multiple gyms, plus a year-round rowing option and fields. Extracurriculars abound: Model United Nations, Suzuki violin, choirs, Odyssey of the Mind, and Scouting, alongside the JFK Friendship Center and Hort after-school care. The school emphasizes bicultural, international education and offers language electives such as French, Spanish, and Latin.

jfks.de

Teltower Damm 87-93, 14167 Berlin, Germany

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

John F. Kennedy School Berlin has instruction in German, English.

Location
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.

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

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

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

Country affiliation
Germany and the United States

School day structure
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.

Bus service
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.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees
Application fees

- The John F. Kennedy School (JFKS) does not charge tuition and there is no school application fee for admission to the Entrance Class or grades 1–12.

Tuition fees by school year / year group

- There are no tuition charges for any grade at JFKS; annual tuition for all grade levels is EUR 0.

Billing schedule and payment terms (school-level and related services)

- General school tuition: not applicable because tuition is not charged.

- After-school program (Late Birds): monthly fees are calculated for the whole school year and are charged from August through June; the month of July is not charged. Monthly fees remain payable during student illness, vacation, and other absences and remain due until a termination/cancellation becomes effective. A one-time registration fee applies.

- Hort (city-subsidized after-school care): Hort places are provided under Berlin's voucher system (Bedarfsbescheid/Hortgutschein) and billing/eligibility is handled through the Jugendamt of the family's Berlin district; families must apply for the Hort voucher. Costs for Hort are determined through the municipal process rather than by the school.

Boarding fees

- The John F. Kennedy School does not have boarding facilities; boarding fees are not applicable.

Other costs and fees (examples and specifics)

- School lunch (Elementary School): school lunch for elementary-school students (Entrance Class–Grade 6) is provided free of charge under Berlin Senat provisions.

- School lunch (Grades 7–12 / High School): warm lunch portions are available and are charged at EUR 4.36 per portion; lunches ordered in the school's web portal/app are charged for binding orders; spontaneous lunch may be paid in cash at the posted price.

- After-school care (Late Birds): monthly fees by grade and package (prices per child, per month):
- Entrance Class (EC) – Mini Package: EUR 85.00; Maxi Package: EUR 155.00.
- Grade 1 – Mini Package: EUR 85.00; Maxi Package: EUR 155.00.
- Grade 2 – Mini Package: EUR 85.00; Maxi Package: EUR 155.00.
- Grade 3 – Mini Package: EUR 70.00; Maxi Package: EUR 125.00.
- Grade 4 – Mini Package: EUR 70.00; Maxi Package: EUR 125.00.
- Grade 5 – Mini Package: EUR 35.00; Maxi Package: EUR 60.00.
- Grade 6 – Mini Package: EUR 35.00; Maxi Package: EUR 60.00.
- One-time Late Birds registration fee: EUR 25.00.
- Late Birds monthly fees are billed August–June (July free); vacation/week-camp charges are billed separately.

- Lockers and Verein membership: the parent-run Verein operates the high-school locker program and the school shop. Current Verein membership and locker-related charges include a one-time high-school locker deposit of EUR 10 (payable in cash when requested) and an annual Verein membership fee used for Verein services; locker assignment and membership are managed through the Verein. (Verein materials indicate membership fees and locker procedures; locker deposit and membership are administered by The Verein.)

- School Shop and merchandise: the Verein School Shop sells school-branded items (hoodies, sweatshirts, mugs, etc.) for reasonable prices; the School Shop accepts cash and digital payment methods via the Shop's payment system.

- Extracurricular / optional program costs: costs for optional activities, field trips, vacation camps, instrument or private lessons, competition travel, and special events are charged separately as applicable; specific amounts vary by activity and are billed or collected when those activities are offered. (Examples on-site include separately billed holiday camps associated with Late Birds and items funded by the Verein.)

Refund information and cancellation terms

- Late Birds: monthly fees are charged for the full school-year months (August–June) and remain payable during illness and absences and until cancellation becomes effective; there is no automatic refund for months already billed once the billing period is in effect. Vacation camp fees are billed separately.

- School lunch: only bindingly ordered lunch portions made through the lunch portal are charged; that ordering process controls whether an individual portion is billed. Spontaneous cash purchases are final at point of sale.

- Hort (EFöB): Hort places and any parental co-payments are managed via the municipal voucher process through the Jugendamt; refund or reduction rules follow the Jugendamt / Hort voucher regulations rather than a JFKS-specific refund policy.

Fee payment options

- School lunch: lunches ordered through the web-based portal/app are paid digitally through the caterer's portal; spontaneous lunch purchases may be paid in cash at the point of sale.

- School Shop (Verein): the School Shop accepts cash, PayPal, EC cards, credit cards, and Apple Pay via the Shop's SumUp payment system.

- Lockers and small on-campus payments: certain small payments (locker deposit, on-site collections) are requested in cash where indicated (example: EUR 10 locker deposit requested as exact change).

- Hort and municipal-subsidized services: Hort placement and any parental contributions are handled through the Jugendamt voucher procedure; payment arrangements follow municipal processes.

- Other optional activities and services: payment methods vary by provider (Verein, caterer, Late Birds provider, external vendors) and are stated at the time of registration; the School Shop and the lunch portal support digital payments where noted.
Academics

John F. Kennedy School Berlin teaches German Curriculum, American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP) for students aged 5 to 18.

Curriculum
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.

Exam Results
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.

Higher Education Progression
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.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions

Admissions
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.

Scholarships
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.

Waitlist
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.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Germany View all schools in Berlin View all schools in Germany American curriculum schools in Germany Open days & tours in Berlin What is the American curriculum? View all schools Search all schools
doris
linked-in-logo facebook-logo instagram-logo
About
Parent Guide
Transparency Charter
Privacy Notice Terms of Use Cookies Notice Cookie Preferences
© 2026 doris Worldwide Ltd. All rights reserved.