German School Award 2026
20 Schools Advance to the Next Round
With creativity and commitment, they are reshaping education: 20 schools from across Germany have been nominated for the German School Award 2026. The award will be presented on September 29, 2026, in Berlin, and comes with total prize money of €300,000.
2800schools have applied for the German School Award so far.
They do not wait for better conditions—they create them themselves: schools across Germany are developing compelling responses to the challenges of everyday school life with creativity and a strong sense of teamwork. Their success is not based on exceptional resources, but on the smart and effective use of what is already available.
Twenty of these schools have impressed the jury of the German School Award and have now been shortlisted for the German School Award 2026. They were selected from a total of 87 applications submitted from across Germany as well as from the network of German Schools Abroad. The selection was made by an approximately 50‑member jury composed of experts from educational research, school practice, and public administration.
On-Site Jury Visits and Award Ceremony in Berlin
In the coming weeks, jury members will visit all 20 schools to gain a comprehensive picture on site. They will hold discussions with teachers, students, parents, and external partners, observe classes, and experience school projects firsthand. Based on these impressions, the jury will nominate up to 15 schools for the final round in mid‑June.
The shortlisted schools will take part in the formal award ceremony on September 29, 2026, in Berlin. The award will be presented by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The main prize is endowed with €100,000, with five additional prizes of €30,000 each. All other nominated schools will receive a recognition award of €5,000. In total, €300,000 in prize money will be awarded.
- Ferdinand-von-Steinbeis-Schule in Tuttlingen, 78532, Baden-Württemberg
- Heinrich-Schickhardt-Gemeinschaftsschule in Bad Boll, 73087, Baden-Württemberg
- Hans-Carossa-Grundschule Heining-Schalding in Passau, 94036, Bayern
- Hans-Leipelt-Schule Donauwörth, 86609, Bayern
- Mittelschule Altdorf in Altdorf bei Nürnberg, 90518, Bayern
- Nymphenburger Schulen in München, 80638, Bayern
- Käthe-Kollwitz-Gymnasium in Berlin, 10439, Berlin
- Stadtteilschule Wilhelmsburg in Hamburg, 21107, Hamburg
- Bertha-von-Suttner-Schule in Mörfelden-Walldorf, 64546, Hessen
- Georg-Christoph-Lichtenberg-Oberstufengymnasium in Bruchköbel, 63486, Hessen
- Paul-Maar-Schule in Bad Homburg, 61352, Hessen
- Evangelische Schule Dr. Eckart Schwerin in Hagenow, 19230, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Oberschule Berenbostel in Garbsen, 30827, Niedersachsen
- Friedrich-von-Bodelschwingh-Schule in Bergkamen, 59192, Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Gemeinschaftsgrundschule Fröndenberg, 58730, Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Sankt Mauritius-Sekundarschule in Halle, 06130, Sachsen-Anhalt
- Johann-Heinrich-Voß-Schule in Eutin, 23701, Schleswig-Holstein
- Kurt-Tucholsky-Schule Flensburg, 24943, Schleswig-Holstein
- Staatliche Grundschule Tannroda in Bad Berka, 99438, Thüringen
- Deutsche Schule Sofia, Bulgarien
An Award with Broad Impact
The jury assesses applicant schools based on the six areas of quality of the German School Award: quality of instruction, student achievement, approaches to diversity, responsibility, school climate, school life, and external partners, and the school as a learning institution. These criteria are now widely recognized as key indicators of high-quality schooling.
The award’s impact extends far beyond the schools that receive it. Successful concepts are made accessible nationwide through the German School Portal, as well as through professional development programs and publications. Applicant schools can also take part in the German School Award Forum for 15 months, where they work intensively on developing their teaching practices. A nationwide school visitation program gives teachers opportunities to gain insights into the day-to-day work of award-winning schools. In this way, a continuous cycle emerges in which effective school practices are made visible, shared, and further developed over time.
German School Award
Learn moreThe German School Award, presented by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH and Heidehof Stiftung GmbH, honors Germany’s best schools for the twentieth time this year. The award is presented in cooperation with ARD and the ZEIT Publishing Group.