Colegio Alemán La Serena

Cuatro Esquinas Avenue no street number, La Serena, Chile

Early Childhood Education; Primary and lower secondary (Ciclo Inicial, Primer Ciclo, Segundo Ciclo) and upper secondary (IV Medio); International Baccalaureate program

German international school (Deutsche Schule La Serena)

Chile

Christian (Western humanist) perspective

The Curriculum is organized into three cycles: Initial Cycle (Ciclo Inicial) with levels including preschool and Kindergarten; Primer Ciclo (First Cycle) from 1st to 6th grade; and Segundo Ciclo (Second Cycle) from 7th grade to 4th year of secondary education. Extracurricular activities support the school's Educational Objectives and are guided by general regulatory dispositions. The Academic Directorate plans, organizes, supervises, and evaluates curricular activities. The school offers a German-language Sprachdiplom program with three levels—A2, B1 and C1—and conducts the corresponding German-language assessments at various grade levels. The Intercambio program promotes intercultural competence through an exchange with Germany, coordinated by the Liga Chileno Alemana (DCB) and the VDA, enriching language use and global awareness.

The Sprachdiplom levels include B1 for Studienkolleg and C1 for university studies in Germany. The EstudioS Superiores section provides a pathway via INSALCO for higher education opportunities.

1. Postulation and eligibility. Admission postulation is open to all families. The ordinary admission process applies to Medio Mayor, PreKinder, and Kinder; extraordinary admission may be opened for other levels if vacancies exist. A seat is reserved for students with permanent special educational needs in the ordinary process, and extraordinary admission may be opened for students with special needs if vacancies exist. Applicants may apply to only one admission process (ordinary or extraordinary). The start and end dates of each process are announced, and applications are submitted online through the admission portal.

2. Documentation and fees. Attach the required documents: birth certificate; a photo for the student file; an educational report for Jardín, PreKinder, and Kinder; for entry to Básico and Enseñanza Media, proof of promotion from the previous year and the current year's report; for 2º Básico to IV Medio, proof of attendance at a school with an International Baccalaureate; for levels from a German or English program, a language certificate (German A1/A2/B1 or PET) if applicable. The documents must be complete and submitted by the deadlines. Incomplete documents will not be considered. The application is online and there is a postulation fee per applicant, which is non-refundable.

3. Admission testing. After postulation, admission tests are conducted. For 2º Básico to IV Medio, German tests are required unless a certificate demonstrates language proficiency. For 1º Básico, an Educational Test assesses reading, writing and arithmetic. For 2º Básico to IV Medio, tests cover Language and Mathematics according to the school's programs. Tests are administered under supervision by school staff; assistance such as dictionaries or calculators may be permitted by prior notice.

4. Observation day (Initial Cycle). Applicants for the Initial Cycle attend an Observation Day, lasting 1 hour 45 minutes, with two parts: an observation and an individual maturity evaluation. The day is conducted by school specialists. Medio Mayor and PreKinder are exempt from the attainment criteria. The observation assesses Autonomy, Coexistence, Identity, Language, Motor skills, and logical-mathematical reasoning.

5. Guardian interviews. Interviews with families are conducted via Zoom or another method designated by the school. The interviews occur after the observation and tests and provide a chance to discuss the student and family context.

6. Publication of admitted list. The list of admitted students is published and communicated to families by email. Publication dates are defined in the admissions calendar and may be modified.

7. Enrollment process (Matrícula). Following admission, enrollment information is provided. The Protocolo de Admisión y Matrícula outlines the general procedures and the charges for admission, enrollment and annual tuition. The Department of Admissions provides enrollment details, deadlines, and required documents. Enrollment is completed by submitting the required documents and paying the applicable fees.

Beca. The school operates a Scholarship Fund to support regular students whose socioeconomic situation is insufficient. Scholarships may cover up to 100% of the monthly tuition, with the board deciding the percentage for each student; the enrollment fee is not discounted. The number of scholarships granted depends on the school's finances. The Scholarship Fund is not available to children of staff. A commission reviews applications once a year in the second half of the year; results are communicated to each family by email. To access a scholarship, complete the Postulation Form with all required information and submit the mandatory documents. The commission may request additional information from the homeroom teacher. The commission may approve or reject any application, and the scholarship framework is reviewed annually by the Board.