What are the schools in Germany like?

"Schools in Germany are divided into four major categories; public schools, private schools, international schools, and special purpose schools. Public schools are funded and organized by the local districts and offer free education up to the 13th year of schooling. Private schools are run by private organizations and include religious schools and independent schools. International schools are designed for those studying aboard, which often provide a curriculum based off of the student's home country. Finally, special purpose schools are tailored towards specific student needs and may focus on specific subject areas such as foreign languages, or offer alternative methods of teaching such as Montessori. In addition, all students are required to participate in primary schooling spanning nine years, followed by a further four or five years of secondary education. Generally, the school year in Germany runs from September through June," commented one expat when asked about in Germany.