Education

Hohenfels Schools

The Hohenfels community is served by an on-post elementary school (PK-5^th) and an on-post middle/high school (6^th-12^th).  Specific information about both schools, bus service, sports programs, and before or after school programs can be found at the school websites:

• Hohenfels Elementary School
• Hohenfels Middle/High School 

In general children will attend a Department of Dependents Educational Activities (DoDEA) sponsored school. The option of home schooling and attendance of a local school is available. It is easy for very young preschool children to adapt to the new language and curriculum. However, older children often have a difficult time as teaching methodology, language, and school calendar are very different from American institutions. 

DoDEA provides schooling options for prekindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school students to the children of Department of Defense military and civilians stationed in Europe.

DoDEA School Registration

Please ensure that the following records are available at the time of registration: Previous school records, child's social security number, report card, birth certificate, orders assigning soldier to Hohenfels w/command sponsorship of child, passport and valid ID card of parent or child and current immunization records. Also, be ready to provide local and stateside emergency contact telephone numbers and addresses and your local contact information. 

Age requirements are:

• Pre-Kindergarten Programs, a child must be 4 years old by September 1.
• Kindergarten Programs, a child must be 5 years old by September 1.
• First Grade, a child must be 6 years old by September 1. 

If you have any questions about exceptions, contact DoDEA.

Eligibility

Soldiers and federal service employees hired from the USA are allowed to use DoDEA schools free of tuition. Effective school year (SY) 2002-03 a tuition waiver granted equal enrollment priority to dependents of appropriated fund (APF) full-time, local-hire employees and NAF full-time, local-hire employees. Sponsor may still be required to submit the following documents until further instructions are given Sponsor's SF50, Sponsor and student ID cards, Transportation Agreement or latest LES, PCS orders and Previous school records, and Immunization records.

Note for DoD Contractors: Children of contractors should review the DoDEA eligibility information found at this link.  https://www.dodea.edu/registration/europe-region.

School Lunch Program

The Exchange school meal program is approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This means that the Exchange school meal program follows the same regulations and guidelines as schools throughout the United States. Exchagne provides Free and Reduced-Price meals for students who qualify under Federal Guidelines. The school menus follow USDA nutritional requirements.

Free & Reduced Meal Program

Families meeting certain financial criteria may qualify for the free & reduced meal program. Exchange manages this program and applications are received at https://linqconnect.com/.

Requirement for Local National or Home School Students

Military and civilian sponsors of school-age children may choose to not use the DoDEA schools. At their own expense, they may choose to enroll them in a host-nation school, international school, or in a home school program. For more information contact the School Liaison Officer, in Building 10.

Special Education

Due to the overseas location any Special Education needs are limited to those who have gone through the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) enrollment process. Hohenfels is designated a Category 4 community for the purpose of Exceptional Family Member Program and offers all the services attendant to the designation. The EFMP deals with cases on an INDIVIDUAL BASIS. There are very little special education services available.

Special Transportation to and from school is available for Elementary and High School students.

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) provides education for children prekindergarten through 12th grade. DoDEA schools are accredited by the North Central Association.

• Hohenfels Elementary School - https://hohenfelses.dodea.edu/
• Hohenfels High School - https://hohenfelsmhs.dodea.edu/

There are several private schools in the Hohenfels area. Contact the School Liaison Officer for information about private, international, and German schools.

You may reach out to your SLO at CIV: +49 9472-708-2082, DSN: 314-522-2082 or HohenfelsSLO@army.mil

Home schooling is authorized for DoDEA eligible families. For more information about homeschooling and auxiliary enrollment with DoDEA, contact the School Liaison Officer at CIV: +49 9472-708-2082, DSN: 314-522-2082 or HohenfelsSLO@army.mil

How can I plan for a successful school transition?

It’s never too early to start your transition planning. Here are some things you can do even before you have official orders:

• Request copies of your children’s records from the school they have been attending. Make sure you hand carry these to your new location.
• Request copies of your children’s immunization records and hand carry these to your new location.
• Research deadlines in your new location, such as dates for school registration, sports try-outs, and other extracurricular activities sign-ups.
• Research withdrawal requirements and potential accelerated withdrawal opportunities at your current school.

Use the following resources to help navigate your children’s education needs and make school transitions smoother.

• Your installation school liaison is your main point of contact for pre-K - 12 education. School liaisons provide an array of transition support for children. They can help with information about school districts and boundaries, and campus specific programs and activities to ensure you find the best fit for your child’s educational and extracurricular needs. School liaisons can also help with transferring school records and credits, registering for classes, locating after school activities and much more. School liaisons are experts in transition support and well versed in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. If your child will be attending a public or Department of Defense Education Activity school, learn more about successful educational transitions in this Guide for Parents.
• Education consultants at Military OneSource can help connect you to a wide variety of education resources, including information about local schools and help finding a tutor in the area for your child.
• If your family has a child with special needs, your local school liaison can connect you with your installation Exceptional Family Member Program, as well as help you navigate your local school special education program. Learn more about EFMP family support and special needs resources.

How do I find out about schools near my new duty station?

There are several ways you can gather information about local school options at your next duty station.

• Your installation school liaison office can provide information about local schools and programs, as well as assist with a variety of transition issues such as transferring credits, registering for classes, locating extracurricular activities and more. They also provide deployment support, college, career and military readiness, scholarship information and more.
• Education consultants at Military OneSource can provide information about local schools and help you find a tutor in the area for your child.
• For information about Department of Defense Education Activity schools, visit the DoDEA website.
• The U.S. Department of Education website offers information about student loans and grants, helpful data and statistics and tools such as this Search for Public Schools from the National Center for Education Statistics.

How do I choose a school for my child?

Choosing the right school for children is a priority for families. Some things to think about when choosing a school are:

• What is the student to teacher ratio? How are behavior problems handled? How are different learning styles supported? How are teachers supported? What are expectations for students?
• Does the school offer specific subjects or activities your child is interested in, such as arts, music, foreign language, STEM, JROTC, sports, etc.?
• Does the distance from installation to school fit your family’s needs? Especially if you have young children, is school close enough for a quick pick up if they get sick?
• Is there a before and after care program at the school or childcare in the area that serves the school?
• Finally, and most importantly, take a tour of the school.

Where do I start?

There are several resources available to help military families with the transition to schools overseas.

• Your installation school liaison office offers a wide array of transition support for children grades pre-K through 12. School liaisons can provide information about local schools, help with transferring credits and registering for classes, provide tutoring and youth sponsorship referrals, and more. If your family has special needs, your school liaison can connect you with your installation Exceptional Family Member Program and help you navigate your school’s special education program.
• Military OneSource education consultants are available 24/7 from anywhere in the world. They can provide information on local education options, refer you to education services that best meet your needs and connect you to a wide variety of community resources. Call 800-342-9647, use OCONUS calling options, or schedule a live chat.
• The Department of Defense Education Activity, or DoDEA, operates 160 schools worldwide. Learn more about what schools are available to children on military installations. Visit the DODEA website to search for your school by region.
• Your installation’s Exceptional Family Member Program, or EFMP, provides support for family’s with special needs.
  • All overseas PCSs include screenings for all family members which are completed prior to finalizing an assignment. If a family member presents with a special medical or educational need, the coordination with EFMP begins.
  • The educational screening determines whether there are similar education services available in the new location. The screening includes completion of paperwork by you and your child’s school. A copy of your child’s current IEP is also required so it is very important that your child’s current IEP accurately reflects his/her needs.
  • Learn more about EFMP family support and special needs resources.

How do I know what education options are available?

The Department of Defense Education Activity operates schools in 11 foreign countries, Guam and Puerto Rico. DoDEA school districts are accredited by U.S. accreditation agencies and maintain high academic standards.

DoDEA's student eligibility and preregistration system helps streamline the registration process and allows school officials to better predict school enrollment, make informed decisions regarding teacher and staff requirements, and prepare for special services and supplies. Parents can preregister their children by visiting DoDEA Online Registration for Students.

Non-DoDEA Schools Program, or NDSP

In international locations where there is no DoDEA school, the DoDEA provides educational support and financial assistance to defray education costs and help ensure educational continuity through the Non-DOD Schools Program, or NDSP. Command-sponsored school-age dependents of DOD sponsors assigned overseas where a school operated by the DOD is not reasonably available are eligible to apply to the NDSP.

There are many important decisions that coincide with a transition to an overseas assignment without a DoDEA school. DoDEA NDSP does not approve or certify schools. Families choose the education option that is appropriate for their child. Visit the following websites for more information:

• NDSP School Interactive Map – A tool to assist with locating schools at your assigned duty station. The listing is not all inclusive.
• U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools – See their “Resources” menu for information about child mental health resources, homeschooling, boarding schools, a Foreign Service Assignment Notebook and more.

Parents have the right to choose the educational setting for their child, with authorization up to the NDSP education allowance rate for that location and educational option. For first-time family registration or if adding a new dependent, register with the NDSP by using the NDSP Student Online Registration system.

How do I successfully transition my child to an overseas location?

Start planning for a successful school transition as soon as you learn about your move – the more your child knows about the new location and school, the more confident your child will feel. Learn more about helping your children change schools.

Your installation school liaison office provides an array of transition support for children grades pre-K through 12. School liaisons can provide information about local schools, help with transferring credits and registering for classes, provide tutoring and youth sponsorship referrals, and much more.

Hohenfels offers excellent opportunities for continuing education. The Hohenfels Army Education Center consists of a learning center, testing program, and two major colleges: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Maryland Global Campus. For students who cannot fit traditional programs into their schedules, video and Internet courses are available. For more information contact the Education Center at 314-522-2882 or 09472-708-2882.