Cities / Johannesburg / Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg
Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg
Founded in 1890, DSJ is one of Johannesburg's oldest schools and one of Africa's largest German international schools, offering both the German Abitur and the IEB National Senior Certificate in a bilingual German-English environment. Around 1,000 students from 36+ nationalities…
In brief
The DSJ, founded in 1890 in Parktown, is one of Johannesburg's oldest schools and one of the largest German Auslandsschulen on the continent. Bilingual through to dual-exit IEB matric and German International Abitur.
DSJ runs the German programme alongside the South African IEB, with Grade 12 students sitting both the National Senior Certificate and the German International Abitur in three years. The school holds the Excellent German School Abroad mark from Berlin's Bundesverwaltungsamt and the Best German School Outside Germany award from 2016. Roughly 1,000 to 1,100 pupils across 35-plus nationalities. Fees ZAR 85k to 118k.
Strong fit for German-speaking expat families on rotation and for South African families wanting genuine bilingualism with a European university pathway. The Integrated Secondary School stream lets non-German speakers join from Grade 5 with intensive language support, which is rare on the continent. Families consistently praise the academic standard, the long-tenured staff, and the parent-rep network. Priska Döring leads the school.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regentropfchen (Ages 1-3) | 1 | Annual | ZAR 88,980 |
| Kindergarten (Ages 4-5) | 4 | Annual | ZAR 85,200 |
| Pre-Primary (Age 6) | 6 | Annual | ZAR 93,360 |
| Primary School Grades 1-4 | 7 | Annual | ZAR 105,240 |
| Junior High School Grades 5-9 | 11 | Annual | ZAR 116,220 |
| Senior High School Grades 10-12 | 16 | Annual | ZAR 118,260 |
| Application Fee | One-time | ZAR 880 | |
| Admission Fee | One-time | ZAR 1,100 |
Reviews
- Parents describe DSJ as a strong school but flag distance: one r/southafrica commenter said it is a very good school though the commute can be a lot for a child.
- The English-medium high school stream from Grade 8 takes only about 24 non-German-speaking learners per cohort, a sharp constraint families discuss openly when planning ahead from Grade 7.
- No public-school-style inspection data exists; recognition signals come instead from federal Germany awards, including Exzellente Deutsche Auslandsschule in 2011 and Deutscher Schulpreis as best German school abroad in 2016.
- DSJ offers both the German International Abitur and the IEB matric, so families uncertain whether they will return to Germany or stay in South Africa keep both pathways open.
- Independent parent-review volume is limited. Most online content is operator-fed and should be discounted.
Head of school
Priska Döring
Priska Döring is the principal of the Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg, where she leads a diverse community of learners and educators. With a commitment to academic excellence and cultural integration, she fosters an environment that prepares students for a globalized world.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
Academic results
- IEB/Abitur Pass Rate 100%