Previous exposure to the German language is not required for preschool students. Previous German is highly recommended for students enrolled in Kindergarten and required for students Grade 1 or higher.

Our teachers strive for 100% total German immersion and only speak English in the rare case that a child is in distress and can not be comforted using the German language. However, our elementary aged students (1st Grade and above) receive English lessons, from an English teacher, as part of their curriculum. The number of hours of English instruction varies based on grade level.

The Kindergarten curriculum is primarily German in focus. We have found that kindergarten children are particularly savvy in pointing out the differences between English letter sounds and German letter sounds. This happens frequently when the children are learning the letter sounds as well as learning to read in German. Often a child pronounces the letter "E" or "J" for example with the English pronunciation. Our teacher uses these instances as "teachable moments" where knowledge of both English and German language skills is reinforced.

For the current school year tuition rates, please view our Tuition & Enrollment page. For information about financial aid opportunities, please visit our Financial Aid page.

Most of the teaching materials are all brought from Germany and include:

• ABC der Tiere (German) and children make their own books as well.
• Zahlenbuch (Math) and Antolin, an on-line reading process for learning to read and write.
• Individual Federmaeppchen, very typical of what is used by many German school children is provided for our Elementary School Students. And of course all the other materials for sensory exploration, gross and small motor skill development, dramatic and imaginative play, etc. that are available to our preschool class are also used by the elementary program, where appropriate.

And of course all the other materials for sensory exploration, gross and small motor skill development, dramatic and imaginative play, etc. that are available to our preschool class are also used by the elementary program, where appropriate.

Since the teacher/student ratio is low, the teacher is able to meet most (special) needs right away. This includes children's desires to drive the curriculum, need for 1:1 attention and playing extra games with a student to practice the child's skills.

One of the most effective ways to deal with this is by pairing children up to work on a common goal, employing each child's strengths and weaknesses. For example: in a matching exercise picture to letter, a child who knows their letters, but has a limited German vocabulary may be paired with a child who knows a lot of German words, but is still mastering letter recognition.

In everyday situations, the teacher adjusts their teaching style to the child's unique ability (speaking slower, using more pictures, examples, gestures, etc.)

All parents are asked at the beginning of the school year what they expect from our program. The teacher then works to strike a balance between the child's abilities, the parent's expectations, and the school's philosophy.

SAGA alumni successfully integrate into both American and German-speaking countries’ primary education systems. The biggest adjustment students will likely face in starting American public school is that they will be the "new student". Most students will have already had at least one year to "learn the ropes" of public school. SAGA School graduates will most likely adjust to a larger class, a longer day and a greater amount of academic time. It is a big change, but one that students adapt to relatively quickly.