Historical Roots
Kindergarten was founded in the 1800s. It set the stage for German education, as well as, education systems throughout the world. Kindergarten is not mandatory, and is not covered in the free, public education system.
The tripartite system, including the Gymnasium, Realschule, and Hauptschule, that is in Germany today, began after World War II. The idea of the Gymnasium originates back to the early 1800s, from the ideas of Wilhelm von Humboldt.
First Gymnasium in Mariupol, 1876