[klmr]

You’re probably referring to the fact that the school system differs from state to state rather than being organised at the federal level but I find that quality of education differs a lot more between individual schools than it does between states, and not just because of the tiered system (grammar would be elementary school curriculum anyway).

[allendoerfer]

As someone who went to four high school in three different German states, I can assure you, that the state is a very good indicator. As a child, you live in a world of stress when you move from easy to hard and basically repeat a year, when you move back.