There are different regulations in each state as to when compulsory school attendance ends or when a pupil can be released prematurely from compulsory education upon application by the school board.
Compulsory education is divided into full-time compulsory education with a duration of ten school years (compulsory education in primary and lower secondary education - § 37 SchulG - School Law NRW) and subsequent compulsory education in secondary education (§ 38 SchulG - School Law NRW).
Full-time compulsory education is fulfilled by attending elementary school and a secondary general education school (secondary school, junior high school, high school or comprehensive school).
Compulsory education in upper secondary education is achieved by attending part-time vocational school or by attending general educational course in a upper secondary level.
For young people without apprenticeship, compulsory school attendance lasts until the end of the school year in which the pupil reaches the age of 18. For young people with an apprenticeship that started before the age of 21, compulsory education lasts until the end of vocational training.