* Gymnasium: This is the most common type and prepares students for university entrance (Abitur). It's most similar to a college-preparatory high school in the US.
* Realschule: This offers a more practical curriculum than the Gymnasium and leads to a different type of school-leaving qualification (Mittlere Reife) often allowing entry into vocational training or some further education pathways.
* Gesamtschule: This is a comprehensive school that combines elements of Gymnasium, Realschule, and sometimes Hauptschule (see below) under one roof. The exact structure varies by state.
* Hauptschule: (Less common now) This offered a more basic curriculum and led to a different school-leaving qualification, often leading to vocational training. Many Hauptschulen have been integrated into Gesamtschulen.
So, there's no single word translation. "Gymnasium" is probably the closest equivalent in terms of academic focus and university preparation, but the overall system is quite different from the US high school system.