Berlin is at the forefront of education. Yes, you read that right. Although the capital recently ranked eleventh out of sixteen in the educational ranking of federal states, which is not particularly outstanding, it still remains somewhat of a proverbial lottery whether future seventh graders will actually be assigned to one of their three preferred high schools. However, the new tipBerlin edition 'School in Berlin 2026' showcases two top performers from educational Berlin. We spoke with Germany's officially best principal about how to create a model school in the rather rough Gesundbrunnen neighborhood. The award for the best primary school of the year went to the Maria-Leo-Schule in Pankow for the first time in 2025. We know their secret to success. A recurring theme in the new special issue of tipBerlin is: school can be different, school can be better. And learning can be improved. Whether in school with innovative ideas or after classes in afternoon courses at extracurricular locations. We also analyze the challenges of the Berlin education system: from the megatrend of artificial intelligence in the classroom to what Berlin's most experienced school advisor can recommend to desperate parents whose child did not make it to their desired secondary school and now has to spend a lot of time on public transport. Additionally, we provide a fundamental explanation of the complex Berlin education system and offer decision-making assistance for choosing the best school. All this and much more in the new tipBerlin edition 'School in Berlin 2026'.