day school

American  

[day skool] / ˈdeɪ ˌskul /

noun

1. a private school for students living outside the school (distinguished from boarding school).

   We are a co-ed boarding and day school for grades 9 to 12, on beautiful 200-acre grounds overlooking the lake.

2. a school for adults or mature students, held in the daytime (distinguished from night school).

   Our school board currently offers adults night school credits as well as a flexible day school program.

3. a usually independent school delivering alternative or specialized instruction throughout the regular school day, as opposed to only after school or on weekends.

   I attended Hebrew day school as a child, but now send my son to a public elementary school.

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day school British  

noun

1. a private school taking day students only Compare boarding school

2. a school giving instruction during the daytime Compare night school

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Etymology

Origin of day school

First recorded in 1775–85

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

day school

Truelove grew up in Norfolk, Va., and attended Norfolk Collegiate School, an elite private day school.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

An observant Jew who wrote in his memoir that he lives his faith “out loud,” Shapiro keeps kosher and attended, and then sent his four children to Jewish day school.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

The girls, ages 13 to 17, were tossed together because a juvenile-court judge sentenced them to a strict day school called Carroll Academy.

From New York Times ● Nov. 24, 2024

A Scottish council looks set to drop plans to switch to a four-and-a-half day school week following consultation.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2024

The day school started, I was so nervous I could hardly eat my breakfast.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

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