alternative school

noun

1. any public or private school having a special curriculum, especially an elementary or secondary school offering a more flexible program of study than a traditional school.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alternative school¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Dashboard alternative schools serve a high percentage of at-risk students, such as those who have been expelled.

From Voice of San Diego

Aaron died in January at age 86, and the name of the public alternative school for middle and high school students will occur sometime this year.

From Washington Post

Some said her failure to pass education legislation limited her impact — but she always made clear that she believed state legislatures were the vehicle for creating alternative school options for families.

From Washington Post

Prisma is another alternative school that trains former educators, from public and private schools, to become learning coaches.

From TechCrunch

When I was in college, I taught for a year and a half at an alternative school with behavioral-disability kids.

From The Daily Beast