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Synonyms

alternative school

American

noun

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.

Etymology

Origin of alternative school

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She’s also been director of whole child education for Roseland School District and a secondary alternative school principal.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

At the time of the closure the school's board of governors said it would be "supporting families in securing alternative school places in Oxfordshire".

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2025

Then, over the objections of many in the audience who demanded a chance to comment before a vote was taken, the board officially transferred Dressback from Cahaba Heights Elementary to the alternative school.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2024

Mr. Zhou, always a free spirit, had worked in Shanghai as a teacher at an alternative school.

From New York Times • Feb. 4, 2024

At the alternative school where she spent a month, students do regular coursework but do not attend classes and are not guaranteed to have the materials included in their normal classes.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 25, 2024

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023