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.

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

I descended metal stairs that span a rocky embankment; the alternative school, Dressback’s new assignment, is subterranean, its entrance nearly hidden from view.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2024

He went to Coast High, a loosely structured alternative school in Huntington Beach.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2024

It’s an alternative school that aims to re-enroll and re-engage children who may have dropped out or faced trouble in traditional schools.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 27, 2024

William Holmes, 50, the sole survivor of the shooting and the founder of Starts Right Here, the alternative school program, also delivered a final message to his former student, prosecutors said.

From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2024

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