common school

noun

1. a public school usually including both primary and secondary grades but sometimes primary grades alone.

Word History and Origins

Origin of common school¹

An Americanism dating back to 1650–60

Example Sentences

No sooner did common schools emerge than violence engulfed them.

From Washington Post

The laws of the Republic of Liberia provide for a common school in every town.

From Project Gutenberg

Our present common-school system is an off-spring of popular opinion, as that opinion was created and led to action by a few men.

From Project Gutenberg

What is popularly known as learning is to be acquired in the common school, high school, academy and college, as heretofore.

From Project Gutenberg

No advantages in the way of a common school education were within reach of the youth situated as was Kit Carson.

From Project Gutenberg

But we need not rest upon the family fact or the old common school system.

From Project Gutenberg