lower school

American  

[loh-er] / ˈloʊ ər /

noun

1. a school that is preparatory to one on a more advanced level.

---

lower school British  

noun

1. the younger pupils in a secondary school, usually those in the first three or four year groups

---

Etymology

Origin of lower school

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

I arrived at Founders Classical Academy of Lewisville, Texas, in September 2023 and found my way to the gym of the lower school, where the K–5 students gather every morning.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Ellen Elphick, 30, spent five years at Elmhurst lower school but it was always her dream to win a place at the Royal Ballet School.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2023

These exposures have been linked to cancer, heart disease, lung conditions and lower school performance among children.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 12, 2023

The school's Instagram account appears to show Parsons reading to the lower school.

From Fox News • Feb. 11, 2022

This same thought would occur to Malia one day as Barack and I were heading with her to one of Sasha's events at Sidwell's lower school.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama