public school

American  

noun

public schools plural

1. (in the U.S.) a school that is maintained at public expense for the education of the children of a community or district and that constitutes a part of a system of free public education commonly including primary and secondary schools.

2. (in England) any of a number of endowed secondary boarding schools that prepare students chiefly for the universities or for public service.

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public school British  

noun

1. (in England and Wales) a private independent fee-paying secondary school

2. (in the US) any school that is part of a free local educational system

3. in certin Canadian provinces, a public elementray school as distinguished from a separate school

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• public-school
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• public schools
  plural

Etymology

Origin of public school

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Johnson made the decision after being unhappy with the public school his family got in the local lottery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 4, 2026

The only trans student-athlete seeking a right to play sports at her public school, known as B.P.J. in the court documents, was in a similar position.

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2026

The tax-credit program can also be used by public school students, which the pair dismiss as “crumbs.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

In New York City, city council members have pushed for a moratorium on artificial intelligence as the public school system figures out more “rigorous guardrails” for its use in the classroom.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

Uncle Iman didn’t want his nieces in public school.

From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin