public school

American  

noun

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

• public-school
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of public school

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Computers — and all other digital screens — would be banned for Los Angeles public school students until second grade, according to a draft plan to limit screen time.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Parents can send their children to any public school, as long as it has room and they provide transportation.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

Imagine a Buddhist, Jewish, or Muslim parent who enrolls their child in public school and objects to this display.

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

The four public school districts that were testing his Star Academy program, which promises to turn around the performance of struggling middle-school students, had stopped using it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

My brother is doing fine in public school.

From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya