public school

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.

public school

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

Other Word Forms

• public-school adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of public school¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Their lot is similar to that of abused healthcare workers and public school teachers, other subjects served well by the mockumentary architecture that “The Office” refined into a workplace comedy standard.

From Salon

“The result will be chaos for this Nation’s public schools” and “will impose impossible administrative burdens.”

From Los Angeles Times

The state required all public school campuses to reopen for the fall of 2021.

From Los Angeles Times

Florida currently requires vaccinations for students attending public schools, including protection against measles, mumps, chickenpox, hepatitis B and polio.

From Salon

“This Labor Day we will continue to stand strong, fighting for public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, shared prosperity over billionaire-bought politics.”

From Los Angeles Times