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

Benjamas, a public school teacher, is especially worried about her four-year-old son, who started getting nosebleeds last year.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who’s running for Georgia governor, supports exempting public school teachers from state income taxes.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Unlike K-12 public school districts, these child care providers typically do not receive any government funding.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2026

“Any increases in salary must be balanced and consider the entire public school system we are here to serve,” Chait said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

I didn’t mention to my dad that while I was sure that Katelyn used to attend public school, I wasn’t so sure she was still was.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles