school year

American  

noun

1. the months of the year during which school is open and attendance at school is required.

2. academic year.

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school year British  

noun

1. a twelve-month period, (in Britain) usually starting in late summer and continuing for three terms until the following summer, during which pupils remain in the same class

2. the time during this period when the school is open

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Etymology

Origin of school year

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

For one thing, the end of the school year results in some school employees such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers applying for unemployment benefits.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

Non-stability refers to the percentage of students who are enrolled at the school for less than the full school year.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

Lockable pouches have been under trial at Portobello and Queensferry high schools throughout the last school year - the first schools in Scotland to take the step.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Opendorse, the NIL marketplace and tech company, projects that freshman athletes across all sports will rake in $780 million in the next school year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

I’d wanted so badly for this school year to be wonderful, and all I’d managed to do was make enemies and look silly in front of the whole class, every day.

From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce