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

The rural district had 163 full-time teachers in the 2024-25 school year, according to the latest available data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

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

With primary pupil numbers falling, the government has cut its target for recruiting new teachers for the next school year by 23%.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

The school year was coming to an end and, for the first time, I did not feel sad about it.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez