secondary school

American  

noun

1. a high school or a school of corresponding grade, ranking between a primary school and a college or university.

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secondary school British  

noun

1. a school for young people, usually between the ages of 11 and 18

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Other Word Forms

• secondary-school adjective

Etymology

Origin of secondary school

First recorded in 1825–35

Compare meaning

How does secondary-school compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• secondary school vs. high school

Example Sentences

At the time of the killings, he had been caretaker at Soham Village College, the local state secondary school.

From BBC

"The idea that children who have received a certain level of support throughout primary school and their early years could then have that support reduced or removed during secondary school is deeply concerning," she says.

From BBC

But she said councils only have powers to force some schools to take children on, and those powers do not extend to academies - which make up 82% of all secondary schools in the UK.

From BBC

Children who already have an EHCP, or who have been assessed as needing one, will keep them until they finish whichever phase of education they are in - primary or secondary school, for example.

From BBC

Children in Year 6 in 2029 would be the first to be reviewed under the plans, ahead of starting secondary school in 2030.

From BBC

Related Words

• high school
• junior high school
• middle school
• prep school
• preparatory school
• senior high school