summer school

American  

noun

• summer schools
  plural

1. study programs offered by a school, college, or university during the summer to those who wish to obtain their degrees more quickly, who must make up credits, or who wish to supplement their education.

2. a school offering such programs.

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summer school British  

noun

1. a school, academic course, etc, held during the summer

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• summer schools
  plural

Etymology

Origin of summer school

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

summer school

The state’s schools—once among the U.S.’s worst-performing—have made gains with intensive tutoring, mandatory summer school for struggling pupils and a back-to-basics approach that emphasizes phonics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

Carla Risoldi had been a summer school student at Gonville & Caius College for six weeks in 1985, but in her haste to make her flight back home, she forgot to return her key.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2025

So was increasing classroom instructional time by promoting summer school and offering mini-academies during winter and spring break, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2025

Mountain rescuers are urging people to ensure they plan their adventures as they brace themselves for an influx of visitors during the summer school holidays.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2025

I had to go to summer school because my parents made me.

From "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata