upper school

American  

noun

1. a scholastic division, especially in a private school, including the terminal secondary grades.

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upper school British  

noun

1. the senior pupils in a secondary school, usually those in the fourth and fifth years and above

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Etymology

Origin of upper school

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upper school

Educators haven’t been shy about reminding them, said Garrison Conner, head of upper school at Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026

Before Opal, the upper school did not have a policy governing phone usage, with teachers allowed to set their own class rules.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2025

Harvard-Westlake attempted for years to improve its parking situation for the upper school located on Coldwater Canyon Boulevard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2025

Sidwell, which typically has roughly 500 students in the upper school, prides itself on a rigorous academic curriculum.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 6, 2023

My friends and I had now moved to the upper school, and our friendly competition got even more competitive.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai