high school

American  

noun

1. a school attended after elementary school or junior high school and usually consisting of grades 9 or 10 through 12.

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high school British  

noun

1. another term for grammar school

2. a secondary school from grade 7 to grade 12

3. a secondary school, the grades covered depending on the province

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Other Word Forms

• high school adjective
• high schooler noun

Etymology

Origin of high school

First recorded in 1815–25

Compare meaning

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

• secondary school vs. high school

Example Sentences

In high school, I played Dulcinea in the musical “Man of La Mancha.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

She battled dyslexia and dropped out of high school and then the London College of Fashion before immersing herself in the working world of fashion.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Miller not only works, but she also didn’t have kids until her 30s — well over a decade older than the high school kids who anger her by prioritizing prom and graduation over baby-making.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

That was until retired high school teacher Bill McFarland's curiosity got the better of him.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Back when I was in sixth grade, Celia had just started high school, and Dad didn’t think she was “applying herself.”

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• secondary school