public school

American  

noun

1. (in the U.S.) a school that is maintained at public expense for the education of the children of a community or district and that constitutes a part of a system of free public education commonly including primary and secondary schools.

2. (in England) any of a number of endowed secondary boarding schools that prepare students chiefly for the universities or for public service.

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public school British  

noun

1. (in England and Wales) a private independent fee-paying secondary school

2. (in the US) any school that is part of a free local educational system

3. in certin Canadian provinces, a public elementray school as distinguished from a separate school

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Other Word Forms

• public-school adjective

Etymology

Origin of public school

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

In the big picture, said Stanford’s Dee, “we see continued evidence that the families that left the public school system during the pandemic haven’t really returned.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

And the third divides his time between learning at home and taking classes at the local public school, where he plays on the football team.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

More than 500,000 Florida students now participate in a scholarship program, and 53% of the K-12 student population in Florida in the 2024-25 school year attended something other than their zoned public school.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who’s running for Georgia governor, supports exempting public school teachers from state income taxes.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Like I’m supposed to be thankful to go to the public school where I’ve always gone, in the town where I’ve always lived.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed