High School or Highschool: Which Spelling Is Correct?

When writing about secondary education, you may wonder whether the correct form is high school or highschool. The standard spelling is high school, written as two separate words. It is used as a noun for a school that generally provides education for teenagers before college or university. For example, “She attends high school in Lahore.”

Highschool is generally considered incorrect when used as the standard noun spelling. However, high-school can sometimes appear as a hyphenated adjective in older or particular writing styles, although modern English usually prefers high school in most situations. Knowing the correct form helps students, teachers, writers, and English learners avoid a common spelling mistake.

Quick Answer

The correct spelling is high school, with two separate words. Highschool is not the standard spelling in English. Use high school as a noun and in most common expressions, such as “high school student,” “high school teacher,” and “high school graduation.”

Why Do People Confuse It?

People often confuse high school and highschool because English contains many compound words written as one word.

For example:

• classroom
• homework
• textbook
• schoolwork

Because these words combine two words into one, learners may assume that high school works the same way.

However, standard English normally keeps high school as two words.

Another reason for the confusion is that high school frequently appears next to other words, such as:

• high school student
• high school teacher
• high school football
• high school education

This frequent combination can make it look like one word.

First Word: High

High is an adjective that can describe something elevated, great in amount, advanced, or positioned above something else.

Examples:

• a high mountain
• a high temperature
• a high price
• a high level
• a high school

In high school, the word “high” helps distinguish this level of education from other types of schooling.

Second Word: School

School is a noun referring to an institution or place where people receive education.

Examples:

• My school is nearby.
• She goes to school every morning.
• The school has a large library.
• He teaches at a local school.

When combined with high, the phrase high school refers to a particular level of secondary education.

High School vs Highschool: Comparison Table

Form	Correct?	Use	Example
high school	✅ Yes	Standard noun phrase	I attend high school.
highschool	❌ No	Not standard English	Avoid this spelling.
high-school	⚠️ Rare/older style	Sometimes used as an adjective	High-school students
high school student	✅ Yes	Common phrase	She is a high school student.
high school teacher	✅ Yes	Common phrase	He is a high school teacher.

When Should You Use “High School”?

Use high school when referring to the educational institution or level of education.

As a noun

• I am in high school.
• She graduated from high school.
• My brother starts high school next year.
• They built a new high school.

Before another noun

High school can also function as part of a noun phrase:

• high school student
• high school teacher
• high school principal
• high school diploma
• high school graduation
• high school sports

Notice that high and school remain separate.

10+ Examples of “High School”

Here are practical examples showing the correct usage:

1. I met my best friend in high school.
2. She is a high school student.
3. My brother will enter high school next year.
4. He teaches mathematics at a high school.
5. Our high school has a large library.
6. They are preparing for their high school graduation.
7. She played basketball in high school.
8. He remembers his high school years fondly.
9. The high school teacher explained the lesson clearly.
10. We visited the local high school yesterday.
11. Her son is currently in high school.
12. The school offers several high school programs.

Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is combining the two words into highschool.

Incorrect

Correct

Another mistake is using an unnecessary hyphen:

Although hyphenation can occur in some styles and contexts, high school student is the normal modern form.

Also remember that high school is different from secondary school. The terms can overlap in meaning, but their usage varies by country and education system.

Memory Trick

Think of high school as two separate steps:

HIGH + SCHOOL = HIGH SCHOOL

If you can say high and school separately, write them separately.

A simple memory sentence is:

Avoid turning the phrase into highschool.

American vs British English

The phrase high school is widely used in American English.

In the United States, high school commonly refers to the later years of secondary education, often including grades 9–12, although school structures can vary.

British English more commonly uses terms such as secondary school rather than high school for this stage of education. However, high school does exist in some British contexts, particularly in certain regional or historical school names.

So, the spelling high school is not limited to American English. The main difference is often the educational terminology used in different countries.

Similar Words

Several education-related terms may look or sound similar but have different meanings.

Secondary school

A broad term for a school serving students after primary education.

High school

A term commonly used for a later stage of secondary education, especially in the United States and Canada.

Middle school

In the United States, this usually refers to the school years between elementary school and high school.

Secondary education

A broader educational term describing education after primary education and before higher education.

College

Depending on the country, college can refer to higher education or a particular type of educational institution. Its meaning varies considerably between countries.

Final Verdict

The standard spelling is high school.

Use high school as two separate words in ordinary English writing:

• high school student ✅
• high school teacher ✅
• high school graduation ✅
• highschool student ❌

If you are unsure, remember that highschool is not the standard spelling.

FAQs:

Is “highschool” one word?

No. High school is normally written as two separate words. Highschool is not the standard spelling in English.

Is “high school” hyphenated?

Usually, no. The standard form is high school. A hyphen may appear in some older or particular style contexts, but it is generally unnecessary in phrases such as “high school student.”

Which is correct: high school or highschool?

High school is correct. Write it as two words.

Is high school a noun?

Yes. High school is a noun phrase referring to a level or institution of secondary education.

Can I write “highschool student”?

No. The standard form is high school student.

Is “high school” American or British?

High school is especially common in American English. British English more often uses secondary school, although “high school” is also used in some British contexts.

What is the plural of high school?

The plural is usually high schools.

Example: “Several high schools participated in the competition.”

Should “high school” be capitalized?

Usually, no, unless it is part of a proper name.

• She attends high school.
• She attends Lincoln High School.

Remember This

High school = two words ✅

Highschool = nonstandard spelling ❌

When writing about secondary education, choose high school in standard English.

Conclusion

The correct spelling is high school, not highschool. It is normally written as two separate words and is widely used to describe a level or institution of secondary education. Examples such as high school student, high school teacher, and high school graduation all retain the space between “high” and “school.”

Although English has many compound words that are written as one word, you should not automatically combine every common word pair. Remembering high school as a two-word phrase will help you write more accurately in school assignments, professional writing, and everyday communication.