If you’ve ever paused over high school or highschool, you’re not alone I’ve seen this spelling confuse even confident English writers. The correct form is high school, and I’ll show you exactly when and how to use it. So, is it “high school” or “highschool”? The answer is simple: high school is correct.
Quick Answer
High school is the standard spelling when you mean a secondary school, especially in American English. Highschool is not the standard spelling of the noun and should generally be avoided in formal and everyday English. The phrase is normally written as two words: high school.
However, you may sometimes see a hyphen in related forms such as high-school student or high-school teacher, depending on the style and sentence structure. That is different from writing the noun itself as highschool.
Quick Comparison: Highschool vs. High School
| Form | Use | Example |
| high school | Standard two-word noun | She goes to high school. |
| highschool | Not the standard spelling of the noun | Avoid: She goes to highschool. |
| high-school | Hyphenated form may occur when the phrase functions adjectivally | He joined a high-school sports team. |
The main point is simple: write “high school” as two words when you are naming the school or the stage of education.
What Does “High School” Mean?
High school is a noun referring to a school that provides secondary-level education. In the United States, it commonly refers to the school years covering grades 9–12, although some school systems use different grade ranges.
For example:
- I started high school last year.
- She graduated from high school in June.
- My brother is still in high school.
- They met in high school.
- He plans to attend college after high school.
The phrase can refer either to the institution itself or, depending on context, the period of education associated with it.
High School as a Noun
The most common grammatical use is as a noun.
I went to high school in Texas.
Here, high school is the name of the type of school the person attended.
It can also appear after prepositions:
- in high school
- at high school
- from high school
- after high school
- during high school
- before high school
Oxford lists common combinations such as go to high school, graduate from high school, after high school, and during high school.
High School Can Be Countable or Uncountable
The expression can be used in different ways depending on what you mean.
When referring to a particular school, it can be countable:
There are three high schools in the district.
When talking about high school as a stage of education, it can be used without an article:
She is still in high school.
Cambridge and Oxford both recognize these uses.
What Does “Highschool” Mean?
Highschool is generally not the standard spelling when you mean a secondary school.
In standard edited English, the noun is written as high school, with a space between the two words. Major dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster, Cambridge, and Oxford list high school as the standard noun form.
You may encounter highschool online, particularly in informal writing, usernames, search queries, social media posts, or text containing spelling errors. Its appearance in those places does not make it the standard spelling.
Is “Highschool” Ever the Normal Spelling?
For ordinary English writing, no. If you are writing an essay, email, application, article, school assignment, résumé, or other polished text, use high school.
For example:
❌ I am currently in highschool.
✅ I am currently in high school.
❌ She graduated from highschool last year.
✅ She graduated from high school last year.
High School vs. Highschool: The Key Difference
The difference is primarily spelling and standard usage, not meaning.
High school is the established two-word form.
Highschool is generally a nonstandard closed-up spelling.
So, if someone asks:
“Should I write highschool or high school?”
The answer is:
Use high school.
This is different from pairs where two spellings have different meanings. Here, the issue is normally whether the compound noun is written correctly.
When Should You Use “High School”?
In Everyday Conversation
Use high school when talking about your education or a secondary school.
I’m still in high school.
My sister starts high school next fall.
We became friends in high school.
In Formal Writing
Use high school in essays, reports, applications, academic writing, and professional documents.
The study surveyed students from four high schools.
She earned her diploma after completing high school.
In Emails and Messages
The same spelling applies in casual digital communication.
Are you still friends with anyone from high school?
I have a high school reunion this weekend.
Being informal does not require changing high school into highschool.
In Names of Schools
When High School is part of an official school name, capitalize it according to the school’s official naming convention.
Lincoln High School
Central High School
Westlake High School
Cambridge notes that high can also be used informally for high school in the names of schools, as in “Santa Ana High.”
When Should You Use “Highschool”?
Do Not Use “Highschool” as the Standard Noun
If you mean the type of school, use high school, not highschool.
❌ He attends highschool.
✅ He attends high school.
❌ My highschool years were memorable.
✅ My high school years were memorable.
What About Search Queries and Usernames?
You may see highschool in internet searches, usernames, hashtags, filenames, or informal digital text. These contexts can contain nonstandard spellings because spaces may be removed for technical or stylistic reasons.
That does not change the standard English spelling.
For normal prose, write:
high school
Common Sentence Variations
High School or Highschool Student?
The standard phrase is:
high school student
Example:
She is a high school student.
You may also encounter high-school student in some writing styles when the compound functions as a modifier. The important point is that highschool student is not the standard spelling.
High School or Highschool Graduate?
Use:
high school graduate
Example:
He is a recent high school graduate.
Not:
❌ He is a recent highschool graduate.
High School or Highschool Education?
Use:
high school education
Example:
She completed her high school education in 2025.
The phrase highschool education is not the standard form.
High School or Highschool Teacher?
Use:
high school teacher
Example:
My mother is a high school teacher.
You may also see high-school teacher depending on the publication’s hyphenation style, but highschool teacher is not the standard form.
High School or Highschool Diploma?
The standard expression is:
high school diploma
Example:
He received his high school diploma in May.
High School or Highschool Years?
Use:
high school years
Example:
She often talks about her high school years.
High School or Highschool Student in a Sentence?
Correct:
My cousin is a high school student.
Incorrect:
My cousin is a highschool student.
Common Phrases With “High School”
In High School
This means while someone is attending high school.
I played basketball in high school.
At High School
This can be used when referring to being at or attending a particular school, although in high school is especially common when discussing the stage of education.
She met her best friend at high school.
Go to High School
My son will go to high school next year.
Graduate From High School
She graduated from high school at eighteen.
High School Student
The program is designed for high school students.
High School Teacher
He works as a high school teacher.
High School Years
Those were some of the happiest high school years of her life.
High School Diploma
You need a high school diploma for the position.
High School Graduate
The scholarship is available to every high school graduate.
High School Sweetheart
A high school sweetheart is someone a person had a romantic relationship with during high school.
They married their high school sweetheart.
High School Reunion
A high school reunion is an event where former students meet again.
Our high school reunion is next month.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Writing “Highschool” as One Word
❌ I am in highschool.
✅ I am in high school.
The standard noun is written as two words.
Mistake 2: Writing “Highschool Student”
❌ She is a highschool student.
✅ She is a high school student.
Mistake 3: Writing “Highschool Teacher”
❌ My aunt is a highschool teacher.
✅ My aunt is a high school teacher.
Mistake 4: Writing “Highschool Graduate”
❌ He is a highschool graduate.
✅ He is a high school graduate.
Mistake 5: Writing “Highschool Diploma”
❌ She earned her highschool diploma.
✅ She earned her high school diploma.
Mistake 6: Assuming Informal Writing Makes “Highschool” Correct
❌ Texting makes “highschool” the correct spelling.
✅ Informal writing may contain highschool, but the standard spelling remains high school.
Mistake 7: Confusing “High School” With “Highschool”
❌ I studied this in highschool.
✅ I studied this in high school.
The meaning has not changed; only the spelling has become nonstandard.
Why Do People Get “Highschool” Wrong?
The confusion is understandable because English contains many compounds that have become single words over time.
For example:
- classroom
- homework
- textbook
- schoolwork
- schoolhouse
Because high school describes one familiar concept, it can look as though it should also be written as one word.
However, compound words do not all follow the same spelling pattern. Some remain open compounds with a space, some become hyphenated, and some eventually become closed compounds.
High school remains a standard open compound noun.
Another reason for the mistake is pronunciation. In normal speech, the two words are closely connected, so learners may assume they should be written together.
Can Both “Highschool” and “High School” Be Correct?
For standard English, high school is the correct form when referring to secondary education.
Highschool is not normally treated as an alternative standard spelling of the noun. Therefore, this is not a case where two equally correct spellings have different regional meanings.
The important distinction is between high school and related hyphenated constructions.
For example:
She attends high school.
But:
She is a high-school student.
Hyphenation can depend on the grammatical role of the phrase and the style guide being followed. The noun itself remains high school.
British vs. American English
The spelling high school is used in American English, but the educational terminology and school structure can differ between countries.
In the United States, high school commonly refers to the later years of secondary education, often grades 9–12.
In the United Kingdom, secondary school is generally the broader and more usual term. However, high school does occur, especially as part of the names of particular schools. Oxford notes that the term is used in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in some school names.
For example:
She attends Worthing High School.
This is a school name, so High School is capitalized.
The spelling remains high school, not highschool.
Pronunciation of “High School”
High school is pronounced as two words, although they are normally spoken closely together.
A common pronunciation is approximately:
/ˈhaɪ skuːl/
The first word sounds like high, and the second sounds like school. Cambridge and Oxford both give pronunciation information for the expression.
The fact that the words sound closely connected does not mean they should be joined in writing.
Is “High-School” Correct?
This is a more subtle question.
High school is the standard noun:
I attend high school.
When the phrase works together as a modifier before another noun, some writers and style systems may use a hyphen:
a high-school student
a high-school teacher
However, many modern publications also write such expressions without a hyphen:
a high school student
a high school teacher
The exact hyphenation can depend on the publication’s style and whether the meaning could be misunderstood. The important point for learners is that highschool is not the normal alternative.
Is “High Schooler” One Word?
Yes. High schooler is an established noun meaning a student who attends high school. Cambridge lists high schooler and also records high-schooler as an alternative form.
Examples:
My sister is a high schooler.
The program helps high schoolers prepare for college.
This is a useful reminder that English compounds do not all follow one spelling pattern. High school remains two words, while high schooler is commonly written as one word.
High Schools: The Plural Form
The plural of high school is:
high schools
Simply make school plural.
Examples:
Several high schools participated in the competition.
The city has five public high schools.
Do not write:
❌ highschooles
or:
❌ highschools
The standard plural is high schools.
High School vs. Secondary School
These terms are related, but they are not always interchangeable.
High school is especially common in American English and refers to a particular stage of secondary education. Secondary school is a broader term used widely in British English and other varieties of English.
For example:
My daughter starts high school next year.
In a British context, a speaker may more naturally say:
My daughter starts secondary school next year.
The exact school structure varies by country, so it is better not to assume that high school means exactly the same grades everywhere. Cambridge and Oxford both note differences in how the term is used internationally.
Simple Memory Trick
Remember this:
High + school = two words.
If you are talking about the school or the stage of education, keep the space:
high school
Think of it just like:
- elementary school
- middle school
- primary school
- secondary school
You would not normally combine those into one word, and high school follows the same basic pattern.
Quick Decision Guide
Are you talking about the school or educational stage?
→ Use high school.
Are you writing “high school student”?
→ Use high school student. A hyphen may appear in some styles when the phrase functions as a compound modifier.
Are you writing “high school diploma”?
→ Use high school diploma.
Are you writing “high school teacher”?
→ Use high school teacher.
Are you writing the plural?
→ Use high schools.
Are you writing about a student?
→ high schooler is a standard noun; high-schooler is also found.
Should you write “highschool”?
→ No, not in standard English prose. Use “high school.”
Mini Quiz
1. Which sentence is correct?
A. I am in highschool.
B. I am in high school.
Answer: B — high school.
The standard noun is written as two words.
2. Which spelling is correct?
A. highschool student
B. high school student
Answer: B — high school student.
The phrase high school remains open when used this way.
3. Choose the correct plural.
A. highschools
B. high schools
Answer: B — high schools.
The plural is formed by making school plural.
4. Which sentence is correct?
A. She graduated from high school.
B. She graduated from highschool.
Answer: A — She graduated from high school.
High school is the standard spelling.
5. Which form names a student attending high school?
A. high schooler
B. highschooler
Answer: A — high schooler.
High schooler is an established noun; high-schooler is also found.
6. Which sentence uses the standard spelling?
A. He received his highschool diploma.
B. He received his high school diploma.
Answer: B — high school diploma.
The educational term is written high school.
7. Which is the standard noun?
A. highschool
B. high school
Answer: B — high school.
The closed form highschool should generally be avoided in standard English.
FAQs
Is “highschool” one word or two?
The standard spelling is high school, which is two words. Highschool is not the normal standard spelling of the noun.
Is “high school” grammatically correct?
Yes. High school is a standard noun phrase referring to a secondary school or the associated stage of education. Major English dictionaries recognize it as a noun.
Is “highschool” ever correct?
It may appear in informal online writing, usernames, search terms, or other contexts where spaces are removed, but it is not the standard spelling to use in normal English prose.
Which is correct: high school student or highschool student?
High school student is correct. The noun phrase high school is normally written as two words.
Which is correct: high school teacher or highschool teacher?
Use high school teacher. Some styles may hyphenate the phrase when it functions as a compound modifier, but highschool teacher is not the standard form.
Is “high schooler” correct?
Yes. High schooler is a recognized noun for a student at a high school. High-schooler is also found as a hyphenated form.
Is “high school” American or British English?
The term is particularly common in American English. British English more commonly uses secondary school for the general concept, although High School appears in the names of some British schools.
Should “high school” be capitalized?
Usually, no. Write high school when you are referring generally to the type of school. Capitalize it when it forms part of an official school name, such as Lincoln High School.
Is “high school” a compound word?
It is a compound expression made from high and school, but it is normally written as an open compound with a space. That is why highschool is not the standard spelling.
What is the plural of “high school”?
The plural is high schools. For example: “The district has six high schools.”
Can I use “high” instead of “high school”?
In American English, high can be used informally for high school, especially as part of a school’s name, such as “I go to Lincoln High.”
Final Takeaway
The correct standard form is high school — two separate words.
Use high school when talking about the school, the educational stage, or phrases such as high school student, high school teacher, high school diploma, and high school graduate. The spelling highschool is generally nonstandard and should be avoided in formal and everyday English writing.
Simple rule: If you mean the school, write “high school,” not “highschool.”
Hi, I’m Emma Richardson, a pet writer and animal lover who enjoys helping people find meaningful names for their furry, feathered, and scaled companions. I believe every pet has a unique personality, and I love researching names inspired by history, nature, mythology, and modern trends. At Meanixo, I share carefully researched articles that make choosing the perfect pet name simple and enjoyable. My goal is to provide reliable, easy-to-understand information that helps pet owners make confident decisions while celebrating the special bond they share with their animals.
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