“High school” (two words) is the correct spelling.
“Highschool” (one word) is incorrect in standard English.
Use high school when talking about the place, level of education, or students (e.g., high school teacher, high school student).
Many people get confused between “high school” and “highschool” because they look almost the same. You may see both versions online, in messages, or on social media. But only one spelling is correct in English, and using the wrong version can make your writing look unprofessional—especially in school assignments, applications, or formal messages.
In this simple and friendly guide, you’ll learn the clear difference between high school and highschool, why one is correct and the other is not, and how to use the right spelling every time. You’ll also find easy examples, a comparison table, common mistakes, memory hacks, and a mini quiz to test yourself.
Everything is explained in plain English so even a 4th-grade student can understand it perfectly.
Let’s make this confusing pair super easy!
What Does “High School” Mean? (Correct Spelling)
“High school” is a noun made up of two words. It refers to the level of education after middle school and before college.
It can describe the school, students, subjects, or teachers at that level.
Examples
- I will start high school next year.
- My sister is a high school student.
- He works as a high school math teacher.
Think of it like “primary school” or “middle school”—two words describing a type of school.
What Does “Highschool” Mean? (Incorrect Spelling)
“Highschool” is not a correct English word.
It is a common spelling mistake, especially on social media or in casual writing.
Many people join the two words together by accident, but English grammar rules require it to stay split into two words.
Incorrect Examples
- I graduated from highschool ❌
- She is in highschool ❌
- My highschool teacher was kind ❌
🔍 The Key Difference Between High School and Highschool
The difference is simple:
- High school = correct
- Highschool = incorrect
Here is a clear comparison table:
Comparison Table: High School vs Highschool
| Feature | High School (Correct) | Highschool (Incorrect) |
|---|---|---|
| Spelling | Two words | One word |
| Part of speech | Noun | Not a valid word |
| Usage | Used in schools, essays, exams, writing | Should never be used |
| Example | I go to high school. | I go to highschool. |
| Accepted in dictionaries? | ✔ Yes | ✖ No |
Quick Tip to Remember
👉 If you can say “school” alone, then it must stay separate.
You would not write middleschool or elementaryschool. So you should not write highschool.
❌ Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Writing It as One Word
Incorrect: I loved my highschool.
Correct: I loved my high school.
Why it happens: People pronounce it fast, so they think it’s one word.
Fix: Slow it down — “high” + “school.”
Mistake 2: Using It Incorrectly in Job Applications
Incorrect: Highschool graduate
Correct: High school graduate
Tip: In formal writing, always double-check.
Mistake 3: Wrong Hashtags or Captions
Incorrect: #highschoolmemories
Correct: #highschoolmemories (This is acceptable because hashtags remove spaces, but the word still means “high school.”)
Tip: In normal writing, always use two words.
🏫 When to Use “High School” (Correct Spelling)
Use high school when talking about:
✔ A place
- I go to high school in my city.
✔ A level of education
- He finished high school last year.
✔ A person
- She is a high school student.
✔ A subject or activity
- We play football in high school.
Example Sentences
- My brother is in high school now.
- She wants to teach at a high school.
- Our high school team won the match.
- I met my best friend in high school.
- They built a new high school near my home.
📝 When to Use “Highschool” (Never!)
There is no situation where “highschool” is correct in standard English.
Memory Hack
👉 Imagine a tall building:
High (the top part)
School (the building)
They stand separately — not glued together.
🔄 Quick Recap: High School vs Highschool
- High school = always correct
- Highschool = always incorrect
- “High school” is two words
- Used for education, students, teachers, and activities
- Remember: If “school” is still a clear idea, it stays as two words
📚 Advanced Tips
✔ Origin
“High school” comes from the Scottish education system in the 1500s and was always written as two words.
✔ Used in Essays or Exams
Always write it as high school in academic work. Teachers mark off for incorrect spelling.
✔ Online Writing
People often write highschool online because typing is fast.
But in professional emails, resumes, or school work, it must be high school.
🧠 Mini Quiz: Test Yourself
Fill in the blanks with high school.
- I will start ______ next September.
- My brother is a ______ student.
- She teaches English at a ______.
- We met in ______.
- I graduated from ______ last year.
- Our ______ football team won the championship.
- He is applying for a ______ scholarship.
Answers
- high school
- high school
- high school
- high school
- high school
- high school
- high school
❓ 5 FAQs About “High School” vs “Highschool”
1. Which spelling is correct — high school or highschool?
High school is correct. “Highschool” is incorrect.
2. Why is it written as two words?
Because “high” describes the type of school. English keeps such phrases separate.
3. Is “highschool” accepted in any country?
No. English dictionaries everywhere use high school.
4. Can I write “highschool student”?
No. The correct form is high school student.
5. Is it okay in hashtags?
Yes, because hashtags don’t allow spaces (#highschoolmemories), but in real writing, use two words.
Conclusion
The difference between high school and highschool is simple but important. Only high school is correct in English, and it should always be written as two words. Using the right spelling makes your writing clear, professional, and easy to understand. Whether you’re talking about students, teachers, classes, memories, or the school itself, “high school” is the correct form every time.
Now that you know the meaning, correct usage, examples, and common mistakes, you can confidently use the correct spelling in essays, captions, messages, and school assignments.
Keep practicing, keep learning, and watch your English improve one word at a time!
Kael Donovan is a language enthusiast and writer at Definevs.com, simplifying complex words and grammar rules into fun, easy-to-understand guides for readers.
