High school is the standard spelling in American English. Highschool, written as one word, appears often online, and a hyphenated version pops up before nouns, so many writers stop and wonder which one is right. That confusion is easy to fix.
This guide gives you a clear answer, the grammar behind it, and simple examples you can trust. You will learn when to capitalize the term, how dictionaries and style guides treat it, and which mistakes to avoid. Students, teachers, editors, and content writers can use it as a quick reference whenever the spelling comes up in an essay, a resume, or a blog post. Each answer stays short and practical.
Quick Answer: (High School or Highschool) Two Words, Every Time
High school is two words, and it is the correct spelling in American English. Dictionaries and style guides treat it as an open compound, so it needs no hyphen and no merging. Highschool is not standard, and a hyphen is optional only in limited modifier cases.
Is High School One Word?
No. It is written as two separate words in standard American English, including in dictionaries, textbooks, and news writing.
Is Highschool Correct?
Not in standard usage. You will spot it in texts and social posts, but editors and teachers correct it to high school.
Is the Hyphenated Form Correct?
It is rarely needed. Chicago style allows high school to stay unhyphenated even before a noun, as in high school students.
Why Is High School Written as Two Words?
English builds compounds in three ways: open, hyphenated, and closed. Open compounds keep a space between the words, and most school names follow that pattern, such as middle school, law school, and graduate school. High school belongs to the same group.
Why Highschool Feels Natural
Closed forms like preschool and homeschool are common, so writers assume high school should merge too. Those words earned closed entries over time. High school never did, and standard references still list it as two words.
How Open Compounds Cause Confusion
The space is easy to skip when typing fast, and search engines show results for both forms, which makes the wrong spelling look normal. A quick proofread solves the problem.
High School vs Highschool vs the Hyphenated Form
| Form | Status | Example |
| high school | Standard | She graduated from high school. |
| highschool | Not standard | Avoid this spelling in formal writing. |
| high-school | Style dependent | Rarely needed before a noun. |
Chicago style lists high school as an unhyphenated noun phrase, and it can stay open before a noun. For American English, the two word form is the safe default in every context.
When to Use High School Without a Hyphen?
Use two words in every common position. These patterns cover almost everything you will write.
After a Verb
• I attend high school.
• She graduated from high school last spring.
As a Noun Phrase
• He is still in high school.
• My high school is nearby.
Before Another Noun
• high school student
• high school diploma
• high school graduation
• high school teacher
When Is a Hyphen Used With High School?
Some writers add a hyphen when high school works as a modifier before a noun. Chicago style says it is not needed, because readers understand the phrase without help.
A hyphen only helps when meaning could be unclear, such as in longer phrases where a modifier might attach to the wrong word. If your publication has a house style that differs, follow it and stay consistent.
Is Highschool Ever Correct?
Rarely. People write highschool because fewer keystrokes feel faster, and social media rewards short forms. Informal chats, hashtags, and usernames sometimes use it.
Formal writing should never follow that habit. Essays, applications, news copy, and business documents all call for high school as two words.
High School Capitalization Rules
Treat high school like any common noun. Keep it lowercase in general use, and capitalize it only when it is part of a proper name.
| Situation | Correct Form | Example |
| General reference | high school | I attend high school. |
| Full school name | High School | I attend Lincoln High School. |
| Start of a sentence | High school | High school starts in August. |
High School in American English
What Does High School Mean in the U.S.?
A high school is a secondary school that prepares students for college, work, or training. Students usually earn a high school diploma at graduation.
What Grades Are High School?
Most American high schools cover grades 9 to 12, though some districts start at grade 10. Students are commonly called freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
High School vs Secondary School
Secondary school is the broader term. In the United States it can include middle school and high school, while in the UK it refers to schools for students roughly ages 11 to 18.
Common High School Spelling Mistakes
Small slips can weaken an otherwise polished page. Watch for these:
• Writing highschool as one word
• Adding a hyphen before every noun
• Capitalizing high school in the middle of a sentence
• Mixing different forms inside one document
Easy Ways to Remember the Correct Spelling
1. Say the words separately: high plus school.
2. Compare it with middle school and law school, which are also open.
3. Use the two word form in all formal writing.
4. Search your draft for highschool before you publish.
How Dictionaries and Style Guides Treat the Term
Cambridge Dictionary lists high school as the U.S. noun for a secondary school. The Chicago Manual of Style treats it as an unhyphenated noun phrase, and AP style also writes it as two words.
Mainstream dictionaries do not treat highschool as a standard entry. That agreement across references is the strongest reason to make two words your default.
Similar Compound Words That Cause Confusion
Education vocabulary is full of compounds, and each one follows its own pattern. Use this list as a quick check:
• Preschool: closed
• Homeschool: closed
• Middle school: open
• Law school: open
• Grad school: open
High School on Resumes and College Applications
Admissions officers and recruiters read quickly, so a spelling slip stands out. List your education as a high school diploma or GED, and use the two word form every time.
Capitalize the full school name, such as Roosevelt High School, but keep the general phrase lowercase.
Related Terms Worth Knowing
These words often appear near the topic in school, career, and college writing:
• Secondary education
• High school diploma
• GED
• Freshman year and senior year
• Transcript
• Extracurricular activities
• Graduation rate
Tips for Editors and Content Writers
Add highschool to your find list, and decide on a house style for modifiers before you start editing. Keep the term consistent across headings, image alt text, and metadata. Consistency helps readers trust your page and helps search engines understand it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is high school one word or two?
Two words. High school is an open compound in American English.
Is highschool grammatically correct?
No. It is a nonstandard spelling, so use high school in formal writing.
Is high school spelled with a hyphen?
Usually not. Chicago style keeps it open, even before nouns like students.
How do you spell high school correctly?
Write high and school separately with a space between them.
Should high school be capitalized?
Only in a proper name, like Lincoln High School. Otherwise keep it lowercase.
Is high school student hyphenated?
No. American English normally writes high school student without a hyphen.
What is the difference between high school and secondary school?
High school is the U.S. term for grades 9 to 12. Secondary school is broader and more common in the UK.
Conclusion
High school is the standard spelling in American English. Highschool should be avoided in formal writing, and a hyphen is only a style dependent option before a noun. Dictionary and style guide evidence supports two words as the default form.