elementary school

noun

A children’s school, typically older than toddlers and younger than adolescents. In the U.S., elementary schools cover grades 1 through 5, and the ages of the children are usually 6-11 years. At a minimum, elementary schools will teach basic reading, writing, arithmetic, and history.

Meanings

nounelementary school (countable and uncountable, plural elementary schools)

plural elementary schools

  1. CanadaUScountableuncountablehistorically UKeducationA children’s school, typically older than toddlers and younger than adolescents. In the U.S., elementary schools cover grades 1 through 5, and the ages of the children are usually 6-11 years. At a minimum, elementary schools will teach basic reading, writing, arithmetic, and history.
    1 more example

    On one offshore island Wuciou (also Wuqiu), the song of the only elementary school had these lyrics: We are the little friends of the frontier, good students of Wuciou elementary school. We are not afraid of stormy winds and frightening waves; bravely and [with] perseverance, we advance forward. Our school is erected on the lonely island of the ocean. We will study hard, and are not afraid of gongfei on the opposite shore.

    2015, Language, Politics and Identity in Taiwan: Naming China, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 32

    Synonyms: grade school, primary school

  2. PhilippinescountableuncountableeducationA primary education school for grades 1-6 (a continuation of preschool). It is succeeded by junior high school.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA children’s school, typically older than toddlers and younger than adolescents. In the U.S., elementary schools cover grades 1 through 5, and the ages of the children are usually 6-11 years. At a minimum, elementary schools will teach basic reading, writing, arithmetic, and history.

More synonyms by meaning

nouna school for young children; usually the first 6 or 8 grades

Broader

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

elementary school. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elementary%20school

MLA

“elementary school.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elementary%20school. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “elementary school,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elementary%20school.

Source: elementary school on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.