(~s)
1.
In Britain, a ~ is a private school that provides secondary education which parents have to pay for. The pupils often live at the school during the school term.
He was headmaster of a ~ in the West of England.
N-VAR
2.
In the United States, Australia, and many other countries, a ~ is a school that is supported financially by the government and usually provides free education.
...Milwaukee’s ~ system.
N-VAR