elite school

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A school that is considered the best in its area and is hard to get into.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an elite school' or 'elite schools'.

   Patterns

   • go to an elite school
   • an elite school in the city
   • be accepted at an elite school

   She studied hard and was accepted at an elite school in the capital.

   Parents often move house to be near an elite school.

   Only a small number of students win places at these elite schools each year.

2. 2nouncountabledisapproving

   A school that admits only a small, selected group, often because of wealth, status, or test scores.

   Grammar: Often used with a disapproving tone when the selection seems unfair.

   Patterns

   • an elite school for the wealthy
   • criticize elite schools

   Critics say elite schools give rich families an unfair advantage.

   The report argued that elite schools should admit more students from poor neighborhoods.

Word forms

Common combinations

attend an elite school

Few local children can afford to attend an elite school.

a private elite school

He went to a private elite school on the east coast.

gain admission to an elite school

Competition to gain admission to an elite school is fierce.

elite school system

The country's elite school system has changed little in fifty years.

Synonyms and how they differ

top school

More neutral and less critical; it simply means a school with a strong reputation.

selective school

Focuses on the fact that students are chosen by tests or criteria, not necessarily on prestige.

prestigious school

Emphasizes fame and respect rather than the difficulty of getting in.

Word family

elite noun

a small group of people with the most power or privilege

elitist adjective

favoring a small privileged group, often used critically

Commonly confused: elite school or elite school?

Practice

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