State education
For Texas residential institutions, see Texas State Schools.
State school is an expression used in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to distinguish schools provided by the government from privately run schools.
United Kingdom
State schools are so called in contrast to privately funded and operated independent schools.
Certain independent schools are commonly called 'public schools' in the United Kingdom traditionally because application could be made by any member of the public. The terms 'independent school' and 'private school'. However it should be noted that while all public schools are private schools, not all private schools are public schools: the term generally reserved for older and more traditional institutions.
In Scotland, where the educational system is distinctly different from the rest of UK, the term 'public school' was once used officially to describe state schools (being, as they were, publicly owned) - although preference is now being given to the term 'state school'. Use of 'public school' in Scotland is ambiguous in definition as it can be used in both contexts as schools such as Fettes College in Edinburgh are often considered alongside other independent private schools. However the peculiarly Scottish use of the term has found favour abroad, particularly in the United States and Canada.
Throughout education in the UK, state schools are under the control of local councils (Local Education Authorities in England and Wales), save for cases where independent schools are funded directly as in City Academies. Thus in the great majority of cases the phrase "state school" is a misnomer, and the more correct term maintained school is used in technical literature.
Some maintained schools are partially funded by religious or other charitable bodies; these are known as voluntary aided schools or voluntary controlled schools.
The oldest state school in England is Beverley Grammar School, which was founded in 700 AD.
Australia
In Australia state schools are the responsibility of the state governments. States Schools grew out of the system of National Schools in the mid-19th century.
United States
In the United States, state school is a colloquial term for state university, a college or university in a state university system. Public school refers to primary and secondary schools which are funded and/or run by a governmental entity.
State school is also a term used somewhat condescendingly or derisively by students and alumni of some "University of" schools to refer to "State University" schools of the same state, e.g., referring to any California State University from the perspective of the University of California.
In Texas, "state school" is the designated term for a state-run residential facility for people with developmental disabilities.[1]
South Africa
In South Africa, a state school or government school refers to a school that is state-controlled. These are officially called public schools according to the South African Schools Act of 1996.