a class of schoolchildren

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a class of schoolchildren" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to a group of students who are of the same age or in the same grade in school. Example: The teacher welcomed the new class of schoolchildren into the classroom with a big smile and introduced them to their new classmates.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Later, a class of schoolchildren came through.

The New Yorker

Down one corridor he ran into a class of schoolchildren being given a guided tour.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In "Traveling Light" (1990), she joins a class of schoolchildren to explore the history of the Underground Railroad.

The New York Times - Arts

One of these was a photo-story about Michelle Obama showing off her biceps to a class of schoolchildren.

The Guardian

A huge curved window looks out on the Passeig de Gracia, where a class of schoolchildren try to draw the building.

The New York Times - Travel

In 2006, the 84-year-old Kurt Vonnegut wrote a letter to a class of schoolchildren who had asked him to visit.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

A class of Korean schoolchildren filed in and sat down on the public benches behind me and were shushed by their teachers.

The Guardian

The article begins with: "Brandishing shotguns and semiautomatic pistols, members of the 112th U.S. Congress took a class of visiting schoolchildren hostage today, barricading themselves inside the Capitol rotunda and demanding $12 trillion dollars in cash".

The New York Times

Through the 1990s, lawyers representing a class of poor schoolchildren waged a legal battle to change a state financing formula that clearly shortchanged Black Belt school systems like Wilcox.

The New York Times

* Buy a whole class of schoolchildren new sneakers.

The New York Times - Food

Here we see young men using the £100,000 outdoor gym ("Because local authorities now have responsibility for ill-health prevention strategies," Morris explains), and a class of blue-jumpered schoolchildren studying nature by the pond.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the age range, you can specify: "a class of schoolchildren aged 8-10".

Common error

Avoid using "a class of schoolchildren" when referring to university students or older learners; use more appropriate terms like "students" or "participants".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a class of schoolchildren" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI explains, it designates a specific group of students.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a class of schoolchildren" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a group of students in primary or secondary school. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely accepted and understood. It appears most frequently in news and media, followed by science and academic contexts. While it's a generally neutral phrase, its specific usage can be enhanced by adding contextual details such as grade level or school name. When writing, avoid using it for older students or in overly formal contexts, where "a group of students" or "a cohort of students" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a school class

Simple reordering of the words, maintaining the same core meaning.

a group of pupils

Substitutes "schoolchildren" with "pupils", a synonym.

a group of students

Replaces "class of schoolchildren" with a more general term for students.

a cohort of students

Uses a more formal term, "cohort", to describe the group.

a grade of students

Specifies the group as belonging to a particular grade level.

a form of pupils

Replaces class with form, common in some educational systems, and schoolchildren with pupils.

a gathering of students

Uses "gathering" to describe the group, implying a temporary assembly.

a division of pupils

Uses "division" to define the group in a more structured context.

an assembly of learners

Replaces traditional terms with "assembly" and "learners", emphasizing the act of learning.

a contingent of young learners

Uses more descriptive words, "contingent" and "young learners", adding emphasis.

FAQs

What does "a class of schoolchildren" refer to?

The phrase "a class of schoolchildren" refers to a group of students who attend primary or secondary school together, usually of a similar age and grade level.

What is a more formal way to say "a class of schoolchildren"?

A more formal alternative could be "a group of students" or "a cohort of students", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "a class of children" instead of "a class of schoolchildren"?

While "a class of children" is grammatically correct, "a class of schoolchildren" specifically indicates that the children are students. The former is more general.

How can I describe "a class of schoolchildren" more specifically?

You can add details like the grade level (e.g. "a class of fifth-grade schoolchildren"), the school name (e.g. "a class of schoolchildren from Northwood Elementary"), or a shared activity (e.g. "a class of schoolchildren on a field trip").