behind in school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "behind in school" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a student who is not keeping up with their studies or academic requirements. Example: "After missing several weeks of classes, she found herself behind in school." Alternative expressions include "falling behind academically" and "lagging in studies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Their children were behind in school or acting out.

The New York Times

But with a deeper understanding of his circumstances, more informed decisions could be made about what support he required at home to prevent him from falling behind in school.

The Guardian

If I was falling behind in school, liquor.

Vice

How far can technology go to ensuring no child gets left behind in school?

Huffington Post

Geary said he hopes the findings bring more attention to the issue of boys falling behind in school.

Huffington Post

Dansby told me that her small school was originally created to help students who were falling behind in school and enrolled mostly students of color.

Huffington Post

Almost everyone at the rally expressed concern for things like a high suicide rate among males, boys falling behind in school and a systemic bias against men in divorce custody battles.

Vice

Almost everyone at the rally expressed concern for things like the high suicide rate among males, boys falling behind in school, and a systemic bias against fathers in custody battles.

Vice

Adolescents reported feeling stressed in school owing to not understanding the work, not keeping up with the rest of their class during lessons, and getting behind in school work largely owing to their difficulty with keeping focused on lessons.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

He had fallen behind in school, then been expelled.

The New York Times

He fell behind in school and needed counseling to work through the trauma.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a student's academic performance, use "behind in school" to clearly indicate they are not at the expected level for their grade. For example, specify if a student is "significantly behind in school" to emphasize the severity of the issue.

Common error

Instead of simply stating someone is "behind", provide context. Specify "behind in math", "behind in reading", or generally "behind in school" to offer a clearer picture of the academic challenges.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "behind in school" functions as a prepositional phrase typically used adjectivally to describe the state of a student's academic progress relative to their expected grade level. As Ludwig AI shows, it modifies nouns like "student", "child", or can be used in sentences describing a general state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "behind in school" is a common and easily understood way to describe a student who is not meeting the academic expectations for their grade level. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, it's helpful to provide specific details about the subject or areas where the student is struggling to ensure clear communication. Alternative phrases like "lagging in studies" or "falling behind academically" can also be used to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lagging in studies

This phrase focuses on the overall academic performance rather than just the school setting.

falling behind academically

This alternative is a more formal way to express academic struggles.

struggling with coursework

This highlights the difficulty experienced with academic tasks.

not keeping up with schoolwork

This phrase emphasizes the inability to maintain pace with academic demands.

underperforming in education

A more formal and broader term for academic deficiency.

deficient in scholastic achievement

This highlights lacking accomplishments or qualities regarding academic success.

not meeting academic standards

Focuses on not fulfilling required academic benchmarks.

academically disadvantaged

Highlights the systemic barriers affecting academic success.

experiencing academic difficulties

This phrases emphasize challenges faced in an academic context.

not progressing as expected

Focuses on a lack of expected academic development.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "behind in school"?

Being "behind in school" means a student is not performing at the expected academic level for their age or grade. This could involve difficulties in specific subjects or overall academic progress.

What are some other ways to say "behind in school"?

You can use alternatives like "lagging in studies", "falling behind academically", or "struggling with coursework" depending on the context.

What factors can cause a student to fall "behind in school"?

Various factors, like frequent absences, learning disabilities, lack of support at home, or emotional distress, can cause a student to fall "behind in school".

What can be done to help a student who is "behind in school"?

Interventions such as tutoring, special education services, counseling, and parental involvement can help a student who is "behind in school" catch up and succeed academically.