graduated from secondary school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "graduated from secondary school" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the completion of secondary education, typically around the age of 16 to 18, depending on the education system. Example: "After I graduated from secondary school, I decided to pursue a degree in engineering."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

"I was satisfied with everything until I graduated from secondary school," he said.

The New Yorker

Born and raised in Islamabad, Pakistan, Hashmi graduated from secondary school in 2007.

Columbia University

He began his memoir by explaining that he graduated from secondary school in 1912, intending to go to college the following year.

The New Yorker

As she grew older, she intensified her voice training, and when she graduated from secondary school, she was eager to pursue a career in music.

The New York Times

In 1992 he graduated from secondary school there and went on to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad.

The Guardian - Books

Note particularly that Yale does not award course credit or distributional credit for courses completed at another college or university before the student graduated from secondary school.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

(1) The Presidential Scholars shall be chosen from among persons who have recently been graduated, or are about to be graduated, from secondary schools, public or private.

Cornell University

After graduating from secondary school at age 16, Harrison began a stage apprenticeship with the Liverpool Repertory Theatre.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The future Senator grew up in Baltimore and, after graduating from secondary school at the age of 17, joined the Army as a private in World War I.

The New York Times

The son of editor and statesman Frederick J.G. Dimbleby, Richard worked on the newspaper owned by his family, the Richmond and Twickenham Times, after graduating from secondary school.

Britannica

The upshot is that this one school, serving students from all over southern Sudan, will considerably expand the number of girls graduating from secondary school.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain consistency in your writing by using the phrase "graduated from secondary school" throughout a document to avoid confusion.

Common error

Be mindful of regional differences in terminology. While "graduated from high school" might be common in the United States, "graduated from secondary school" is more universally understood and accepted internationally. Use the appropriate term based on your target audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "graduated from secondary school" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the completion of a specific level of education. It describes an action (graduating) from a particular institution (secondary school). As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is accurate and frequently employed in the English language.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "graduated from secondary school" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the completion of secondary education. As Ludwig AI highlights, it’s widely understood and applicable in various contexts, including news, academic writing, and general communication. While alternative phrases like "completed secondary education" or "finished high school" exist, "graduated from secondary school" remains a clear and universally accepted choice. When writing, remember to be mindful of regional differences in terminology and use the most appropriate term for your audience. The phrase appears frequently in News & Media, Scientific, and Academic sources. Top sources that use this phrase are The New York Times, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Wikipedia, and UNICEF.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completed secondary education

Focuses on the completion of the educational phase rather than the act of graduating.

finished secondary school

A more informal way of saying the same thing, using 'finished' instead of 'graduated'.

completed high school

Uses the term 'high school', which is common in some countries, instead of 'secondary school'.

obtained a secondary school diploma

Highlights the achievement of receiving a diploma upon completing secondary education.

passed secondary school

Focuses on successfully passing the requirements of secondary school.

secondary school graduate

Rephrases the phrase as a noun.

left secondary school with a diploma

Emphasizes both leaving the institution and receiving certification.

completed the secondary level of education

A more formal and academic phrasing.

finished the final year of secondary school

Highlights the completion of the final year.

graduated high school

A shortened version using a synonym for secondary school that is common in some countries.

FAQs

What does "graduated from secondary school" mean?

The phrase "graduated from secondary school" means that someone has successfully completed the required coursework and has received a diploma or certificate signifying their completion of secondary education. It is typically the level of education completed before attending university or vocational training.

What can I say instead of "graduated from secondary school"?

You can use alternatives like "completed secondary education", "finished secondary school", or "completed high school" depending on the context.

Is "graduated from secondary school" the same as "graduated from high school"?

While they are often used interchangeably, "secondary school" is a more universal term, whereas "high school" is primarily used in the United States and Canada. Both phrases indicate the completion of the final stage of basic education before higher learning.

How do I use "graduated from secondary school" in a sentence?

You can use "graduated from secondary school" in a sentence like this: "After she graduated from secondary school, she decided to travel the world before starting university."