school-wide

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "school-wide" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that applies to all of the students and faculty at a school, not just those in a particular classroom or department. For example, you could say "The school-wide lockdown was initiated after a threat was reported."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

School-wide climate is a construct widely spread in the area of education.

Studies in Educational Evaluation

Then he took third prize in a school-wide tournament.

The New York Times

Current Events- Convene a school-wide debate about prescription drug use in the United States.

The New York Times

Administer the poll at a school-wide assembly or other large gathering.

The New York Times

2. Conduct a school-wide poll about people's feelings regarding the treatment of the prisoners in Cuba.

The New York Times

Also, talk to senior staff, and explain that you'd like to be involved in something school-wide.

The Guardian

Prepare a series of drawings, renderings, animations and/or 3-d models to display in a school-wide exhibition.

The New York Times

At a minimum, school leaders must connect with their system's Aboriginal Education team to assess their school-wide cultural competency.

The Guardian - Opinion

Interdisciplinary Connections: Fine Arts- Plan a school-wide art project to commemorate the anniversary of September 11.

The New York Times

5. Organize a school-wide food and clothing drive for the victims of the Nyiragongo volcanic eruption.

The New York Times

The school-wide Anonymous Bullying and Othering Survey revealed that five students experienced Willy as a trigger.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific initiative, follow "school-wide" with a noun that clarifies the subject. For example, "school-wide initiative", "school-wide policy", or "school-wide event".

Common error

Avoid using "school-wide" when the action or event only pertains to a specific grade or department. This can lead to confusion. Instead, specify which group is involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "school-wide" functions as a compound adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that something applies to or involves the entire school community. Ludwig's examples confirm this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

45%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "school-wide" functions as a useful adjective to describe initiatives, policies, or events that affect the entire school community. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in news, media and scientific contexts. To avoid confusion, it's important to use "school-wide" only when the action truly involves the entire school and to specify the subject clearly. Alternatives such as "entire school" or "across the school" can be considered for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entire school

Replaces the hyphenated adjective with a noun phrase emphasizing the totality of the school.

whole school

Emphasizes the entirety of the school using a simple adjective.

across the school

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate the reach of something throughout the school.

school-level

Similar in structure but places emphasis on the institutional level.

at every level of the school

Specifies that something applies to each hierarchical level within the school.

throughout the school community

Shifts the focus to the people within the school rather than the institution itself.

comprehensive school

Focuses on completeness rather than the scope across the school.

all-encompassing school

Highlights the inclusive nature of the school environment.

institution-wide

Broadens the scope beyond just a school to any institution.

organization-wide

Generalizes the concept to any type of organization, not specifically a school.

FAQs

How can I use "school-wide" in a sentence?

You can use "school-wide" to describe something that involves the entire school. For example, "The principal announced a "school-wide effort" to improve reading scores".

What are some alternatives to "school-wide"?

Some alternatives include "entire school", "across the school", or "whole school", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "school-wide" or "school wide"?

"School-wide" is generally preferred as it functions as a compound adjective. "School wide" is less common and can be misinterpreted.

What does "school-wide" mean in the context of a policy?

A "school-wide" policy means that the policy applies to all students, teachers, and staff members within the school, ensuring consistent standards and expectations for everyone.