[mhink]

According to a commenter up-thread, what Americans call "public schools" are referred to as "government schools", and what Americans call "private schools" are referred to as "public schools".

Probably a carryover in terminology from Britain, where extremely prestigious schools like Eton are called "public schools" for historical reasons.

[desas]

> where extremely prestigious schools like Eton are called "public schools" for historical reasons.

In the UK public and private referred to who could access the schools (assuming they had the money), whereas in the US they refer to how the schools are funded.

Now the UK has a kludge. The former private schools don't really exist, they've mainly changed into independent fee-paying public schools not controlled or funded by the state.

In the meantime (i.e. centuries ago), the state started funding schools, including religiously selective schools and has been increasingly giving more independence to the schools it funds.

[qwytw]

What would be an example of a non public private school (even in the past?). I assumed the terms are basically synonymous in the UK?

[joshuaissac]

> I assumed the terms are basically synonymous in the UK?

No, 'public school' would be understood to refer only to the most elite of private schools in the UK, such as Eton, Harrow, Winchester, etc. A run-of-the-mill private school would not be considered to be a public school.