In American English, school can mean almost any place or period of education—including elementary school, high school, college, university, graduate school, law school, or medical school. The listener uses context to identify the level.
"Where did you go to school?"
When one adult asks another this question at work, they may be asking about college or university. They are not necessarily asking where the person attended elementary school.
Why is “school” so broad?
EducationUSA's glossary defines school as a term that commonly refers to elementary, middle, or secondary school but is also used for a college, university, institution, or specialized place such as graduate school or law school.
That flexibility produces sentences that may sound unusual to learners:
"I went back to school for an MBA."
"She is still in school, finishing her doctorate."
"We met at school."
The first two clearly involve higher education. The third needs more context: the speakers might have met in high school, college, or another program.
What does “in school” mean?
In school usually means currently enrolled in education. It does not identify the level by itself.
"Are you working while you're in school?"
This could be addressed to an undergraduate, graduate student, or participant in another program.
For a child, in school may contrast with being too young to attend:
"Both of my children are in school now."
For an adult, it often suggests college or advanced study:
"He is in school part time and works four days a week."
“At school” and “at college”
American speakers commonly use at school for a person's physical location or general educational activity:
"My daughter is at school until three."
"I learned that at school."
In college is common for undergraduate status:
"I worked in retail when I was in college."
American speakers are less likely than some British speakers to say at university as their default. They may say in college, at college, at the university, or name the institution. These are tendencies, not strict rules.
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Start a session →What might you hear at work?
"I need to handle a school pickup."
Here school probably refers to a child's pre-K–12 school.
"What year did you finish school?"
This question is ambiguous. The speaker may mean high school, college, or the most recent degree.
"The company helped pay for school."
In a benefits conversation, this often means college, graduate study, or professional education. Ask which programs qualify before making assumptions.
"I know Priya from school."
The statement tells you the relationship began in an educational setting, but not which level.
"He went to a very good school."
Among professionals, this may refer to a prestigious college or university. It can carry status implications, so the speaker's tone matters.
What can you say naturally?
If you want to remove ambiguity, name the level:
"We met in graduate school."
"I studied economics in college."
"My son starts middle school next week."
If someone asks “Where did you go to school?”, a natural answer could be:
"I completed my bachelor's degree at the University of São Paulo."
You can then add another level if relevant:
"I later did a master's degree in the United States."
If you do not know what the person means, clarify gently:
"Do you mean university or high school?"
That is a normal request for specificity, not a language failure.
How should you write education on a résumé?
On a résumé, school is usually too vague. List the institution, degree or credential, field of study when relevant, and completion date if you choose or if the application requires it.
For example:
Master of Science in Data Analytics — Example University
Avoid translating an institution's official type merely to make it sound more prestigious. College, university, institute, and school can be part of an official name, and the label alone does not establish quality or degree level.
Be aware of status and personal boundaries
Questions about education are common workplace small talk, but they can also touch money, class, immigration, family opportunity, and professional status. Not everyone followed a traditional sequence, and a famous institution does not determine a person's ability.
More neutral:
"What led you into product design?"
Potentially more status-focused:
"Did you go to an elite school?"
If a colleague gives a brief answer, let them decide whether to share more. When hiring or evaluating someone, focus on the qualifications that are relevant to the role and follow applicable organizational policies.
For the institution labels themselves, see college versus university versus graduate school. For the full education sequence, see U.S. school levels from pre-K through graduate school.