In common British usage, a prestigious historic school open to the public that charges fees and is financed by bodies other than the state, commonly as a private charitable trust; here the word "public" is used much as in "public telephone". See public school (UK). However, most non-government funded schools in the UK are not called public schools, they are called private schools or independent schools.
In the United States and most other English-speaking nations, a school which does not charge tuition fees but is financed and controlled by the government, in contrast to a private school (also known as an independent school); here the word "public" is used used much as in "public library", i.e. to mean "provided to the public at public expense." See public education.
