An
elementary school or
primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of
compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in
North America, where the terms
grade school and
grammar school are also used. Primary school is the preferred term in the
United Kingdom,
India,
Ireland,
Pakistan,
Bangladesh,
Australia,
Latin America,
Nepal,
South Africa,
New Zealand,
Malaysia and in most publications of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.