Courtyard vs. Schoolyard — What's the Difference?

A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary architects as a typical and traditional building feature.

A schoolyard or school campus is the region within the boundaries of a school used for teaching, extracurricular activities, and playing sports and games.However, some schools do not use a wall to indicate the range of the schoolyard, in these cases the general activities of teaching and after-school activities can also be called campus life and "schoolyard" or "campus" often is used as a synonym for school life. The term also may refer to only the outdoor portion of a campus, distinguished from classroom space.

An open space surrounded by walls or buildings, adjoining or within a building such as a large house or housing complex.

An open area next to a school building for play and outdoor activities.

An area, open to the sky, partially or wholly surrounded by walls or buildings.

The grounds around a school.

A court or inclosure attached to a house.

An open field near a school used for recreation by the students.

A yard wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings;

The yard associated with a school