public junior high school
Refers to a publicly funded junior high school (grades 7–9) in the Japanese education system, as opposed to private or national schools.
私の子供は地元の公立中学校に通っています。
My child attends the local public junior high school.
私立中学校 is a private junior high school, whereas 公立中学校 is public.
国立中学校 is a national junior high school, run by the central government, while 公立中学校 is run by a local government.
Compound of 公立 (publicly established) and 中学校 (junior high school).