等 means “equal, class, etc.”

とう · tou

Also: and so forth, class (first), quality

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
ひとしい, など
On'yomi (Chinese reading)
トウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 3 · 12 strokes

The story

Picture bamboo (⺮) writing slips trimmed even at a temple (寺): 等 is equal, and ranked in order. 平等 is equality, 一等 is a lottery's top prize, and your 高校 is short for 高等学校, "higher-grade school".

Used in 平等 (byoudou, equality), 一等 (ittou, first prize/first class), and 高等学校 (koutou gakkou, senior high school)

More from How Much, How Many

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.