15 Photos Remembering What it Looked Like to Go to High School in the 1970s

High school in the 1970s came with some unforgettable fashion choices, questionable hairstyles, and a surprising amount of freedom. Students hung out in parking lots, posed for yearbook photos, attended dances in extravagant outfits, and sometimes even had designated smoking areas on campus. There were no smartphones to document every awkward moment, but plenty of photographs survived anyway. Looking through them now, it’s remarkable how much older some teenagers appeared, especially with their mustaches, oversized collars, and carefully styled hair. The classrooms and school traditions might look familiar, but the clothes are another story entirely. Here are 15 photographs showing what American high school life looked like in the 1970s. High School Actually Had a Smoking Area A Reddit user shared a photograph of their mother and her classmates gathered in their high school’s designated smoking area during the 1970s. The Parking Lot Was Practically a Car Show A photograph from 1971 captures a high school parking lot filled with vintage automobiles, including cars that would be considered collectibles today. The Teacher’s Mustache Deserves Its Own Yearbook Photo Between the teacher’s impressive mustache and the students’ unmistakably 1970s outfits, this classroom photograph from Minnesota could hardly belong to another decade. The Senior Class Had Serious Style A photograph labeled as high school seniors in 1973 captures the era’s long hairstyles, flared jeans, casual shirts, and memorable fashion choices. This Was a High School Party in 1976 A picture captures a Fourth of July gathering in 1976, with their mother reportedly sitting on the roof. Bowling Was a High School Sport Too A 1973 photograph shows a high school bowling team, including one student’s mother, who also captained the basketball team. Prom Night Called for a Serious Outfit A Reddit user shared a photograph of himself dressed for his 1978 high school prom, complete with the formalwear of the decade. Cruising Was Part of the High School Experience A photograph from Southern California in 1979 captures high school students out cruising, offering a glimpse of teenage car culture in the late 1970s. The Yearbook Was a Whole Production A double-page spread from a 1974 high school yearbook captures graduating students posing together, including one holding a Cheech & Chong record. Everyone Looked Ready for College Already A photograph labeled “High School 1975” shows teenagers posing together, with the hairstyles and clothing that defined the middle of the decade. Teenagers Somehow Looked Much Older A photograph captures students whose hairstyles and clothing prompted Reddit users to comment on how mature teenagers looked back then. The Entire Graduating Class Fit in One Photo A Reddit user shared a photograph of their entire high school graduating class from 1972, showing just how small some schools could be. Mom Had a Say in Picture Day A woman shared her 1972 high school portrait and explained that her mother, a beautician, had insisted on styling her hair up for the photograph. Prom Tuxedos Were Anything but Boring A photograph from a 1977 high school prom shows a young man dressed in formalwear that Reddit users compared to the elaborate outfits of the disco era. The School Portrait Had All the Accessories A user shared her portrait taken at age 15 in 1979, remembering her puka shell necklace, beaded earrings, glasses, and carefully chosen jewelry. The post 15 Photos Remembering What it Looked Like to Go to High School in the 1970s appeared first on Den of Geek .

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