The 1980s were a decade full of bold fashion, unforgettable music, and a cultural shift that defined an entire generation. For high school students, it was a time of neon colors, cassette tapes, and iconic trends that are now a part of pop culture. The world was changing rapidly, from technology’s growing influence to shifting social dynamics, but high school had its own unique niche. We hope you’re ready to travel back to a time with big hair, and even bigger outfits, because we’re ready to take you there. Here are 20 images that show what high school looked like in the ’80s.
1. High school yearbook photos from the ’80s, look at all of that hair.
They look like a bunch of clones.
2. Everyone wanted a ride in the classic Mustang.
Nothing looks more cool than pulling up to school in someone else’s Mustang.
3. Just hanging outside, waiting for the bell.
I’m pretty sure the highlight of most of our lives was sitting outside school with our buddies waiting for the school bell to ring.
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4. Who took driver’s Ed in the ’80s?
She doesn’t look very confident in her driving abilities.
5. School is over, take to the streets.
When the bell rang, the streets were plagued with teens after school.
6. Can you guess what class this team was for?
It was a computer club if you couldn’t tell by the floppy disk.
7. Do these lockers look familiar?
A photo of a set of lockers in the ’80s. As you can see, the graffiti S has been around for decades.
8. Almost every guy in the 1980s tried this classic, the mullet.
The mullet has started to make a comeback, and I’m here for it.
9. The infamous ’80s High School cafeteria.
Why was tucking the t-shirt into jeans a thing in the ’80s?
10. You know this cheer squad was invite-only.
I miss high school sporting events.
11. This is a classroom at a school in Manhattan, in 1987.
It’s surprisingly great quality for being taken on an ’80s disc camera.
12. The rockers.
Hands down one of the most fun high school cliques.
13. Everyone had a jam band in the ’80s.
It looks like these guys knew how to rock though.
14. You can tell it’s the early ’80s from the feathered hair.
It’s a good thing the mullet took over in the late ’80s.
15. Which clique did they belong to?
Shades inside? I’m thinking too-cool-for-school clique.
16. ’80s high school classroom.
It’s funny that the desks in U.S. schools have remained the exact same for 40 years.
17. Gym class in the 1980s was next level.
I feel like it was an actual workout back in the day.
18. So much great ’80s hair in one photo.
Big hair and little shorts for boys, the tale of the ’80s.
19. I’m glad I didn’t grow up with this style.
Showing up to school in a Canadian Tuxedo is an absolute no-no.
20. We hope those crop tops are a joke.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if crop tops and short shorts were in style for men in the ’80s.
