American high schools are known for having some rather unique traditions that might confuse people from other countries—these customs are so ingrained in the U.S. education system that they’re almost a rite of passage! While they might be odd to other people, they’re all part of the high school experience in America. Here are twelve high school customs that are distinctly American and probably wouldn’t catch on elsewhere. That’s not to say that they don’t exist at all, but you’ll struggle to find many high schools outside of America that follow these traditions like we do!
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The Ultimate High School Dance
Prom does exist in other countries but it’s nowhere near as big a deal as it is in American high schools. Students spend months preparing, picking out fancy dresses or tuxedos & sometimes even renting limousines—and let’s not forget the tradition of “promposals.” This involves students coming up with creative ways to ask someone to be their date and the whole event is a major highlight of the year.
Homecoming Week and the Big Game
During homecoming, schools welcome back former students and the week is filled with activities like pep rallies, parades & a football game against a rival school. There’s usually a homecoming dance and a homecoming king & queen are crowned. Current students and alumni come together to celebrate school spirit in a way that you wouldn’t really get elsewhere.
Leaving a Mark
Before graduation, many seniors will plan pranks on the school and these pranks are usually harmless & meant for fun—like covering the hallways with sticky notes or setting up fake crime scenes! Of course, they’re not officially sanctioned by schools yet pranks are a way for the graduating class to have a last laugh together. Many other countries don’t have any traditions that are even remotely similar to this one.
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Teaching Abstinence-Only Sex Education
Some American high schools provide sex education that focuses exclusively on abstinence until marriage and these programs often exclude information about birth control. According to critics, these measures leave students uninformed about important health matters and such policies are quite different than in most other countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, comprehensive sex education is standard—they think an abstinence-only curriculum is inadequate.
Spirit Weeks with Themed Days
Spirit Week is a time when schools promote enthusiasm and unity through themed dress-up days, with some themes including “Crazy Hair Day” & “Decade Day.” It’s a fun way for students to break up the routine & show off their creativity as they build a sense of community. Unfortunately, many other nations’ schools don’t have anything as unifying as Spirit Week.
Hall Passes for Leaving Class
Students usually need a hall pass to leave the classroom during lessons in American schools, whether that’s because they’re going to the restroom or grabbing something from their locker. Teachers keep track of these passes to monitor where students are during class time. Yet this level of control isn’t the norm in many other places—students may move around more freely without needing a special pass.
Military Recruiters Visiting Schools
It’s normal for military recruiters to visit American high schools to talk with students about enlistment opportunities and they set up information booths & give presentations. They may even meet with students one-on-one—such a direct recruitment approach within an educational setting is unusual abroad. The idea of recruiters engaging with teenagers at school doesn’t sit so well with people in foreign places.
Lockdown Drills for Active Shooter Scenarios
A sad fact of American high schools is that students regularly participate in lockdown drills to prepare for potential active shooter events and these drills involve hiding silently, turning off lights & securing classroom doors. It’s meant to keep kids safe but rehearsing such frightening situations is uncommon elsewhere. In fact, many people in other countries think that such a practice is much too distressing for students.
Corporal Punishment Still in Use
Corporal punishment is still allowed in public schools in some American states so students might receive physical discipline, like paddling, for misbehavior. It’s not widespread—but the fact that it’s legally permitted is rather controversial, even here in the States. It’d be unacceptable in countries that have banned physical punishment in schools.
Intense Focus on School Sports Over Academics
Sports—especially football and basketball—take center stage in most high schools and school administrations invest heavily in athletic programs. In some cases, they’ll prioritize sports over academics and students might face pressure to excel in sports for scholarships or school prestige. But our intense focus on athletics over education is rather unusual in other countries as they prioritize academics more.
Allowing Students to Drive to School at a Young Age
Most of us don’t bat an eyelid at high school students as young as 16 driving themselves to school—parking lots filled with student cars are a typical sight. Yet many other countries have higher driving ages or stricter licensing requirements so teenagers driving daily to school is unacceptable. It’s even illegal in some places and teenagers rely on public transport or loved ones to take them to school instead.
Firearms Training in Junior ROTC Programs
Some high schools have Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs that include firearms training, where students learn marksmanship skills & may handle rifles as part of their coursework. Providing military-style training and access to weapons within a school setting is completely wrong in other countries. They tend to have much stricter gun control laws than America and they can’t understand letting kids anywhere near firearms.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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