10 School Items Every Middle-Class Kid Had in the ’90s
For most middle-class families in the ’90s, back-to-school shopping was a ritual filled with excitement, joy, and perhaps a bit of parental dread (school supplies weren’t exactly cheap, even back then). Kids would eagerly flip through glossy catalogs, picking out their favorite markers to adorn their binders with, while parents tried to balance the budget. The thrill of picking out brand new supplies for a new school year made the end of summer feel both bittersweet and tinged with anticipation. From gel pens to fresh new kicks, here are 10 items that showcase the nostalgic vibes of back-to-school-shopping in the ’90s.
1. Jansport Backpacks
If you grew up on the East Coast, then you simply had to rock a Jansport book bag. This was mandatory. As the ultimate symbol of ’90s cool, these trusty bags weren’t just extra durable; they also came in just about every color. But real ones know the classic black with leather bottom was the right flex. High five if yours was also covered in punk band pins from Hot Topic.
2. Trapper Keepers
Popular in both the ’80s and ’90s, these thick binders by Mead featured snap closures and all kinds of designs and colors (think neon splatter or racing stripes). Plus, they held absolutely everything: homework, notes, even secret cootie catchers.
3. Lisa Frank School Supplies
If your notebook wasn’t covered in psychedelic, neon dolphins or glittery pandas, were you even trying? Lisa Frank turned mundane school supplies into collectibles, with folders so blindingly-bright they practically glowed in the dark.
4. Shoes From Payless
Ah, yes — good ol’ Payless Shoe Source was the go-to spot for affordable kicks. Beloved by middle-class families in America, our local Payless was known for its BOGO (buy one get one free) deals, meaning I would always get to walk away with two pairs of light-up Sketchers — one for school, one for running around and causing mayhem in the neighborhood.
5. Graphing Calculators
No back-to-school haul was complete without the king of classroom tech: The clunky TI-83. At nearly $100 (a small fortune back then), parents treated this graphing calculator like a major investment, and it low-key really was. Math teachers demanded them, but students quickly discovered their true purpose: Spelling out “b00bs” in low-res pixels.
6. Gel Pens
Teachers loathed these smudgy metallic inks, but that didn’t stop us from rewriting entire notes just to alternate between hot pink and metallic blue. Oh, and the girl who owned the 36-color set, complete with glitter, neon, and “mystery scent” options? She might as well have been voted the Queen of Queens (I grew up in Queens, New York, in case that wasn’t clear).
7. Lunchables and Thermos Lunches
Rich kids brought Lunchables (mini pizzas or nachos, obviously), while the rest of us had to settle for bologna sandwiches in a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers or Batman lunchbox with a side of soggy cafeteria fries and milk. It was rough out in these streets.
8. Flip-Out Pencil Cases
Remember the pencil cases that came with zippers, snap buttons, and even built-in sharpeners? Those were pretty rad. “I had this same exact style!” writes one Redditor. “Wow. This brought back memories.”
9. North Face Jackets
For those who grew up in the cold, staying warm had to be done in style, meaning the Nuptse puffer from North Face was a must-have. Parents might’ve balked at the price, but once that first frost hit, these jackets became the unofficial uniform of school hallways, at least in New York. The rich kids got theirs fresh from the mall; the rest of us scored last year’s model at outlet stores or hand-me-downs from older siblings.
10. New Clothes
Malls and discount stores would buzz with shoppers hunting for deals right before the new school year. For many kids, back-to-school clothes were a rare chance to refresh their wardrobe and perhaps sneak in a new pair (or two) of sneakers.
Want to do a deeper dive into ’90s culture?
Don’t miss 15 Vintage 1990s Ads That Are Pure Nostalgia. You should also check out 15 Items From the ’90s That Could Still Be Valuable and 10 Collectible ’90s Toys That Increased in Value.