20 High School Photos From the ’70s That Are Pure Nostalgia

A black-and-white yearbook photo collage featuring three men and three women, all with 1970s-style hair and clothing, posing and smiling for individual portraits.

High school in the ’70s was all about bell-bottoms, feathered hair, and cruising around in station wagons with the radio on full blast. It was the age of passing mixtapes between friends, disco nights at the gym, and playing hooky to catch a movie for just a couple bucks. Outside the classroom, the ’70s were also rife with change as teens came of age in the shadow of Vietnam, Watergate, and a growing push for equality.

From the unmistakable fashion of the era (hello, platform shoes and extra wide collars) to the thrill of Friday night football games, here are 20 photos that capture what high school was like in the ’70s.

1. Could These Yearbook Photos Be Any More ’70s-Coded?

A black-and-white yearbook page featuring nine individual portrait photos of young people, all with 1970s hairstyles and clothing, arranged in a grid of three rows and three columns.
Robloxianxs/Reddit.com

2. Just Goofin’ Off With the Boys After School

Three young men stand outdoors, smiling with their arms around each other. One holds a football, another has a cigarette in his mouth. They're dressed in casual 1970s-style clothing and appear relaxed and happy.
pstephens2112/Reddit.com

3. ‘High School on Long Island, New York, 1970s’

Three students sit at desks in a classroom, focused on their papers. The student in the middle is blowing a bubble with gum, resting her head on her hand. The classroom is sparsely filled and appears quiet.
DiosMioMan2/Reddit.com

4. Talk About Squad Goals. That Poor Car Though

A group of teenage boys and young men relax on and around two parked classic cars beside trees, some sitting, some standing; one is shirtless, and a bicycle is visible at the far right.
Toodlum/Reddit.com

5. Four High School Girls Wearing Landlubber Jeans

Four young women in flared jeans and long-sleeved tops stand next to a car, holding drinks and books, posing and smiling for the camera. The photo is black and white, giving it a retro, vintage feel.
StricksLady/Reddit.com

6. ‘Two Girls at Their High School Lockers, 1970’s’

Two young women in striped outfits stand by lockers. One is holding a large, patterned box, while the other looks down at it. The scene appears to be from the 1970s, based on their hairstyles and clothing style.
FNaXQ/Reddit.com

7. High School Yearbook, 1975

A black-and-white yearbook page with fifteen headshots of young men and women in formal attire arranged in three rows, with large “@” symbols obscuring the images’ midsections.
Right0rightoh/Reddit.com

8. ‘My Grandma (Far Right) and Her High School Friends, Circa 1970s’

Four teenage girls with long hair sit closely together, smiling for a black-and-white group photo. They wear patterned shirts typical of the 1970s. Other people are partially visible behind them.
vaudevillefolly/Reddit.com

9. Typewriting Class, Early ’70s

A young man sits at a desk in a classroom using a typewriter, with papers and boxes around him. Another student sits in the background. The classroom has large windows and a chalkboard with writing on it.
mistermajik2000/Reddit.com

10. Classroom Photo, East Harlem, New York, Circa 1971

A black-and-white photo of a diverse group of students and a teacher posing together in a classroom, with handwritten notes on the chalkboard and desks arranged in the foreground.
jessicajessjessie/Reddit.com

11. Ultimate (Frisbee) Throwback From the 1970 Columbia High School Yearbook

A black-and-white photo of a group of students posing outdoors, some holding frisbees. Most are wearing shirts that read "SO SHARED FRISBEE." Text below reads: "Keep 'Em Flying - C.H.S. Varsity Frisbee Squad.
tonyleonardo/Reddit.com

12. … and Some Pearls of Wisdom From the Same Yearbook

A black-and-white yearbook page with eight student portraits in two rows. Each portrait includes the student's name and a personal quote beneath their photo. The students have varying hairstyles and are dressed formally.
tonyleonardo/Reddit.com

13. Cause I’m Just a Teenage Dirtbag Baby

Two young men sit on a couch holding drinks. One appears sleepy, holding a bottle of whiskey, while the other smiles, wearing a sleeveless shirt and holding a can of Coors. Posters are visible on the wall behind them.
justahdewd/Reddit.com

14. We Just Know Mr. Brown’s Class Was the Coolest

A group of students poses in a classroom, some standing and some seated. One holds a sign reading “Mr. Brown 6th Period.” The photo is black and white, and the group appears serious and attentive.
jessicajessjessie/Reddit.com

15. ‘My Mom (in the Middle) With Her High School Friends, ’70s in Brazil’

Three girls in matching school uniforms with white shirts, plaid skirts, and knee-high socks stand outside against a stone wall, each holding papers and smiling at the camera in warm sunlight.
Simonecv/Reddit.com

16. Senior High School Picture, 1975

Black-and-white portrait of a young person with medium-length blond hair, wearing a light-colored suit jacket, dark shirt, and white tie, looking slightly past the camera with a neutral expression.
Right0rightoh/Reddit.com

17. Slow Dancin’ to ‘Hotel California’ at the School Gym, Early ’70s

Black and white photo of two couples slow dancing closely. In the foreground, a couple hugs with their faces partially hidden; in the background, another couple dances, visible from head to mid-thigh.
RetroGamersHub/Reddit.com

18. Having a Blast at the School Dance in 1972

Black and white photo of a crowded 1960s or 1970s dance, with young men and women wearing vintage clothing, miniskirts, and boots, dancing and socializing in a lively indoor setting.
susierabbit/Reddit.com

19. ‘The Traditional ‘Before High School Graduation’ Pose With My Aunt, 1971′

A young woman in a light blue graduation gown and cap stands smiling beside an older woman in a red sleeveless top and patterned skirt, both indoors with a curtained window behind them.
dittidot/Reddit.com

20. Standing in Line for Lunch in 1975

Teen boys in 1970s-style clothing stand in a cafeteria line with trays, selecting food like sandwiches, desserts, and drinks, while a cafeteria worker serves them from behind the counter.
UserDeleted/Reddit.com

Want to tap into more teen memories?

Take a look at 20 High School Photos That Perfectly Sum Up the 1980s Teen Experience, as well as 14 Photos That Capture the Glamour of Old-School Debutante Balls. You might also be interested in 11 Photos of School Lunch Menus Over the Years.