These 20 High School Photos Take Us Straight Back to the 1970s
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. Just Goofin’ Off With the Boys After School
2. Four High School Girls Wearing Landlubber Jeans
3. Could These Yearbook Photos Be Any More ’70s-Coded?
4. ‘High School on Long Island, New York, 1970s’
5. Talk About Squad Goals. That Poor Car Though
6. ‘Two Girls at Their High School Lockers, 1970’s’
7. High School Yearbook, 1975
8. Typewriting Class, Early ’70s
9. Classroom Photo, East Harlem, New York, Circa 1971
10. Ultimate (Frisbee) Throwback From the 1970 Columbia High School Yearbook
11. … and Some Pearls of Wisdom From the Same Yearbook
12. Cause I’m Just a Teenage Dirtbag Baby
13. We Just Know Mr. Brown’s Class Was the Coolest
14. ‘My Mom (in the Middle) With Her High School Friends, ’70s in Brazil’
15. Senior High School Picture, 1975
16. ‘My Grandma (Far Right) and Her High School Friends, Circa 1970s’
17. Having a Blast at the School Dance in 1972
18. ‘The Traditional ‘Before High School Graduation’ Pose With My Aunt, 1971′
19. Standing in Line for Lunch in 1975
20. Slow Dancin’ to ‘Hotel California’ at the School Gym, Early ’70s
Want to tap into more teen memories?
- 20 High School Photos That Perfectly Sum Up the 1980s Teen Experience — These vintage snapshots capture the laughter, the drama, and the unforgettable vibes of being a teen in what some consider the raddest decade of them all.
- 14 Photos That Capture the Glamour of Old-School Debutante Balls — While the pageantry aspect has largely faded today, these photos capture a world where one night could change a young lady’s future.
- 11 Photos of School Lunch Menus Over the Years — These school lunch menus from decades past are a prime example of how far we’ve come from our roots.