School uniform Statistics (2024)
Initially established nearly 30 years ago, school uniform policies have become increasingly prevalent over the years. During the 1995–1996 school year, only 3% of public schools in the U.S. required uniforms, this figure had surged to 19% now. Private schools exhibit even higher rates of uniform mandates, with 57% requiring students to adhere to uniform regulations.
This post combines the latest insights into the uniforms market. We have data on student behavior with and without uniforms. Opinions of teachers, parents and students on the uniform policies and more.
School Uniform Statistics (Top Highlights)
- 18.8% of Public schools and 57% of Private schools in the United States need their students to wear school uniforms.
- 22 states authorize schools and districts to implement school uniform policies
- The cost of a uniform per child per year can range anywhere between somewhere between $25 to $500.
- School uniforms for girls are 12% costlier than boys.
- 38% of schools prefer blue in their school uniforms.
18.8% of public schools in the United States require students to wear uniforms
According to official government sources, 18.8% of Public Schools in the United States require their students to wear uniforms. That’s 18,018 schools in the country.
The share of schools that needed their students to wear uniforms increased by 0.9% in 2017-18 compared to the 2009-10.
| Year | Share of schools requiring to wear uniform |
|---|---|
| 2009-10 | 18.9% |
| 2017-18 | 19.8% |
| 2019-20 | 18.8% |
57% of Private Schools in the US require uniforms
Primary Schools require uniforms more than Middle and High Schools
What does this indicate? As students move from primary to middle and high school, they usually have fewer rules about wearing uniforms but stricter guidelines on what they can wear. This ensures everyone dresses appropriately, especially when uniforms aren’t required.
| School Type | Uniform Policies | Strict Dress Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Schools | 23% | 43% |
| Middle Schools | 18% | 62% |
| High Schools | 10% | 56% |
22 states authorize schools and districts to implement school uniform policies
There are many states that have opted out entirely. Currently, only 21 states and the District of Columbia have formal school uniform policies.
How much does the average uniform cost
In the United States, The cost of a uniform per child per year can range anywhere between somewhere between $25 to $500.
The cost of a standard uniform — consisting of a top, trouser or skirt, socks, and shoes — ranges from $25 to $200. However, school-specific uniforms are generally costlier, typically ranging from $100 to $500.
School uniforms demographics in United States
Schools with uniform policies tend to serve a higher proportion of Black and Hispanic students, with 20% Black and 40% Hispanic children enrolled. These schools also have a larger percentage of English Language Learners, at 27%.
Moreover, schools with uniforms cater to a significant share of low-income families, with 52% of their students coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Conversely, schools without uniform policies predominantly serve White children, with 64% of the students being White compared to just 31% in schools with uniforms. These schools also have fewer Black and Hispanic students (8–18%) and a smaller percentage of English Language Learners (8–18%).
Coming to income levels, schools without uniforms have a lower proportion of low-income students, at 41%, compared to those with uniform policies.
The average cost of School Uniforms in Australia
Australian parents spend about $330 on average for their child’s primary school uniform that suits both summer and winter, plus a sports uniform. For secondary school students, this cost increases to around $526 per student. Catholic and independent school uniforms are generally costlier than those for government schools.
The gender price gap in School uniforms
A study by Income Tax UK found that school uniforms for girls are priced, 11.9% higher on average than those for boys across major supermarkets like Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Marks and Spencer. This difference, known as the “pink tax,” is observed in various sectors beyond the school uniforms market.
Over 12 years of school, this really adds up in terms of spending.
School uniforms market size is a $27.93 billion
The School Uniforms market is valued at $27.93 billion as of 2024.
After experiencing hiccups in the Covid19 phase when all the schools were closed, the school uniforms market started to recover as school reopened in late 2021.
The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% till 2026 and reach a valuation of $32.32 billion.
| Year | Market Size |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 19.63 billion |
| 2020 | 21.07 billion |
| 2021 | 22.6 billion |
| 2022 | 24.25 billion |
| 2023 | 26.03 billion |
| 2024 | 27.93 billion |
| 2025* | 29.98 billion |
| 2026* | 32.32 billion |
Shades of blue are the most preferred for school uniforms.
38% of schools prefer blue in their school uniforms while white and red are preferred by 23% and 15% respectively.
Grey is not found to be prevalent in the United States. However, grey is a widely used color for school uniforms in England.
School Uniforms affect the much needed physical activity that students need
A study from the University of Cambridge looked at over 1 million kids in 135 countries and found that in places where most students wear school uniforms, fewer children are getting the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
This is especially true for girls, who are less likely to meet the activity goal, possibly because they feel less comfortable playing actively in skirts.
The study also found out that 16% of kids met recommended activity levels in countries where school uniforms were common, compared to 19.5% where uniforms were rare. Boys were 1.5 times more likely than girls overall, with the gap widening from 5.5% to 9.8% in uniform versus non-uniform countries, respectively.
Sports uniforms can reduce overall uniforms costs and increase the level of activity among students
Switching to a policy where students wear sports uniforms every day can lead to significant savings. Parents would only need to buy a sports uniform, potentially saving about $167 for primary school students and $363 for secondary school students
Many students believe wearing sports uniforms every day would increase their physical activity, especially older students who are less active overall. About 9 out of 10
Switching to a policy where students wear sports uniforms every day can lead to significant savings. Parents would only need to buy a sports uniform, potentially saving about $167 for primary school students and $363 for secondary school students
Many students believe wearing sports uniforms every day would increase their physical activity, especially older students who are less active overall. About 9 out of 10 parents agree that school uniforms should encourage physical activity.
Views on School uniforms (Students / Parents / Teachers)
There are mixed opinions about uniforms among students, parents and teachers, mostly inclined towards the unfavorable side. Let’s take a look at findings from different studies.
90% of middle school students do not like wearing uniforms to school
In a survey conducted by the University of Nevada, Reno, among 1,848 middle school students, the results showed that 90% disliked wearing uniforms to school. Fewer students, around 30%, believed that uniforms could potentially reduce discipline problems.
Only 17% felt that wearing uniforms helped them concentrate better in school. About a third of the students, 34%, thought uniforms made their school safer, and 37% said they worried less about their appearance due to the uniform requirement.
52% of students, parents and teachers strongly dislike the current uniform policy
The survey conducted in Richmond County about the school dress code revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the current policy. Out of 1,634 respondents, which included parents, students, and teachers, 52% strongly dislike the policy, while an additional 20% expressed that they simply don’t like it. Only 8.6% of those surveyed said they actually like the policy as it stands. About 12.7% indicated they don’t mind it.
Substantial number of employees (58%) and a large majority of parents (over 76%) disagree with how the policy is currently being enforced.
Schools with uniforms have lesses problematic student behavior
Schools that did not enforce uniform policies experienced more frequent student behavior issues compared to schools that did. Specifically, schools without uniforms had significantly higher averages of problems related to firearms and drugs than schools that implemented uniform policies.
More than half (54.9%) of schools that did not require uniforms reported at least one weapon-related incident, whereas fewer schools with uniform policies (38.9%) had such incidents. Specifically, firearm-related incidents occurred in 19.5% of schools without uniforms compared to 7.6% in schools with uniforms.
Drug-related incidents were also higher in schools without uniforms (58.5% versus 43.1%), as were alcohol-related incidents (35.0% versus 16.7%) and gang problems (29.6% versus 20.1%).
These statistics show that schools with uniform policies generally had fewer incidents related to weapons, drugs, alcohol, and gangs compared to schools without uniform policies.
Schools with a uniform policy have better attendance rate
Research conducted in elementary, middle, and high schools across Ohio, Virginia, and the southwestern United States shows that schools with uniforms generally have better attendance compared to those where uniforms are not required.
Implementing uniform policies reduced juvenile referrals by nearly 70%
According to a study of 64 elementary schools in Florida over five school years, found that implementing uniform policies reduced juvenile referrals by an average of 69% (from 1.28 to 0.39) and decreased violent incidents by 52% (from 88.04 to 42.06) compared to the period before uniforms were introduced.
School uniforms are associated with lesser gang involvements
A survey of 415 students and 83 teachers from six middle schools in a city to study the impact of uniform policies on gang issues revealed that schools with uniforms saw a noticeable decrease in perceived gang presence according to teachers.
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