School Signs

School Zone Sign Links

Ideally, the school zone starts at the front door and encompasses the campus and as many blocks as possible that surround the school and have a high concentration of school-generated traffic. Often the school zone includes the streets along the school and usually the area one to two blocks around it. The school zone should be marked with special signs to alert drivers of the high concentration of children. School crossing signs, speed signs, school zone pavement markings and other traffic calming devices remind drivers to treat the area with special care and attention.

Safe Routes to School Guide is a comprehensive online reference manual designed to support the development of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs

School Zone Signs MUTCD  The sizes of School Zone Signs and plaques to be used on conventional roadways in school areas 

School Zone Signs usually come in one of 4 different types:

School Area - the S1-1 sign can be used to warn road users that they are approaching a school area that might include school buildings or grounds, a school crossing, or school related activity adjacent to the highway.

School Zone - the S1-1 sign can be used to identify the location of the beginning of a designated school zone (see Section 7B.09).

School Advance Crossing - if combined with an AHEAD (W16-9P) plaque or an XX FEET (W16-2P or W16-2aP) plaque to comprise the School Advance Crossing assembly, the S1-1 sign can be used to warn road users that they are approaching a crossing where schoolchildren cross the roadway (see Section 7B.11).

School Zone Signs keep kids and drivers safe in school zones.

• School Zone Crosswalk signs
• School Zone Speed Limit signs
• No Parking School Zone Signs
• Reserved for Bus School Zone Signs
• Gun Free Zone signs
• Tobacco Free Zone signs

All of these signs are designed to keep schools as safe as possible for kids and staff. 

Common School Zone Terminology

School Enrollment Zone

School Walk Zone

School walk zone. Image provided by Dave Parisi.

The school walk zone is typically a subset of the enrollment zone. School walk zones may be defined by State or Local policy, but if not, a general rule of thumb is that the walking boundary is 1/2 mile or 1-mile out from an elementary school, sometimes further for middle and high schools. The shaded circle on the map above is intended to provide a visual of a “walk zone”, but rarely is the walk zone an exact circle. Some students will live too far away from the school to reasonably be expected to walk, and they are typically provided with bus service. Walk zones defined by policy typically indicate the area within which students are NOT provided with bus service (note that some schools may define this as the no-transport zone, not the walk zone). Determining walk zones, whether policy based or through the general rule-of-thumb, can be helpful in focusing your efforts in identifying engineering problems and solutions.

School Zone

The school zone is the roadway (or roadways) immediately adjacent to the school (shown in red on the map above), usually extending one to two blocks in each direction. Speed limits are often reduced in the school zone during morning and afternoon hours. Special signing is used - crossing signs, speed signs, school zone pavement markings - so that motorists know to treat the area with special care and attention.

Creating safer streets, improving communities and promoting physical activity for children and their families. http://saferoutespartnership.org/

From their website "The Safe Routes Partnership is working to advance the Safe Routes to School movement nationwide. We work tirelessly to ensure Safe Routes to School stays viable and vibrant at the federal, state, regional, and local levels and to improve the quality of life for kids and adults. Organizations joining the Safe Routes Partnership commit to abide by the Partner Pledge of Support and support Safe Routes Partnership efforts. "

Safe Routes to School helps keep our school zones safe by bringing ideas, policy expertise, and campaign know-how to the traffic sign industry.

They serve many states school zones in Indiana, Oregon, Kentucky, California, Hawaii, Minnesota, and Colorado. In addition to policy and legislation expertise they also have school sign signage, laws, and have much experience in underfunded or challenged school zones.

Q: Am I required to use Fluorescent Yellow Green (FYG) background color signs for warning signs for pedestrians and bicycle application, or is FYG to be used only for school zone area warning signs?

A: Fluorescent Yellow Green background color is now required for warning signs and plaques for school zone area traffic control and is optional for pedestrian and bicycle sign applications.