High School Graduation Gown Colors

[Sen's Revenge]

For as long as I can remember, DC Public School grads always have the boys and girls graduate in different color gowns. Maybe some schools did one color, but at most schools, the boys would wear one school color and the girls would wear either the other school color or white.

Where did this come from? I think it's dumb. And especially in an age where there are more transgender and genderqueer students, wouldn't it just be simpler to have everybody in one color?

And why do public schools insist on graduating in gowns, anyway? They seem dumb expensive to me. Most of the private school people I know had the girls in white dresses or something and the boys in suits. That seems perfectly acceptable to me for a high school graduation.

Not that I think caps and gowns should only be for college students (I kinda do think this) but my reasoning is more because dumb expenses are dumb and uniformity can be achieved in other ways.

[AGDee]

Our schools use school colors- boys in blue, girls in white. To my knowledge, there haven't been any transgender or genderqueer students. I don't know how they would handle that.

Graduation gowns are significantly cheaper than a suit or (most) white dresses though. I think Hypo's was around $35. A lot of people donate theirs back to the school after graduation for kids who can't afford one in the future. And they don't have to deal with girls having inappropriate dresses (too low cut, too short, etc.). I'd really rather spend $35 on a gown than $200 for a cheap suit (plus $35 for a button down shirt and $$ for a tie) for a growing teen age boy!

[carnation]

Most of the high schools here have all students wear a gown in the school's main color. Here's what ticks me off. We now have 10 red gowns in this house because every year, our kids' high school's graduation advisor swears up and down that the gowns have changed and that we have to order a new one. Lies! They have been the same since 2000 and I wonder if the district is getting a kickback for each gown sold. For a couple of years, it was even a package with your diploma so you absolutely had to buy it.

Now they're a bit more relaxed about it and have even let our kids use their older siblings' honor cords and NHS stoles. This, at least, is saving us a boatload of money.

In the meantime, I'm wondering if there's a choir anywhere that wants 10 red gowns.

[WCsweet<3]

I went to private school and we did that. Girls in red, boys in blue.
We didn't have to buy them though. The school held onto them. The public high schools and I know of at least two other private high schools had everyone in one color. They did use robes too.

Along with the questions: where did the idea of graduating, at any education level, in robes come from?

[IrishLake]

I also went to a private high school. We all wore blue. If someone wanted to wear a siblings gown, they could.

[amIblue?]

Everyone wore navy blue caps & gowns at my high school graduation. This was 20+ years ago, and to the best of my knowledge, that was how it had been done since the school started in the 70s. I dont believe, given the era that being sensitive to transgender issues was a consideration in making everyone the same. If I had to hazard a guess based on my knowledge of the administration and senior class faculty sponsors, it was because it was less expensive per gown to order the same for everyone.

I think it's a nice thing for everyone to look the same and get the cap & gown experience. Not everyone goes on to college. I always like when they move the tassel from one side to the other.

[SIGMANU@MSU]

I graduated in 2005. Everyone in my class wore a Maroon cap and gown that we rented. They were very nice. Not like the cheap ones that you buy.

[MysticCat]

All the high schools around here wear gowns in the main school color. Boys and girls wear the same color, and have as long as I can remember (which is back to the 69s). My high school graduation gown was purple.

As for why -- it's tradition, it's formal looking and it's an equalizer. As AGDee says, the gowns aren't that expensive.

[kateee]

At my school the guys were in red and the girls in grey, our school colors. The school paid for our caps and gowns, and we got to keep them. I liked it because they bought them, though I am sure I actually paid for it at some point (taxes, fees, etc.)

[txAOII_15]

At my school, the top ten graduates wore white gowns, the top 10% of the graduating class wore silver and the rest wore maroon gowns (our school color). We had to buy them (I think they were ~$35 in 2008) but we got to keep them.

[TPA85]

My school's were also red (boys) and grey (girls). We were allowed to wear gowns that had been passed down but since my older sibling is my brother, I couldn't borrow. I bet my mom still has it in a closet.

[33girl]

Our HS was boys in black, girls in white. Our school colors were orange and black so those weren't happening. I think it's a leftover from the days of girls wearing white dresses and boys wearing dark suits underneath. My college gown was black...so I have the makings of either an angel or nun costume if I'm so inclined. Speaking of which...

Originally Posted by carnation

In the meantime, I'm wondering if there's a choir anywhere that wants 10 red gowns.

I IMMEDIATELY thought of an awesome Halloween costume to incorporate these.

[GammaGirl1908]

I grew up in DC, but I went to private school, so we probably did it a little bit differently. We (all girls) wore white caps and gowns that the school owned; we had to give them back after the ceremony, although we did get to keep the tassel off the cap (it's hanging on my bedroom doorknob right now along with my college tassels).

[knight_shadow]

At my high school, everyone wore the same color (green), but NHS/Leadership Academy/Top 10% wore different cords and sat in the front to differentiate from everyone else.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

At my high school, everyone wore the same color (green), but NHS/Leadership Academy/Top 10% wore different cords and sat in the front to differentiate from everyone else.

NHS members wore gold tassels at my high school, and the top students also wore gold stoles.

I'm fascinated that so many schools have boys and girls in different colors. I thought that had died out 60 years ago.