School sign · MUTCD S1-1
School Zone / School Crossing
You are entering a school zone or approaching a place where children cross the street. The pentagon shape is used only for school signs.
- Shape
- Pentagon (five sides, pointed top)
- Color
- Fluorescent yellow-green (older signs yellow), black figures of two children
What to do
Slow down and obey the posted school speed limit when it is in effect, often 15 to 25 mph. Watch for children on sidewalks and between parked cars, and be ready to stop. Obey crossing guards and never pass another vehicle in a school zone.
Where you see it
At the start of a school zone and in advance of marked school crosswalks, sometimes with a flashing beacon.
Test trap
A common trap is to call this a 'pedestrian crossing' — the regular pedestrian sign is a diamond, while this is a pentagon. School zone speed limits usually apply only during posted hours or when lights are flashing, and fines are often doubled.
Memory tip: A pentagon looks like a little schoolhouse with a roof — school ahead.
Practice question
A five-sided (pentagon) yellow or fluorescent yellow-green sign warns of:
- A hospital
- A school zone or school crossing
- A railroad
- A rest area
Answer: B. The pentagon shape is used for school zone and school crossing signs.
MUTCD sign shapes (all state handbooks)