The School Crossing Sign: Children Cross Right Here
The school crossing sign, the five-sided school symbol with a small downward-pointing arrow plaque, marks the exact spot where children cross the road. Slow down, look for students and crossing guards, and stop for anyone in or entering the crosswalk. Stay stopped until they have safely crossed, and never pass a vehicle stopped at the crosswalk.
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School crossing quiz: 3 test-style questions
- A five-sided school sign has a small plaque with a downward diagonal arrow. It means: A school is 1 mile ahead / The school crossing is at this location / Children's playground nearby / End of the school zone. Answer: The school crossing is at this location. The W16-7P arrow plaque points to the crosswalk, marking the crossing location itself.
- A car in the lane next to you has stopped at a school crosswalk. You should: Pass it carefully at low speed / Honk and continue / Stop too; a child may be crossing in front of it / Change lanes and accelerate. Answer: Stop too; a child may be crossing in front of it. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. It may be stopped for a pedestrian you cannot see.
- Children are still in the crosswalk on the other half of the road. Most state handbooks say you should: Go as soon as they pass your lane / Honk so they hurry / Drive around them slowly / Wait until they have safely crossed and the crossing guard (if any) has left the road. Answer: Wait until they have safely crossed and the crossing guard (if any) has left the road. Children can change direction suddenly. Wait until they are safely across; some states require you to remain stopped until the crosswalk is clear.
What the school crossing sign means
The school crossing sign is the same fluorescent yellow-green pentagon as the school sign (MUTCD S1-1), with two walking children, plus a small plaque below it carrying a downward-pointing diagonal arrow (W16-7P). The arrow means "here": it points to the crosswalk where students cross. Without the arrow, the pentagon is an advance warning that a school or school zone is ahead.
The crossing is usually marked with high-visibility crosswalk lines (wide white bars, sometimes yellow in older school crosswalks). It may also have a crossing guard during arrival and dismissal times, flashing beacons, or an in-street sign reminding you that state law requires drivers to stop or yield for pedestrians within the crosswalk.
What to do at a school crossing
- Slow down and scan both sidewalks, the curb ramps and between parked cars for children.
- Stop for pedestrians who are in the crosswalk or about to step in. Stop before the crosswalk, not on it.
- Stay stopped until the children have fully crossed; children can run back for a dropped item.
- Obey the crossing guard. A raised STOP paddle has the force of a stop sign; wait for the guard to leave the road and signal you on.
- Never pass a vehicle stopped at the crosswalk, and do not change lanes near it.
Common mistakes and test traps
- School zone vs school crossing. The plain pentagon warns of a school ahead; the pentagon with the down arrow marks the crossing itself.
- Yield or stop? All states require you to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, and many require you to stop and remain stopped while they are in your half of the road or at a school crossing. The safe test answer is to stop and wait.
- Unmarked crosswalks. Every intersection has a legal crosswalk even without painted lines; children may cross there too.
- Fluorescent yellow-green. This color is used for school, pedestrian and bicycle signs, not for general warnings.
Where you see it
School crossing signs are posted at marked crosswalks on routes students use to walk or bike to school: at intersections near the school, at midblock crossings in front of the campus, and at signalized intersections with crossing guards. They usually come after a school zone sign placed in advance.
Related signs to know
Learn the school zone sign, the pedestrian crossing sign and the stop sign used by crossing guards. Pedestrian right-of-way is explained in our right-of-way guide; see all sign colors in the road signs guide.
School crossing sign FAQ
What does the arrow under the school sign mean?
The small downward diagonal arrow plaque means the crossing is at that location. It points to the crosswalk.
Do I have to stop at a school crossing if no one is there?
No, but slow down and be ready to stop. You must stop for any pedestrian in or entering the crosswalk and for a crossing guard's STOP paddle.
Can I go once the children have passed my lane?
Rules vary: some states let you go once pedestrians are clear of your half of the road, while others require you to wait until the crosswalk is clear. With children, wait until they are safely across.
Is passing allowed near a school crossing?
Passing a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians at a crosswalk is illegal in every state, and passing in school zones is unsafe even where not prohibited.
Official sources
- FHWA — Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
- NHTSA — Pedestrian safety
- IIHS — Pedestrians and bicyclists
Keep studying
- School zone sign
- Pedestrian crossing sign
- Stop sign
- Right-of-way rules
- All US road signs
- Practice tests by topic