School zone signs
School Zone sign
You are approaching a school. Reduced speed limits usually apply during posted hours.
- Pentagon
- Fluorescent yellow green
- MUTCD S1-1
Shape and background first
Federal designation S1-1 in the MUTCD, the national standard every state signs to. Two school signs share this designation and this fluorescent yellow green pentagon, and this is the one that warns you a school is coming. It is about the approach, which is where a lower posted limit during school hours applies, and it does not mark any particular place in the road.
What the MUTCD specifies
Designation: S1-1
MUTCD Section 7B.02
Conventional road size: 36 x 36 in
Standard: Where law designates a school zone, install a School sign at its beginning.
Source: Federal Highway Administration, MUTCD 11th Edition (December 2023), Part 7, Table 7B-1; Section 7B.02, verified 2026-09-26.
How states handle it
- CA: Approaching or passing a school marked with a SCHOOL warning sign, the limit is 25 mph while children are going to or leaving school, during school hours or the noon recess. Source: CVC 22352, verified 2026-09-26.
What the test wants you to know
The mistake people make
The five sided shape is used for nothing except schools. Fines in a school zone are commonly doubled, and passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing carries its own much heavier penalty.
