The best elementary spirit shirts are simple: school name, mascot and colors, maybe the year. Get logo permission from the school or district, size the art down for youth shirts (about 8–9 in wide), take pre-orders with sizes, and print to the order so nothing's left over.
Elementary school spirit shirt ideas
- Mascot classic. School name over the mascot in school colors. The one everyone buys.
- Grade-level shirts. "Kindergarten Crew," "Fifth Grade Leaders," each grade in its own color.
- Class of the future. "Class of 2038" for kindergarteners. Parents love it.
- Field day and fun run. Team colors and an event logo. See our gang sheet guide to fit every color team on one sheet.
- Teacher and staff shirts. A matching staff design with each teacher's name on the back.
- Reading and theme weeks. Read-a-thon, science night, 100th day of school.
- Kid-drawn designs. Run a design contest and print the winner. Scan the drawing and clean it up so it prints well.
Using the school logo
School logos and mascots usually belong to the school or district. Ask the principal or district communications office before printing. Many districts have approved colors and logo files, which also means a clean file to print from.
Sizing kids' shirts
| Shirt | Front design width |
|---|---|
| Toddler and pre-K | About 6–7 in |
| Youth XS–S | About 7–8 in |
| Youth M–XL | About 8–9 in |
| Adult (staff and parents) | About 10–12 in |
Use one design file and export it at each size, then put all of them on one sheet. Preview sizes with our free mockup tool.
Running the order
- Pick one or two blank colors to keep it simple.
- Send a pre-order form with youth and adult sizes, plus a size chart from the blank brand.
- Set a firm deadline, about three weeks before you need the shirts.
- Bag and label by classroom to make handout easy.
Order a few extras in the most common sizes for new students and late orders.
Spirit shirts as a fundraiser
Add a markup over cost, sell by pre-order so there's no leftover stock, and sell at back-to-school night and school events. Without minimums, you can reorder when late orders come in.
Selling shirts made for kids
If you sell products made mainly for kids 12 and under, federal children's product rules from the Consumer Product Safety Commission can apply, including testing, certificates and tracking labels. Rules depend on what you sell and who sells it, so check CPSC.gov or ask an expert before selling kids' shirts.
Every size, grade and teacher name on one sheet.
Build a gang sheetSpirit shirt questions
What do you put on an elementary school spirit shirt?
Most use the school name and mascot, the school year or class, and a simple slogan. Teachers' and grade-level shirts are popular too.
Do I need permission to use the school logo?
Usually, yes. Ask the principal or district office. Some districts have logo rules and approved colors.
What size should the design be on kids' shirts?
Youth full fronts are often about 8–9 in wide. Toddler and pre-K shirts need smaller, about 6–7 in.
How do PTAs make money on spirit shirts?
They add a markup over the cost of the blank and print, take pre-orders so nothing goes unsold, and sell at school events.