Best Back to School Shoes for Kids in 2023 – For Private and Public School
The back-to-school season is almost upon us so you may already be eagerly gearing up for the academic year ahead and all the shopping involved. I’m sure that amongst the essential items on your to-do list, searching for a reliable pair of school shoes is at the top of the list, regardless of whether your kid attends a private or public school. Therefore, in this article, we will explore the best back to school shoes for kids in 2023 that cater to the specific needs of both private and public school students, as well as tips and useful information to ensure your kid starts the academic year on the right foot!
Does Your Child Have a “Complicated” Foot Shape?
Finding shoes that balance comfort, durability and functionality are a must and as a professional shoe fitter, speaking from experience, I will be able to steer you on the right path and provide you with the best shoe options. The back to school shoes that I will show you shortly are supportive, durable, and affordable, and they are also capable of accommodating different foot shapes such as narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
With the seemingly endless options of brands nowadays, I can help take the guesswork out of shoe shopping and ensure that you find the correct shoes for the classroom, so that your kid can kick off the school term in the best way possible!
Back-to-School Shoes – Private or Public Schools
When it comes to selecting the best back-to-school shoes for your kid, it’s essential to consider the requirements of both private and public schools.
With private schools, it is best to stick to more formal styles, such as buckled girl’s shoes and clean-cut black tennis shoes.
On the other hand, public schools tend to be looser with what kind of footwear is allowed. Therefore, while regular footwear is okay for later in the year, it is still best to choose black school shoes for the first day as well as school days hosting more formal events.
The common denominator is that by investing in the right pair of school shoes, parents can set their kids on the path to success, regardless of their school setting.
Shopping Tips for Back-to-School Shoes
To ease and improve your experience in shopping for your kid’s school shoe shoes, I have put together a list of tips to consider.
1️⃣ Check the school shoe policy. You should first acquaint yourself with the corresponding uniform policy or dress code of your kid’s school. For example, some schools might only allow the shoes to be made of certain colors like all black or all white, while other schools might be more flexible and allow for a little more flair.
2️⃣ Don’t wait until the last minute to buy school shoes. This tip comes from seeing how many parents wait until the week before school starts to buy their kid’s shoes. The issue is that if you leave this to the last minute, you risk not finding a specific style or shoe size, the stock may be more limited by that time.
3️⃣ Look for comfortable and durable shoes. Comfort is crucial especially since your kid will be wearing these shoes everyday and hopefully for most of the school year, as their growing feet allow it. To this end, you also want to make sure to get your investment right, by finding shoes that are comfortable and made of high-quality materials and therefore are durable.
4️⃣ Refrain from removing the shoe tags so quickly. I suggest that you don’t remove any tags or labels until you have made sure that the shoes fit correctly, specially with the socks that your kid will be wearing for everyday school attendance.
This is the perfect segway to go over the importance of knowing your kid’s correct shoe size to ensure a proper fit and to buy shoes online too.
How to Get Your Kid’s Correct Shoe Size and Shop Online
Our longtime readers may already know that we always recommend having both of your kid’s feet measured (length and width) regularly. It’s critical to know your kid’s exact foot size so that you can ensure that your kid’s shoes fit properly. Medical professionals concur that shoes that are too small hinder the proper growth of the foot, diminishing blood circulation, causing painful blisters, ingrown toenails, calluses, corns, and many other foot problems.
Knowing your kid’s exact foot length and shape is also crucial if you want to order the correct shoe size online. For example, do you know your kid’s exact foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide)? Do you know whether your kid has a high instep or not? More often than not, parents report that they have to order multiple shoes online before finding one that fits their kid’s unique feet. I understand that it can be challenging to find shoes to fit your kid’s unique feet, especially if they have a pre-existing foot condition or an uncommon shoe size.
For this reason, I created a more detailed article to assist parents in determining their kids’ foot size and shape at home effectively and with ease. This easy-to-follow method allows parents to accurately determine their kid’s correct foot length and width, as well as instep height.
Thereafter, with your kid’s accurate measurements, you’ll have a reliable reference point for shopping online, and this will give you a broader range of choices for any kind of shoes and deals online.
Best Back to School Shoes for Kids in 2023 – For Private and Public School
The wait is over. Rest assured that all brands and styles below have been personally curated by me and offer good value for money. Make sure to click on the specific model that you like (no matter if it’s a boy’s or girl’s color) as the shoe is probably available in many different colors. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
Velcro and Slip-On Styles
- Shoe style R W.Snake Mocassino by Geox
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Leather uppers
- Oversized opening
- Adjustable hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Claire by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory foam insole for enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Jace by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Double velcro straps
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory Foam foot bed for all-day comfort and support
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 650v1 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 650v1 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Prodigy 5100 by School Issue
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded collar for comfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Jungle Moc Nubuck by Merrell
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Outsole has excellent grip
- Air Cushion midsole allows long-wearing comfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Catania by Naturino
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Supportive outsole with padded heel area
- Rubber toe-cap for maximum durability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style Reese by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Outsole has excellent grip
- Supportive outsole
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Lace-Up Closure
- Shoe style Dirty Buck by Polo
- Fits medium or wide feet
- 100% leather
- Lace-up closure
- Full welt stitching
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 650v1 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 650v1 by New Balance
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Chad by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Lace up closure for secure fit
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Lanyard by Sperry
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Cushioned insoles with additional padding at the heel
- Lace up closure for secure fit
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Days II by Keds
- Available in narrow, medium, and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Padded collar and terry cloth lining for comfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 480 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Cfederico1 by Geox
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- 100% leather
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s foot size
- Shoe style 990v6 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Extra padding around the heels
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
What Socks Should Your Child Wear with His/Her Back to School Shoes?
Uncomfortable socks are the worst. Providing children with the correct types of socks is important since they wear them close to their skin all day. There are two factors to consider when finding uniform socks for your child: the school’s requirements, and your own.
The uniform socks that I recommend below are made from high quality, breathable, and comfortable materials, and some styles are seamless, which is an awesome feature as it helps prevent your child’s toes from overlapping one another and is a huge plus for children who have sensory issues. In addition, to meet with most school dress codes, the socks that I recommend are neutral and uniform (available in black, blue, and white colors).
Please make sure to check with your child’s school to see if there are any restrictions on sock colors before making a purchase.
- Socks made by Jefferies
- Made with premium ultra soft breathable cotton
- Seamless toe linking construction eliminates bulky toe seam
- Machine washable
- Socks made by Cotton Day
- 81% Combed Cotton 17% Nylon 2% lycra Spandex
- Seamless toe linking construction eliminates bulky toe seam
- Machine washable
- Socks made by Jefferies
- 75% Cotton, 22% Polyester, 3% Spandex
- Knit in pointelle pattern design knee high socks dress up any outfit
- Pretty bow on the side of socks add an extra cute flare
- Machine washable
- Socks made by Jefferies
- Premium ultra soft breathable cotton
- Ultra smooth toe for added softness
- Machine washable
- Socks made by Hugh Ugoli
- 80% Bamboo, 17% Polyamide, 3% Elastane
- High-quality bamboo fiber which is softer and more comfortable than cotton
- Seamless toe linking construction eliminates bulky toe seam
- Machine washable
- Socks made by Jefferies
- 87% Cotton, 12% Nylon, 1% Spandex
- Reinforced heel and toe provides long lasting wear
- Ultra smooth toe for added softness
- Ribbed leg for optimal fit and support
- Machine washable
Foot Health Throughout the School Year – Other Things to Consider
Be on the lookout for any of the following:
- Kid’s often complaining of pain in the feet, heel, knee or legs
- Skin or toenail irritation
- Unexplained regular tripping and falling
- Uneven shoe wear, or when one shoe wears down before the other
Remember, consulting with a pediatrician or a podiatrist can provide further guidance specific to your kid’s needs and situation.
Do You Have Any Questions or Need Specific Shoe Recommendations?
If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can also contact us via email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We are happy to help you find a different pair of shoes for your kid so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Suggested Read – Additional Resources
I created additional resources that describe the best gym shoes and shoe brands for back to school.
Happy shoe shopping and wishing your kid a successful and enjoyable academic year ahead! We really hope you found helpful this post on the best back to school shoes for kids in 2023. Please feel free to share this post with your community on social media as well as your experiences in the comments section below so other parents can benefit from your insights.
