The chunky rubber-looking shoes called Crocs have been on the market since 2002. In recent years, as they have become the obsession of children and teens, they have caught the eye of school administrators nationwide — but not as fashion favorites.
Some districts across the country are stepping up to ban Crocs for safety reasons, according to a recent Bloomberg report. Students in more than 20 states, including Arizona, Alabama and Florida, can no longer don the hole-covered shoes.
Educators there argue that the loose fit of the lightweight slip-ons can impact walking patterns and stability and increase the risk of falls or twisted ankles. Some argue that the Jibbitz baubles that plug into the shoes are a distraction.
In local school districts, the colorful shoes — made of a foam-like material called Croslite — don’t appear to be raising red flags.
“We have no policy about Crocs or issues,” said Gennaro Piraino, Franklin Regional superintendent.
“I find it to be interesting that there are safety concerns since I initially saw these worn in hospitals and medical facilities years ago.”
Crocs are allowed at Pittsburgh Public Schools, the largest district in Allegheny County. The same is true for Riverview, Kiski Area and Deer Lakes school districts in the Alle-Kiski Valley.
The clogs are popular at Leechburg Area, where Superintendent David Keibler said his staff hasn’t shared any concerns.
Crocs’ popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, thanks to the company’s targeting of the comfort-loving Gen Alpha.
The company’s global net revenue was about $4.1 billion last year, up 3.5% from 2023, according to the company website. About 150 million pairs of Crocs are sold every year.
Still, the block-Crocs movement has gained steam recently.
Disney World last year announced the bulky shoes were no longer allowed on escalators. Some medical facilities and labs have banned Crocs, citing safety concerns over spills and tears.
In 2021, Footwear Science published a study that showed the lack of heel support makes Croc-wearers more likely to trip or fall. This is especially true when the “sport mode,” or the adjustable strap across the heel, isn’t used.
For those reasons, Penn-Trafford Superintendent Matt Harris said, while there is no issue with students wearing Crocs in class, they aren’t allowed in gym classes.
“If they participate in physical education classes, they are required to wear athletic shoes,” Harris said.
Similarly, at Burrell School District, students must “wear sneakers on the gym floor,” Superintendent Shannon Wagner said.
That makes sense to AHN orthopaedic surgeon Dr. James Sferra.
“Crocs, and similar slip-on shoes, are definitely not appropriate as activewear such as participating in gym class or other sporting activities,” Sferra said.
Because Crocs are lightweight and offer ample room for swelling feet, he said, they can be great in a work environment.
“But they can also be relatively slippery on wet surfaces or very smooth floors, which can lead to a more dangerous situation,” Sferra said.
“This is especially true when the shoe is loosely fitted. Many young people wear their shoes loosely, which can pose a problem with shoes such as Crocs.”
He didn’t single out Crocs as a hazard but said all slip-on shoes should be worn snugly so they don’t fly off.
At some local schools, Crocs haven’t been banned outright, but it’s an unwritten rule that they’re not appropriate for school.
“Crocs have never been permitted here,” said Sharon Farrell, director of Advancement Services at St. Joseph High School in Harrison. The Catholic high school requires a casual or dress leather shoe, Farrell said.
“Canvas and slipper-like shoes present a safety hazard in all science and robotics/engineering classes because there is no protection from spills, breakages and falling objects,” she said.
Likewise, at Mary Queen of Apostles in New Kensington, Crocs aren’t part of the uniform. Even on P-NUT (Please No Uniform Today) fundraiser days, where students can pay $1 to wear comfy clothes, Crocs don’t make the cut.
“The students wear dress shoes or plain white tennis shoes,” said Kristen Macioce, administrative assistant.
“We haven’t banned them, because it’s really not an issue. The kids don’t wear them here. It would probably be something they looked at implementing if it started to be a problem.”