We had to climb poles and try to grab a rag at the top in Jr. high in the early 90’s. If we did you didn’t have to do the triathalon thingy they did for a “final” at the end of the year. Only three others and I were able to do it.
I remember having not one rope, but many. There were maybe six of them, and sometimes we had races. When they weren’t in use, the bottom ends were tied to the wall.
That’s what we had too, but it was only three ropes.
I had to climb a rope in J. High and in High School. That would have been in the '70-s.
Just this week my 13-yo son had to climb a rope at his school, so they’re still doing it. They’re teaching it right, too (what we call the “step” method – trapping the rope between both feet and creating a “step” on which to rest one’s weight.)
This is in Israel, not the US, so YMMV.
We had to. But it didn’t matter as to your grade; none of the activities did. In P.E. we were graded on participation and minimal effort. Show up every day, bring out (that is, wear your gym suit and the approved shoes) and look as if you were trying, and you were golden.
Elementary school in the mid-to-late 80’s. It was a rare treat to climb a rope. Much simpler than climbing trees (not that that was difficult), or door jambs. The only difficulty was when they tried to make it “easy” by putting knots in the rope at regular intervals. That just screwed up the rhythm of the climb and slowed me down.
Late 70’s and into the 80’s here for me in elementary school. We had ropes and occasionally would be invited to try climbing them but we weren’t graded on it or forced to do so as part of our regular gym class.
Yes, in High School. The only success I had in gym class was making it to the ceiling.
Took a very long time. 
I remember thinking that if someone fell, the mat wasn’t going to do much.
Sort of. It was part of the school’s fitness test for my older brothers. For me, in 2nd and 3rd it was just a cargo net, 4th and 5th was a rope with knots and I didn’t have to do it after that. I don’t know if it was just our school or the statewide fitness test that dropped it but it prompted my older brother to whine about “kids these days” for which he has been mocked for 15+ years.
We did and I loved it! Being up near the gym ceiling looking down at everyone was great!
I also excelled at the rope thing, in stark contrast to most gym activities. This is one area where having practically no mass was actually an advantage.
In elementary school we were allowed to try. In middle school only the boys had to. Somebody fell and broke their collarbone and then they didn’t do it any more.
Yes. High school gym/PE. One of several timed or counted events in a fitness program. Chin-up, push-up, sit-up, squat jump, side straddle hop, and one or two I’m forgetting. I had the best rope climb time in the class!
Yes, in high school. I could not.
Yes. I got half way. I was scared of heights.
Yes, in elementary school. We were taught how, and most kids could, as I remember. Our gym teacher was a fiend, like a caricature of a gym teacher. He was always yelling at us, and made us do push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, jumping jacks etc etc every class. I was amazed when I changed schools and we actually played games in gym class. This was in the '70s.
In elementary school, early-mid 80s. I rocked at it. Being a girl, I have no idea what Garth was talking about. The cargo nets were awesome, too.
In the 90s in elementary school sometimes they’d bring down the ropes and we’d get to climb, but it wasn’t like we had to or that we’d get graded on it. It was more an option if we felt like it.
Yes, but it wasn’t a “rope” in the usual sense, it was about 4 inches in diameter, so climbing one was akin to going up a pole, albeit a flexible one. You could use your legs in the effort.