Do high school students still get class rings?
Do they get letter jackets?
I didn’t.
I didn’t.
who really gives a shit?
Yes, they’re both still around. This company, for example, sells both.
Class of '91, I got neither. My letter patches ended up getting pinned to the corkboard in my bedroom. Even at that time, I would guess that maybe 10-20% of students got class rings. Maybe.
Well yeah, my sophomore got the advertisement today. But I want to know how many high schoolers still get them?
Ask your sophomore. What matters is what they do at his/her high school. Not what goes on around the country.
The rings were becoming less popular when I was in high school in the early 2000s. They were pretty much purchased either by guys that wanted to give their ring to their girlfriend as a sign of committment (and subsequently had problems getting a $300 ring back after they broke up) or for the people for whom graduating high school would be the high point of their life, both academically and success wise.
The letter jackets, on the other hand, were super warm and comfy, so a lot of us got those. Plus they’re difficult to lose since they have your name plastered on them.
Rings have fallen away around here but the jackets are still a big thing. In both cases you have to purchase them yourself.
Class rings are increasingly unfashionable. I gather this varies regionally, but even in 2000 it was only the tackiest among us who thought nine pounds of poorly carved rhodium was a good investment. 
Letterman jackets have always been worn by a relatively small minority since, you know, not that many kids get sports letters. I don’t know that they’re any less popular today than they were 20 years ago. Judging by TV and movies, they’re definitely less popular than they were in 1960.
I don’t think many kids get class rings anymore. Jackets are still popular, although it doesn’t seem like they are the jacket they wear all the time on a day-to-day basis. Letter jackets are typically available only to kids who have achieved some sort of milestone (making the varsity team, reaching some performance goal, etc.). For the kids who are eligible to get a jacket, I think a lot of them get one.
We were still doing class rings when I graduated in '91 but my son is a junior this year and showed zero interest in getting one. With the cost of precious metals these days, your options are between a pretty major investment or, as noted, a lump of pseudo-gold/silver. I sure as hell wasn’t going to throw down for a gold/silver ring for the kid to lose and I don’t think the “fake” metals hold as much interest.
Like I said though, he didn’t seem to care about it much one way or the other. I’m not sure he ever even really brought it up.
They were offered at my Hugh School, class of 1979. No one bought one, as I recall.
The OP, and others who have chosen to respond to the OP with answers they thought were relevant. You are free not to contribute, but you aren’t allowed to come into a thread in IMHO just to note your lack of interest. Take it elsewhere.
Class of 2001.
Letter jackets were relatively common, especially since our school gave varsity letters for band. I had a letter/pin for varsity wrestling and a other few pins for various non-sport activities, but never bothered with the jacket.
I remember the folks showing up to sell class rings, but don’t know anybody who actually bought one. I only know one or two people who wear college rings and personally find it a little odd.
When I graduated in 1987, both were very popular. Letter jackets for sports kids. Rings for everyone. I didn’t get either, though, as I didn’t play sports and my parents told me I could not get a ring.
My son is a senior this year. His school doesn’t field sports teams, so no letter jackets. I have not heard one mention of class rings at all.
Class of 1991; letter jackets were a big deal in my area, not just in my school. Pretty much anyone who made the varsity team in a sport had a letter jacket, and a lot of band and other non-athletic activities also gave out letters.
Class rings were kind of not a huge thing; a fair number got them, but most everyone got the $50 cheapo, and wore it for a year or so, until we got to college, and then most everyone ditched them.
Now that I think about it, I don’t see letter jackets around my town very often. Back in the town I grew up in, I do still see quite a few letter jackets. I don’t hang out with high school kids in either place, just noticing what I see.
I’m class of 1999 and letter jackets were popular, pretty much a must-have for athletes. Class rings, not so much.
Class of 78. Didn’t buy a ring and I don’t know of any who did. Only the football and basketball players wore their jackets at school.
Where I coach, as far as I know, the rings are not popular but everyone in a sport (even cross-country) wears their jacket (weather permitting).
If the high school my kids went to had them, the ad never got home. Neither girl did anything sportslike in high school anyhow.
Rings, no. I can’t remember the last time I saw a class ring. I’m judging from relatives graduating after 1995 or so.
Letter jackets, somewhat, now that every HS activity (orchesis, anybody?) merits a patch in our area schools.