Best Kids Smartwatches for School (2026): Teacher-Approved Picks with School Mode
Most schools ban phones but allow smartwatches — if they have school mode. These 5 GPS watches won't get your kid in trouble and still keep them safe.
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Best Kids Smartwatches for School (2026): Teacher-Approved Picks with School Mode
Here is the situation most parents find themselves in: your kid's school bans phones, tablets, and anything with internet access. And you are thinking, "Great, so how exactly do I know my child is safe between the bus stop and the front door?"
The answer is a kids smartwatch with school mode. But not every smartwatch will survive a conversation with your kid's teacher. I learned this the hard way when my 8-year-old came home with a note saying his watch was "disruptive in class" because I had forgotten to configure the school mode schedule. It had been buzzing with notifications all morning.
That was the push I needed to figure out which watches actually work in a school environment. I tested five watches over a full semester, coordinating with teachers and checking policies across three schools in our district. Here is everything I learned.
Understanding School Smartwatch Policies
Before you buy anything, know what your school allows. Most policies fall into three categories:
GPS watches with school mode are fine. The most common policy at elementary schools. If the watch locks down to time-only or SOS-only during class, teachers are generally on board.
No electronics of any kind. Some schools ban everything. A smartwatch will not work during school hours, though it still has value before and after school. Worth asking the principal about a GPS-only exception.
Watches allowed, but cameras are not. Increasingly common. Schools worry about kids photographing tests or recording teachers. You need a camera-free watch or one that fully disables the camera in school mode.
Check the student handbook on the school's website, then email the teacher directly. A 30-second email now saves a confiscation headache later. For a broader look at how smartwatches compare to phones, our smartwatch vs phone for kids breakdown covers the full decision.
What Is "School Mode"?
School mode is the most important feature for any smartwatch your kid wears to class. You set a schedule in the parent app — say, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM — and during those hours, the watch automatically locks down.
What gets disabled: calls, messages, camera, games, apps, and notifications.
What stays active: the clock face, the SOS emergency button, GPS tracking, and the step counter.
Your child cannot disable school mode from the watch. The parent app is the only way to modify the schedule. Some watches even let you set different schedules per day for early-release Fridays or half days.
The critical detail parents care about: GPS tracking stays fully active during school mode. The watch looks dormant to your kid and the teacher, but you can open your parent app and see exactly where your child is at any time. Geofence alerts still fire when they arrive at or leave school. Think of it as a one-way mirror — your kid sees a locked watch, you see a working GPS tracker.
Quick Comparison: Best School-Friendly Smartwatches
| Watch | Price | School Mode Quality | Camera | GPS During School Mode | Best For | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xplora X6Play | ~$150 | Excellent | Yes (disabled in school mode) | Yes | Best overall school mode | Check Price |
| Garmin Bounce | ~$150 | Very Good | No | Yes | Active kids + school safety | Check Price |
| Gabb Watch 3 | ~$100 | Great | No | Yes | Most teacher-friendly | Check Price |
| TickTalk 4 | ~$180 | Good | Yes (camera concern) | Yes | Feature-rich with school mode | Check Price |
| Cosmo JrTrack 2 | ~$100 | Good | Yes (low-res) | Yes | Budget school-safe pick | Check Price |
1. Xplora X6Play — Best School Mode Overall
Price: $150 + carrier plan ($10/month)
The Xplora X6Play has the most thorough school mode I have tested. In the parent app, you set schedules for each day independently — I ran Monday through Thursday at 8:00-3:25 PM and Friday at 8:00-1:00 PM for early release. The watch switches automatically with no way for the kid to override it.
During school mode, the X6Play disables calls, messages, camera, voice messages, and all interactive features. Only the clock face, step counter, and SOS button remain. When I showed this to my son's teacher, she said, "If all smartwatches worked like this, I would have no problem with them." GPS continues tracking in the background — you still get geofence notifications and can check location anytime.
For everything this watch does beyond school hours, read our Xplora X6Play review.
Pros:
- Best-in-class school mode with per-day scheduling
- Camera fully disabled during school hours
- GPS and geofencing remain active during lockdown
- Excellent feature set outside school hours
Cons:
- Has a camera, which some schools ban regardless of school mode
- Slightly bulky for kids under 7
- Battery life of 2-3 days means regular charging
2. Garmin Bounce — Best for After-School Sports Too
Price: $150 + LTE plan ($10/month)
The Garmin Bounce is my recommendation when parents say, "I need a school-safe watch, but my kid also has swim practice and soccer." Garmin's "Do Not Disturb" scheduling disables messaging and call notifications during set hours. Not quite as granular as the Xplora — one recurring schedule rather than per-day — but for most Monday-through-Friday schedules, it works perfectly.
The real advantage is what happens after school. The watch auto-unlocks, and your kid immediately has messaging, location sharing, and fitness tracking. If they head to swim practice, the Bounce is genuinely swim-proof (5 ATM) — my 11-year-old wore it through an entire swim season. No camera means zero risk of camera-related policy violations, making it the easiest watch to get approved at camera-strict schools.
GPS accuracy is the best on this list at 3-6 meters. For a head-to-head, check our Garmin Bounce vs Xplora X6Play comparison.
Pros:
- No camera — eliminates the most common school policy conflict
- Genuinely swim-proof (5 ATM) for after-school sports
- Best GPS accuracy on this list (3-6 meters)
- Garmin-grade durability
Cons:
- School mode scheduling less flexible than Xplora
- No voice calling — text and voice messages only
- Interface has a slight learning curve for younger kids
3. Gabb Watch 3 — Most Teacher-Friendly
Price: $100 + Gabb plan ($10/month)
The best school smartwatch might be the one that barely needs a school mode. The Gabb Watch 3 has no camera, no internet, no app store, no games. It makes calls to approved contacts, tracks GPS, has an SOS button, and tells time. That is essentially the entire feature set.
When I showed it to my daughter's teacher without even demonstrating school mode, her response was, "That's fine. There's nothing on it to worry about." With school mode enabled, the watch disables calling and shows only the clock and SOS. GPS tracks in the background.
At ~$100, it is the most affordable watch on this list. For more options in this range, our guide to the best budget smartwatches under $100 covers additional picks.
Pros:
- So simple teachers trust it immediately — no camera, games, or internet
- GPS tracks reliably during school hours
- Most affordable watch on this list
- Lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear
Cons:
- Limited feature set may bore older kids (10+)
- No camera means no video calling after school
- No messaging beyond phone calls
4. TickTalk 4 — Good School Mode, But Camera Concern
Price: $180 + carrier plan ($10-15/month)
The TickTalk 4 has a solid school mode that locks down calls, messages, video calling, and camera access. SOS stays active, GPS keeps tracking. The problem? It has two cameras, and some schools say "no devices with cameras," full stop — regardless of whether school mode disables them. I encountered this at two of three schools in our district.
If your school allows camera devices with school mode, the TickTalk 4 works great. Where it really shines is after school: video calling lets your kid face-to-face check in from after-school care or the bus. No other watch here offers that. We cover the full feature set in our TickTalk 4 review.
Pros:
- Strong school mode that fully disables cameras
- Video calling after school is a unique advantage
- 4G calling and iMessage support
Cons:
- Dual cameras may violate school policies regardless of school mode
- Most expensive watch on this list (~$180 + plan)
- Battery life is the weakest (1.5-2 days)
5. Cosmo JrTrack 2 — Budget School-Safe Option
Price: $100 + carrier plan ($5-10/month)
If your goal is GPS tracking at school without breaking the bank, the JrTrack 2 delivers. School mode disables calls, messages, and interactive features. GPS keeps tracking. SOS works. It is a basic implementation, but it covers the essentials at the lowest total cost of ownership on this list.
GPS accuracy is the weakest here at 8-12 meters — fine for confirming your kid is at school, less precise for after-school park tracking. Build quality feels budget, with a screen that scratches easily. But for a first smartwatch for a 5-7-year-old, it does the job.
For more age-specific options, check our roundups of the best smartwatches for 5-year-olds and best smartwatches for 8-year-olds.
Pros:
- Lowest cost (~$100 + ~$5-10/month)
- GPS tracks during school mode
- Simple interface for younger kids
- Smaller form factor fits little wrists
Cons:
- GPS accuracy weakest on this list (8-12m)
- Build quality feels budget
- Low-res camera may trigger school policy issues
How to Talk to Your Kid's Teacher
Do not just send your kid to school wearing a new smartwatch and hope nobody notices. Send a brief email first:
Hi [Teacher], I wanted to give you a heads-up that [child's name] will be wearing a GPS smartwatch starting [date]. It has a school mode that completely locks the watch during school hours — no calls, messages, camera, or apps. The only features that work are the clock and an emergency SOS button. I am happy to show you how it works. Thanks for understanding.
That email has a near-100% success rate in my experience. If the teacher pushes back, offer an in-person demonstration. Every teacher I have shown a locked-down school mode to has come away satisfied.
Tips for Setting Up School Mode
Match bell times, not class times. Start school mode 5-10 minutes before the first bell and end 5-10 minutes after dismissal to cover hallway transitions.
Account for bus time. Set school mode to start when school starts, not when the bus picks them up — your kid should be able to call you during the ride. End it at dismissal so they can call from the bus home.
Set weekend schedules separately. Most watches let you disable school mode on weekends. Do not forget this step — your kid will not appreciate a locked watch on Saturday morning.
Test before the first school day. Set a 30-minute test window and verify the watch locks down. Try calling it. Confirm GPS still shows in your parent app. A quick test avoids day-one surprises.
For a full walkthrough, our guide on how to set up a kids smartwatch covers the process step by step.
What Happens After School?
When the school mode window ends, the watch unlocks automatically. No button to press, no code to enter. Your kid's watch goes from a locked time-only device to a fully functional smartwatch the moment the bell rings.
- Bus riders can call if there is a delay
- Walkers get full GPS tracking plus calling ability
- After-school program kids can message when ready for pickup
- Sports kids get fitness tracking and communication for practice
On the Xplora and TickTalk, the watch vibrates when school mode ends — my kids call it their "freedom buzz." The Garmin and Gabb transition silently. You do not need to adjust school mode for varying after-school activities. It only governs the lockdown window; once it ends, everything is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a smartwatch get my kid in trouble at school?
Not if school mode is properly configured. A watch in school mode is functionally identical to a regular wristwatch. Configure and test it before the first school day.
Can my kid disable school mode?
No. On every watch here, school mode is controlled exclusively through the parent app. There is no way for the child to override, shorten, or bypass it.
Does school mode drain battery faster?
The opposite. School mode reduces battery drain because the screen stays off and no calls or messages are processed. School days typically give better battery life than weekends.
Can I call my kid during school mode?
No, by design. Calls do not come through. Call the school office if you need to reach your child. If they need you in an emergency, the SOS button bypasses school mode on all five watches.
What if my school bans all electronics?
Respect the policy. The watch still works outside school hours. Some parents have gotten GPS-only exceptions by demonstrating school mode to the principal.
Do schools ban cameras on watches?
Increasingly, yes. If your school has this policy, choose the Garmin Bounce or Gabb Watch 3 (no cameras). Or demonstrate that the Xplora fully disables its camera in school mode.
Can I track my kid at school with school mode on?
Yes. GPS runs independently of school mode. Your parent app shows location, geofence alerts fire normally, and location history records the full day.
Is the SOS button reliable during school mode?
Yes. SOS is specifically exempted from school mode on all five watches. A long press immediately calls your emergency contact and shares GPS coordinates, regardless of lockdown status.
The Bottom Line
For the best school mode, get the Xplora X6Play. Per-day scheduling and complete lockdown make it the gold standard.
For school plus sports, the Garmin Bounce combines solid school mode with swim-proof durability and top GPS accuracy. No camera means zero policy issues.
For easiest teacher approval, the Gabb Watch 3 is so simple most teachers approve it on sight.
For video calling after school, the TickTalk 4 has the best after-school communication. Verify your school allows cameras first.
For the tightest budget, the Cosmo JrTrack 2 delivers school mode and GPS at the lowest price.
The formula is the same regardless of which watch you pick: configure school mode before day one, email the teacher, and confirm GPS is tracking. Your kid stays safe, the teacher stays happy, and you stop refreshing the app during class — well, maybe you still check once or twice.
For more help choosing, our kids smartwatch buying guide and best GPS smartwatches for kids roundup cover every angle.
Last updated: February 28, 2026. Prices and school policies may vary. We recommend verifying your specific school's device policy before purchasing.