The Children's Place
Various locations
First stop for us is always Children's Place, where it's just crazy how far you can stretch a dollar. The prices are at least as good as Target, if not better, and the quality can't be beat. Not to mention that we're almost always pleasantly surprised at the register when we discover that some special or other has knocked another 20% off the total. My kid loves the styles (there's one pictured above), and I love the tailored cuts and adjustable waist pants that make everything fit to a T. You can find backpacks and other accessories here, too.

Old Navy
Various locations
Another national chain where your dollar works hard is Old Navy - a great place for picking up back-to-school staples like jeans, t-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, and even socks in every color your kids need. Old Navy is a good spot to find a backpack, lunchbox, water bottle and other essential gear at a good price, too.

H&M
Various locations
While you're hitting national chains, don't forget to stop at H&M, whose fun fashions have that slightly European flair without those slightly European prices. If your kid is a bit of a character and wants to express it on the first day of school, he'll think you're pretty cool if you take him on an H&M spree. Check the website first for coupons!

It's a Wrap
1164 South Robertson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
and
3315 West Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91505
If national chains seem too obvious, allow us to drop some local names that might not be on your radar. For example, if your school kid is too rad for any option that can be found in the average shopping mall, he might be a prime candidate for the It's a Wrap back-to-school sale. Clothes at It's a Wrap are often one-of-a-kind, or at least few-of-a-kind, and were purchased or created for use on a TV show or film. Some of them were actually worn (and needless to say an iCarly name tag in a tank top can raise its street cred tremendously); others were purchased for a show and never used. Either way, the production and character are noted in the label, which makes every item a conversation piece - and cooler than any other t-shirt in homeroom.

Flap Happy
5830 W. Jefferson Blvd. Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Another option only available to Angelenos is the Flap Happy Outlet store. People all over the country shell out money for those terrific Flap Happy hats online or in boutiques, but only those of us within range of the outlet store have access to the company's whole line of clothes at bargain prices. Pretty much everything here is made of brightly colored cotton prints - which, of course, our kids can wear year-round. It's not a place to do all of your back-to-school shopping, but you can definitely fill up a bag with fun separates for very little money.

Cheryl Fudge
1010 Montana Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
And now for something completely different: ever been to Cheryl Fudge Fashion Camp? If you have a bunch of perfectly respectable hand-me-downs ready for the new school year and just wish you could get your kid excited enough about them to skip back-to-school shopping altogether - Cheryl Fudge has a great solution. Bring a few items to her Montana Avenue flagship store, and the designer on call can help embellish them into works of fashion art for a few dollars. Old sweatshirts and plain skirts can suddenly look so cool that Big Sis will want them back!

Have another idea for great school clothes shopping locally? Please share in the comments section below!