Logan Park High School principal Jane Johnson said the number of parents claiming for financial support to buy uniforms and attend sporting events and school camps had doubled in the past year.
She had also recently noticed a steady increase in the number of parents hooking into a new system that the school set up five years ago, where parents make regular automatic payments into a fund which helps them pay for their children's uniform and school expenses.
"A lot of single parents, in particular, are on the bones of their backside.
They're really struggling to find work - even part-time work," she said.
Taieri College decided to cancel its annual year 9 and 10 electives day in which pupils participate in a range of fun activities such as paint ball and ice skating.
However, principal Christina Herrick said parents had to pay for the activities and because of the large number of recent redundancies in the community, the event was cancelled this year.
"We decided we would take that extra burden away from families."
Instead, teachers had a class party, in which year 9 and 10 pupils brought food and drink and celebrated the end of the year.
"It seems to have been just as much fun for the pupils, and it doesn't cost a lot," she said.
"It's passing the message that you can have fun without money."
Kings High School principal Dan Reddiex said the school had not had to cancel any school trips or functions yet, but agreed more families were starting to feel the pinch.
"We support families that do struggle financially.
I've noticed over the last month or two that some extra support has been required by more families."
Dunstan High School assistant principal Mark Willyams said the employment situation appeared to be strong in Central Otago and parents seemed to be "holding up" well in the financial climate.
"But we're keeping an eye on the situation.
As a school, we are concerned about it.
We get the feeling that next year may be a different story."
