At the flag ceremony in Mexican schools, the honores a la bandera, the flag is carried by the escolta, the flag escort. Traditionally, its members were the best students. Expansión described the traditional practice this way: “los alumnos con los mejores promedios durante su trayectoria escolar, de primero a quinto grado, son seleccionados” (the students with the best averages over their school career, from first to fifth grade, are selected).
In August 2026, the operating guide for public schools in Mexico City for the 2026-2027 school year changed this: “La escolta será rotativa, con la participación de las alumnas y los alumnos” (The escort will rotate, with the participation of the girls and boys). Xataka México called it the end of a tradition that it linked to Porfirio Díaz, though it noted that there is no historical evidence that Díaz created the escort.