Saxophone

Alto Sax

If available, I highly recommend you hire for the first year.
Saxophones are fairly expensive, especially compared to Clarinet, Flute and Trumpet.
Many Saxophone students will progress on to Tenor and Baritone Sax as they grow and develop. Great band programs will have Tenor and Baritone saxophones to hire to students right through the 4 years of band.

If you have already hired for a year and are keen to stay on Alto Sax, or your band program doesn't an have Alto Saxophone you can hire, I recommend you get the Yamaha YAS 280.

Yamaha YAS 280

(Highly Recommended)

Yamaha Alto Sax YAS 280.jpg

Current Street Price with an Educational Discount: $ 1,669

Yamaha also make a slightly cheaper model, the YAS 26. 
However, it doesn't include a High F# key. My understanding is that this is not an issue for 1st year beginner, but why save $250 now only to have to upgrade your instrument in a year or two. If you are happy to spend $ 1,395 why not make it $ 1,669 and have it last as long as you need it to.

SECOND HAND

Please read my guide to buying second hand.
Fully serviced and from a reputable second hand source, in great condition, you can expect to pay around:

Yamaha  YAS-280 $ 1,150
Yamaha YAS-275 $ 1,060

Tenor SAX

(Hire if possible)

Yamaha YTS 280

(HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

Yamaha Tenor Sax YTS 280

Current Street Price with an Educational Discount: $ 1,899

Again, there is a cheaper version, but I wouldn't recommend it for the little you save.

Baritone SAX

Hire it, seriously!
But to give you an idea, the Current Street Price with an Educational Discount: on a Yamaha YBS 32 is $ 6,299