School dress codes aren't just a thing of the past — they're a major piece of the present. From discussions over school uniform ethics to mass student protests over questionable rulings, school dress codes are more hotly debated now than ever before. Not sure why school dress codes make the front page news? Find out what the most common rules are, which ones are considered problematic, and what students are doing about it today.
School Dress Code: What's Considered Appropriate by School Standards?
Whether it's public, private, or charter, your K-12 school probably has a dress code. No two school districts' dress codes are the same. One may permit jeans with holes and ban leggings, while another restricts hoodies altogether.
There are varying reasons behind the restrictions put in place — some of which are blatantly discriminatory — and you should always check your school's handbook to see what those restrictions currently are.
While public school dress codes are legal, they must follow certain guidelines to be compliant. The ACLU outlines some of these guidelines on its website.
Skirts and Shorts
Many schools define the appropriate length of skirts and shorts by the "fingertip rule," where the shorts' or skirts' hemlines must stop below a student's fingertips when held at their side.
However, this is up to interpretation, as the Barrow County School System states in their dress code that "shorts, skirts, dresses, and spiritwear must be of a reasonable length; e.g. mid-thigh."
While many districts don't distinguish between genders in their guidelines, some do have separate sections for boys and girls (not taking other gender expressions into account). Typically, any distinctions share the same basic principles: they must be a certain length and must be worn at the hips.
Sleeveless Tops
Spaghetti straps, strapless tops, muscle shirts, off-shoulder shirts, and tank tops aren't allowed in many school dress codes, particularly when they expose the entire shoulder, bra straps, or nipples.
For example, in North Carolina's Porter Ridge High School's handbook, sleeveless tops are only permitted if the "straps are 2½ or three adult fingers wide, or the width of a staff ID card."
Leggings
Many schools require leggings and yoga pants to be worn under an article of clothing like skirts or tunics that cover the butt and genital region. Yet, some dress codes outright ban leggings and/or yoga pants.
The aforementioned Porter Ridge High School handbook states, "if you are wearing yoga pants, leggings, stretch pants, tights, etc., the shirt must be at fingertip length."
Pajamas
Pajamas get a hall pass during spirit week but are otherwise not permitted in most schools because they break existing dress code rules. For example, pants and shirt bagginess are frequently mentioned in dress codes, and many pajama pants don't fit that mold.
Vulgar Imagery and Langauge
A pretty universal dress code rule in most American schools (private or public) is the deliberate banning of explicit/vulgar imagery, language, or other visual elements on your clothing.
For example, Kansas City Public School's dress code states, "clothing and accessories that display statements, signs or pictures with alcohol, tobacco, drugs, weapons, sexual innuendos, inappropriate language or inappropriate slogans will not be permitted."
Bare Midriffs
Bare midriffs are often not allowed across the board. For example, Pennsylvania's Harrisburg School District states in its dress code, "exposed backs, shoulders, and midriff[s] are not permitted."
Undergarments
Bra straps under tank tops, underwear beneath baggy pants, or even undergarments showing through rips and holes in clothing are usually prohibited.
The Oregon NOW Model Student Dress Code is meant to be inclusive but prohibits visible underwear with the distinction that undergarment waistbands and straps showing are not a violation.
Necklines
Many schools prohibit necklines that can expose cleavage or too much of the chest. For example, Carlisle School specifically bans cleavage of any kind in their dress code.
Unfortunately, bans on necklines and ones that use cleavage as a determining factor enter the dangerous territory of misogynistic and discriminatory regulations. Female-identifying students and students with larger chests are more likely to be disciplined for this rule in comparison to their small-chested and male or non-binary classmates.
Hairstyles
One school dress code topic that has made national headlines in the past few years is hairstyle bans. These hairstyle bans almost exclusively target natural hairstyles, showing the inherent racism present in these rulings. Many of these disciplinary actions against BIPOC people are being ruled on in a court of law.
For example, 18-year-old Texas student Darryl George was banned from attending classes at his high school because his dreadlocks "violated their dress and grooming code." As far back as the 19th century, indigenous students had their long locks forcibly cut in an assimilation attempt.
These are just two examples of how school dress codes can be weaponized against different groups of people in their student body.
Related: A Brief History of School Uniforms Across the Globe
Dress Code Rules & Safety
Some parts of school and graduation dress codes are written with safety in mind. The specific rules are conceived with the idea of preventing gang activity, theft, gun & weapon violence, and so on.
They seek to eliminate clothing under which students can hide weapons, as well as clothes that may make students more accident-prone. Some apparel like spiked jewelry and wallet chains may also be banned because of the potential damage they pose to school property.
Bans on Gang-Related Clothing & Accessories
These items may include specific colors, jewelry, emblems, or graffiti of any kind. For example, Gloucester High School prohibits any shirts with printed mottos or pictures that promote gang affiliation. Since gang identification will vary regionally, the specific codes will be different depending on the gang activity in your area.
Bans on Bulky Clothing
This might include heavy coats, trench coats, or baggy clothing of any kind and is meant to help schools prevent students from hiding weapons. Thompson Middle School says students can't wear "extremely baggy" clothing and must keep all outerwear, including coats and zipped-hood sweatshirts, in their lockers during the school day.
Bans on Loose Shirts
Not all schools require shirts to be tucked in, but some do. Shirts must be tucked in at the waist for students in all grades at schools like The Saint Lucie County School District. This guideline is viewed as a more professional look and sometimes seeks to prevent concealed weapons in the waistband of pants and skirts.
Related: Are School Dress Codes Sexist?
The "Distraction" Discussion & Traditional Dress Code Regulations
Many school dress codes have several amendments deeply rooted in the morality law tradition and justified by the "distraction" discussion. When questioned about these apparel and accessory exclusions, staff and boards usually justify them because they pose a distraction to the learning environment.
Unfortunately, no matter how well-meaning these regulations are, in practice, they can be used to target certain students based on their religion, race, culture, gender identity, and body modification expressions.
Head Coverings
The only head coverings permitted in most schools are ones worn because of religious traditions. However, there are many different reasons someone might want to cover their head that aren't religiously minded. Students with alopecia or other medical conditions may want to protect their heads with scarves or hats, which are not protected under traditional dress code regulations.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are a more innocuous accessory that schools don't want students wearing indoors. Voorhees High School doesn't allow students to wear sunglasses unless prescribed by a doctor for a legitimate reason.
Tattoos & Piercings
A major part of the "distraction" discussion with dress codes is tattoos and piercings. Remarkably, some public schools will ban visible facial piercings or tattoos despite students legally having the ability to get those piercings and/or tattoos.
While body modifications are becoming more and more prevalent today and are less polarizing as a result, there are still schools with more conservative dress codes that take this traditional approach. Unfortunately, these rules are rooted in moral discrimination, with the adult-ruling body casting judgment on students who express themselves in ways they find morally reprehensible.
Tight or Revealing Clothing
Though we're loathe to use loaded terms like tight and revealing when it comes to clothing because of their negative connotations, these dress styles are often outrightly banned in many school dress codes.
In practice, these bans on tight or revealing clothing are almost exclusively geared toward female-identifying students. Similarly, staff more frequently perceive outfits worn by students with more voluptuous bodies as revealing and inappropriate when compared to their less-voluptuous counterparts.
It's questionable at the very least and sexually perverse at the very worst. Thankfully, many teachers fight back against these dress codes by refusing to implement them in their classrooms. However, there is still a long way to go.
Elementary vs. Middle & High School Dress Codes
Interestingly, elementary school dress codes typically resemble middle school and high school dress codes in the same district. So, many of the dress code regulations children have to follow are implemented from the time they enter kindergarten.
One big disparity in lower and upper school dress codes is requesting (or requiring) young students to wear closed-toed shoes. With gym and recess being a daily activity, they need to wear (or have a change of) play-appropriate shoes.
How Students Are Fighting Back Against Dress Codes
It'd be silly to discuss modern school dress codes without acknowledging the students' perspectives. Think back to your own school experience and see if you remember a time you felt unfairly called out for a dress code violation.
As a sophomore in high school, yoga pants were all the rage, and my school tried to ban them. Students banded together one weekday, and all showed up wearing yoga pants.
The staff didn't like that show of solidarity, and my principal and vice principals interrupted all classes over the intercom to demand teachers send all students in their classes wearing yoga pants to the auditorium at once. During that hour-long discussion, students were reprimanded, given punishment, and instructed not to return wearing yoga pants with the fear of facing in-school suspension.
You could taste the irony of them interrupting our schooling for over an hour to discuss us wearing something on the basis that it was a "distraction" to our learning. Jokes on them, though, because the yoga pant-wearing didn't stop, and they had to amend their dress code.
That was over a decade ago, and students are still fighting back against the rules they didn't have a say in being forced to follow. Just in 2020, over 100 male-identifying students wore skirts to school in protest of the sexist dress code.
School Dress Codes Are Here to Stay
Regardless of how you feel about school dress codes, it doesn't look like they're going anywhere anytime soon. Though there may be a day when kids can wear spaghetti straps in 100ºF weather and jeans with holes above their knees, that day isn't today. So, if you or your kids are entering a new school, be sure to read up on the dress code. The more educated you are on the rules, the more you can comply (or protest) in the most effective way possible.
