Student Dress and Appearance

The Board of Education of the Unified School District # 204 believe that proper dress and grooming is necessary in order to have the best learning environment.  Such dress and grooming is to be based on safety of students, normal physical hygiene, and non-disruption in the classroom.  It is understood that the parents and students are primarily responsible for proper dress and grooming.  The school will get involved only if this responsibility is neglected.  The goal is to provide the best learning environment possible while protecting the students constitutional right to dress and groom themselves as they see appropriate.  If the dress is a distraction in the learning environment, changes will be made.  The safety of the student would particularly be involved in courses where power machinery is used, certain laboratory courses, and in physical education courses where games are played and full vision is necessary to avoid collisions, etc. 

It is understood that when students represent the school in activities or public performances such as various sports, vocal and instrumental music, debate, VACS, etc., the coaches, sponsors, and administrators retain the right to regulate their dress and grooming.  Normal physical hygiene means reasonable physical cleanliness of person and dress.  This directive also includes footwear.  Situations not covered by the above will be decided at the discretion of the principal or assistant principals.

In keeping with the district policy, the following has been approved by the Board of Education as submitted by student council representatives, faculty advisors, and the high school principal as a dress code for the high school.  As a guideline, the following wearing apparel is disapproved:  head coverings, running shorts, short shorts, short skirts, tank tops, mesh tops, halter tops, undergarments worn on the outside, midriff shirts, visibly suggestive lettering and illustrations, bandannas, scarves, and sunglasses in the building with references to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and/or any style of clothing that can be construed to be improperly suggestive.  Out of respect for the school, head coverings, including headbands, are to be kept in school lockers during school hours.  Radios, headphones, CD players, and personal communications devices are not permitted.

Examples of inappropriate clothes are those with spaghetti straps and/or are sheer, shorts, skirts or dresses that have inappropriate length/slits or are low cut in front or back.  Undergarments should not be visible.  Baggy pants will not be allowed.