High school dress code

[bsnyder]

Does your kid's high school have one? And do you find it hard to find clothes that meet the code?

DD is starting high school next week. We've been back to school shopping for some new clothes. She wants some new shorts and a new jeans skirt. We've been to Hollister, American Eagle and A & F, and they have lots of shorts and skirts, but none of them will pass the school's dress code for length.

DD says this is what the girls wear, and that the dress code isn't really enforced.

Which really grates on my nerves. I think it's stupid to have a dress code and then not follow it. Either enforce it, or change it. But don't have rules and ignore them.

 

[Buckalew11]

Our school always enforced the rule and skirts were hard to find! I found a plaid skirt at TJMaxx last Spring that was long enough without looking frumpy. Skirts were ablmost knee length though. Those are hard to come by since most are made "cheek" length! LOL

Shorts were a bit easier with bermudas around. DD usually stuck with khaki capris.

 

[My sister's princess]

This is one of the things I love about college. We can wear what ever we want, but the majority wear sweats to class . Maybe you can convince your dd to dress older in that way!
I have found that places such as A&F and Hollister DON'T sell clothes that are in anyway a decent lenth. Areo and JC Penny both have some cute clothes that are a little more modest.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

My high school had the stupidest dress code ever. Even 8 years later I still think it was stupid, and my mother also always thought it was stupid. Keep in mind this was a public school out in the county surrounded by cow pastures that had never seen any crime or violence, even before the ridiculous dress code (which was actually always changing). These were the rules when I was there--the backpack and purses rule was added my senior year.

You had to have your shirt tucked in, no matter what style, and your pockets visible at all times. You could not wear a jacket or sweater because it might potentially cover your pockets. If your pants had beltloops you had to wear a belt. You could not wear flip-flops. Your backpack had to be mesh or clear plastic, and it had to be stored in your locker. You could not carry a purse or any sort of bag in the halls. We also had the usual rules--no spaghetti straps, no undergarments showing, no more than 3" above the knee for shorts and skirts, no profane slogans or images.

Honestly I don't think our administrators had anything better to do than check for pockets and beltloops. This school didn't offer any AP classes, and the highest math class was pre-calculus (only if enough students signed up, which wasn't every year). There were 100 in my graduating class, and at least 3 couldn't read beyond a 4th grade level. You would think these things would be more important than flip-flops and belts, but apparently they weren't.

 

[undercovermom]

our school district has one dress code for all secondary schools. it's more strictly enforced in the middle schools than in the high schools.

it's pretty basic, actually. girls...no halter tops or spaghetti straps, and shorts or skirts must meet the "finger" test - arms at your sides, palms resting on your thighs, the hem of the skirt must be below your fingertips.
no bare midriff.

and for everyone -
no obnoxious slogans on the t-shirt. and no underwear showing.

backpacks remain in your locker but girls may carry a small purse.

we don't have rules about gang colors or hats or belts.

 

[stm61]

our district has 4 schools: elementary (ok, we really have 4 of those, I should have said 4 types), middle, jrhs, and hs. The jr hs, and ONLY the jr hs (8/9 gr, ran out of room for 9th at the hs about 15 yrs ago) has the following rules, and they only apply to the boys: they must wear a belt, they cannot wear any pants that don't have belt loops because they must wear a belt, and all shirts must be tucked in. I can understand the reasoning behind the belts, it's to stop the pants hanging down to their knees and showing off their underwear to the world, but what's wrong with shorts or sweats as long as they're worn at the waist? I guess the shirt tucked in is to see if the belt is there. I guess this is a problem only in 8/9th gr because the middle school 6/7th, and hs 10-12th gr's don't have these rules.

The girl's get off easier. They don't have to wear belts or tuck shirts in, their rules are the usual no see-thru shirts, no bedroom slippers or house shoes type rules. The same rules for all schools from K thru 12th grades. The only problem I have is their shorts and skirts cannot be shorter then the length of their fingertips when their arms hang straight down at their sides. I have a dd9 in 4th gr this year. I took her to 3 stores in the mall for shorts and could not find 1 pair she could wear for school! She must have long arms because every pair was shorter then her fingertips and they were NOT short shorts. She'll be living in capri's, bermuda's, and jeans for the duration of her school years I guess.

 

[coolshannie]

I think it depends on the school as too how much the dress code is enforced. With that said I also know as both my parents work in the school district and being a student myself that many many many students go home and tell their parents that dress code does not matter and is not strictly enforced. I myself have tried and have been successful in the wearing of skirts that are not fingertip length but they are always fairly close. But my mother does not buy me more then one or two skirts a year for the fact that she knows that if i even DO risk wearing it to school it would be once or twice and after that just when I go somewhere besides school. My suggestion is perhaps buy her some of the adorable longer shorts that are in style now. I absolutely love them. I am not sure if they are still in the stores as I haven't really seen any and Abercrombie Kids in a while, but take a look because they are so cute and are definitely in dress code! Or go for the jeans, they have just been changed up at the abercrombie kids and abercrombie stores, so she will have some different styles to choose from. I work at Abercrombie Kids myself, and I can tell you its safer to go with cute jeans and longer shorts that freaking out all day that you are going be caught wearing a skirt that is not too the school standards, buy a cute tank top and a cute knit sweat too go over it instead of the skirt. It will look just as cute if not cuter. I'm sorry I just had to reply, because I think there are so many other options besides going for the skirt or shorts, especially since really within the next month and a half it will be too cold for skirts anyways!

 

[bsnyder]

I think it depends on the school as too how much the dress code is enforced. With that said I also know as both my parents work in the school district and being a student myself that many many many students go home and tell their parents that dress code does not matter and is not strictly enforced. I myself have tried and have been successful in the wearing of skirts that are not fingertip length but they are always fairly close. But my mother does not buy me more then one or two skirts a year for the fact that she knows that if i even DO risk wearing it to school it would be once or twice and after that just when I go somewhere besides school. My suggestion is perhaps buy her some of the adorable longer shorts that are in style now. I absolutely love them. I am not sure if they are still in the stores as I haven't really seen any and Abercrombie Kids in a while, but take a look because they are so cute and are definitely in dress code! Or go for the jeans, they have just been changed up at the abercrombie kids and abercrombie stores, so she will have some different styles to choose from. I work at Abercrombie Kids myself, and I can tell you its safer to go with cute jeans and longer shorts that freaking out all day that you are going be caught wearing a skirt that is not too the school standards, buy a cute tank top and a cute knit sweat too go over it instead of the skirt. It will look just as cute if not cuter. I'm sorry I just had to reply, because I think there are so many other options besides going for the skirt or shorts, especially since really within the next month and a half it will be too cold for skirts anyways!

Our dress code is basically the same as undercover mom's. With tops, it's pretty simple - the girls can still wear tanks as long as they wear a sweater or hoodie - and most of them do anyway, because the A/C in some of the rooms is on full blast and the rooms get chilly.

I've already gotten her a couple of pairs of new jeans and she does have some longer shorts and capris from last year that she can still wear. She was just really wanting a new jeans skirt (her old one is too big) - like jeans, you can wear one with just about anything. It's just so frustrating, that these stores can't make even one style that's a few inches longer.

 

[Dan Murphy]

....DD is starting high school next week......

......DD says this is what the girls wear, and that the dress code isn't really enforced........

 

[ndelaware]

My girl's school dress code is easy. Khaki shorts in September and May. Khaki pants or skirts the rest of the year. Polo shirts, tucked in, and a belt worn at all times. Sneakers or shoes at all times. They do have once a month "Jeans Day" which are fund raisers for various clubs and activities at the school. But the polo shirts, belt, and sneaker/shoes rules remain in effect.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

our school this year is having a NO SHORTS policy. I thought.... what the heck.. I would rather see the girl in shorts than a skirt up her hoohaa. I feel bad for the boys because they do not have the option of skirts like the girls do. The neighboring town has a uniform dress code and they allow uniform shorts. I would like that.

 

[Angelhalo]

We just didn't shop at overpriced "cool" stores and never had any problem.

Try Marshalls, TJMaxx, JCpenny, Sears, Macy's, Dillards, Hects, Ross, even Old Navy works sometimes. Those stores got us through high school. We still wore shorts, we looked nice everyday, didn't get picked on, met the dress codes, and didn't spend Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much for clothes.

 

[shortbun]

our school this year is having a NO SHORTS policy. I thought.... what the heck.. I would rather see the girl in shorts than a skirt up her hoohaa. I feel bad for the boys because they do not have the option of skirts like the girls do. The neighboring town has a uniform dress code and they allow uniform shorts. I would like that.

Wow! If I were a boy, I'd be buying some skirts. That seems really dumb. Around here kids wear shorts into November and get them out again in March. A very few wear shorts year round.

We have a no flip flops rule, a no sagging rule, a no underwear or pajamas rule and a no bare tummy rule. Also, boys shirts must have at least short sleeves-no wife beaters and girls can not wear spaghetti straps without a sweater or hoodie over them. Logos are ok but off color or questionable slogans are not, no hats in the bldg including wave caps, I know there is a rule regarding how short skirts and shorts can be.

 

[Buckalew11]

Wow! If I were a boy, I'd be buying some skirts. That seems really dumb. Around here kids wear shorts into November and get them out again in March. A very few wear shorts year round.

Plus we all know "Kilts are sexy".
OK, I'm famous for saying that and it just fit!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Which really grates on my nerves. I think it's stupid to have a dress code and then not follow it. Either enforce it, or change it. But don't have rules and ignore them.

Yea right. You can wear the stuff if you don't get caught.

 

[Barb D]

Wow! If I were a boy, I'd be buying some skirts. That seems really dumb. Around here kids wear shorts into November and get them out again in March. A very few wear shorts year round.

My DS17 is one of the year-round shorts wearers. He'd rather be cold getting to school than hot in the overheated classrooms. I'll have to ask him when he gets home from football practice how he'd feel about kilts!

My kids went to a 2-day-a-week tutorial for homeschoolers for a couple of years. The first year they were there the dress code for girls said they had to wear jumpers or skirts unless the temp was expected to stay below freezing all day. Only then could they wear pants. This reminded me of when I was in elementary school (in the 60's) and we could wear pants UNDER our dresses if it was snowing, but had to take the pants off as soon as we entered the school building!

 

[shortbun]

Plus we all know "Kilts are sexy".
OK, I'm famous for saying that and it just fit!

Aye they are lassie!

 

[Talking Hands]

You could not wear flip-flops.

This rule is for safety reasons.
Our high school requires school academy polos, no shorts, skirts must be below the fingertips. Sandals must have backstraps. No hoodies, hats or scarfs except for religious reasons. (we have a few muslim girls)
No exposed underwear.

 

[SC Minnie]

Ours is enforced. Skirts and shorts must be no shorter that 4" above the knee. I bought DD bermudas and short capris for camp this summer that she can wear to school. They also can't wear jeans with tears or holes. Kids also can't wear tank tops of any kind unless they are under something else.

This is for all grades- K-12. When DD was in K and 1st. that age group could wear shorts and tanks but they changed it because some of the older kids were pushing the limits.

 

[JB111107]

We've been back to school shopping for some new clothes. She wants some new shorts and a new jeans skirt. We've been to Hollister, American Eagle and A & F, and they have lots of shorts and skirts, but none of them will pass the school's dress code for length.

DD says this is what the girls wear, and that the dress code isn't really enforced.

The schools' dress code isn't the problem. Where you are shopping is. Do you honestly think that shopping for school appropriate clothing in stores like Abercrombie, whose catalogs are nothing short of soft porn, is going to net you modest and appropriate attire for a child?

Maybe you should re-think the types of clothing you allow your child to wear before you criticize the dress code...or take your daughter's word for it that it is "ignored".

Parents of girls (myself included) are constantly complaining that stores do not carry age-appropriate clothing for our daughters without making them look like street walkers, or mature beyond our years, but if you continue to just "give in" and support these companies by spending your money on their way overpriced product, nothing will change. I refuse to even set foot in any of the stores you mentioned. I could care less what label is on my daughter's clothing, as long as she is dressed neatly and appropriate for her age (10). She does not get all the name brand items, nor do I spend tons of money on whatever pop star clothing line is popular at that moment--it fades faster than they can outgrow the clothes. She has always looked clean, neat, and in style at school without any issue about her clothing from anyone, her peers included.

Perhaps I'm also lucky that my daughter has very little interest in not dressing modestly, and prefers to wear dresses and skirts to anything else, so I make alot of them for her, and she prefers the ones I make to the ones I buy her at Old Navy, etc. She does love Hannah Montana and such though, but since she never has owned a bunch of licenced clothing articles, she doesn't really ask for them now either.

I think the school's dress code is normal, and if she doesn't own anything that breaks the code, then you don't have to worry about her being inappropriately dressed for school. There are plenty of places you can buy proper clothing, you just aren't looking in the right places.

--this is one more reason why I LOVE school uniforms. Takes the discussion out of school clothing shopping, and there are no arguements over what to wear in the morning. pick a top, pick a bottom, and you're good to go. Much cheaper than other clothes, as well.