Dress and Grooming (All Grade Levels)

The district’s dress code teaches grooming and hygiene, prevents disruption, and minimizes safety hazards. Students and parents may determine a student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply with the following: The district’s dress code teaches grooming and hygiene, prevents disruption, and minimizes safety hazards. Students and parents may determine a student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply with the following:

1. Apparel and Grooming Guidelines

The development of acceptable standards of personal appearance is considered to be an important function of Anahuac ISD, as is the development of the ability to respect rules and authority. In keeping with these objectives, the necessity of encouraging desirable dress and grooming in the school atmosphere is directly determined by neatness, cleanliness, appropriate selection and freedom from distraction of other students and/or the learning process. Campus administration has the latitude to make judgments as to whether a student’s dress and appearance meets the following criteria.

2. Clothing General Guidelines

Any type of dress, insignia, neckband, accessory, shirt, or other clothing with suggestive or distasteful wording; or which advertise or exploit tobacco/vape products, alcoholic beverages, drugs or other illegal substances will not be allowed. Any clothing, accessories, symbols, or jewelry which depicts or suggests association with gang related activities shall not be brought to school, worn at school or in any way be present at any school related event. Bare shoulders, bare backs, bare midriffs, and low necklines are unacceptable. Any type of see-through material is not allowed. Sheer tops covering unacceptable clothing are not acceptable. Any type clothing must be long enough to preserve modesty when seated. No clothing may be worn that fits so tightly as to be immodest or cause distractions. Appropriate underclothing must be covered at all times. Bedroom attire is not acceptable. Students may not wear pajamas or like garments. Students will be required to remain in dress code until they have left campus.

3. Shorts Dresses Skirts Leggings

Bottoms must be a minimum of fingertip length at the shortest point of the garment. Frays are allowed on shorts provided no skin or undergarment is visible. Swim trunks and boxer shorts are not acceptable. Leggings may be worn with any garment that extends to a minimum of fingertip length. Overalls must be worn over the shoulders, buckled, and extend to a minimum of fingertip length.

4. Pants

Pants may have holes minimum of fingertip length or below. Frays are allowed anywhere on the pant provided no skin or undergarment is visible. Patches are allowed on the leg area only. Pants must completely cover underclothing. Sagging pants will not be allowed.

5. Shirts and Tops

Shirts with sayings, slogans, signs or symbols that may be deemed suggestive or inappropriate will not be allowed. Garments must be worn in good taste. The design of the top should preserve modesty. Low cut necklines are unacceptable. All tops must cover and not reveal undergarments. Tank tops must have straps that measure at least 3 inches in width. The general rule for determining proper length on tops will be – if the arms can be raised above the head without a bare midriff showing, the top is acceptable.

6. Shoes / Footwear

Shoes shall be worn at all times. Shoes must be appropriate for school. Footwear traditionally worn around the home (i.e., house shoes, slippers, etc.) or to the beach (athletic slides, flip flops, etc.) will not be permitted, even on state testing days. Crocs will be allowed. No wheels on shoes are allowed. Lighted shoes must be turned off. Athletics tennis shoes must be worn in PE laced up or secured by Velcro. Steel toed shoe/boots are prohibited.

7. Coats and Jackets

Trench coats, duster coats and like garments are prohibited. Hoodies and/or sweatshirts may not extend below the wrist in a normal standing position. Hoods may not be worn inside the building at any time. (Clothing must be worn under hoodies/sweatshirts)

8. Head Coverings

No type of head covering, cap or hat is permitted in the building with the exception of special days designated by the administration.

9. Hair

Hair may be worn at any length and must be neat, clean, and well-groomed. (Hair must not hang in face so that eyes and face are easily visible at all times.) Geometric or unusual patterns (including Mohawks and Faux hawks) shaved or cut in the hair are not permitted. Unnatural hair color or color variation in hair (i.e. scarlet, purple, blue, green, orange, etc.) will not be permitted. No hair accessories deemed inappropriate or distracting.

10. Facial Hair

Facial hair, while allowed, must be neat, well groomed / trimmed, and worn in a natural color and style that is not distracting. No student will be permitted to cut lines or designs in the eyebrows.

11. Jewelry

Nose rings and earrings shall be permitted for all students. Students may not wear chains or jewelry that has the potential to be used as a weapon. Collars intended for use on animals are prohibited.

12. Student Badges (grades 5-12)

Students must have their unaltered badges (no marking out the face, no stickers, etc.) on a lanyard, around their neck, and visible at all times during the instructional day. Students who lose or alter badges will be required to purchase a new badge for $5.00 on each occurrence.

13. Tattoos

Inappropriate Tattoos and/or any other drawings on the skin must be covered.

14. Sunglasses

Students must not wear sunglasses in the building without written verification from a doctor.

Interpretation of Appropriateness

If the principal or assistant principal determines that a student’s grooming or clothing violates the school’s dress code, the student will be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school and return to the classroom. If the problem cannot be corrected at school, the principal will work with the student and parent to obtain an acceptable change of clothing for the student in a way that minimizes loss of instructional time.

● The campus principal and assistant principal shall be authorized to appraise any fashion, fad or article of clothing to determine its appropriateness for school wear. If it tends to distract or cause a student to become a disturbing influence or tends to jeopardize the health or safety of students, it will be prohibited.

● The administrators and teachers shall be responsible for the enforcement of the dress code.

● The dress code will apply to all students and to all activities, curricular and extracurricular. Any exceptions must be made by the principal to apply only on special occasions.

● Any article of clothing, which in the judgment of the principal is distractive or in poor taste for the school, may be prohibited. All rules and regulations are at the discretion of the campus principal. Repeated or severe offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.