Dress Code

New Hanover County Schools Board Policy 8520

Students are expected to adhere to the standards of cleanliness and dress that are compatible with the requirements of a productive and safe school environment.  Those standards generally acceptable to the community as appropriate in a formal setting will be determining criteria governing student dress.

A student’s appearance, mode of dress, or condition of personal hygiene will not be permitted to disrupt the educational process or constitute a threat to the health or safety of others.

Therefore, the following is included:

🡺The shoulder width of shirts or blouses must completely cover undergarments.  No spaghetti strap tops, tube tops, or tank tops are allowed.

🡺Net shirts, bare midriffs, or other revealing attire are not acceptable.

🡺Short dresses, short skirts, or short shorts will not be allowed.

🡺Pants or shorts must be worn at the waistline.  No underwear shall be revealed.

🡺Headgear, hats, or sunglasses are not to be worn in the building except for medical and/or safety reasons.

🡺No clothing, jewelry, or buttons with letters, initials, symbols, or wording that is obscene, offensive, inflammatory, or     

    detrimental to the instructional process are allowed.

🡺No gang-related clothing, accessories, or symbols as identified by local law enforcement agencies will be allowed.

When, in the judgement of the principal, a student’s appearance violates the intent of this policy, the student will be required to make necessary modifications.  Continued violations of the dress code policy will result in an out-of-school suspension.

SPECIAL NOTE:   For safety reasons, shoes or tennis shoes are to be worn at all times. Since the Healthy Students policy requires daily physical activity, we strongly encourage parents to provide the appropriate shoes that allow students to participate.  Flip-flops, sandals, clogs, high heels, roller skate shoes, and bare feet interfere with active play and are prohibited.