Student Dress Code

DRESS CODE FOR STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES

The Coffee County Schools sincerely encourage all parents and students to be aware that dress and personal appearance influence the image and attitude that others have of them as individuals. Therefore, all parents and students should consider reasonable judgment, tact, and decency in making their selections of clothes for school. The school administration shall maintain authority in making subjective judgments concerning a student’s dress and personal appearance. Exceptions may be made by the administrator to any of these circumstances when warranted or for certain groups during performance or special activities. The following types of clothing will be considered inappropriate:

• Clothing that is skin-tight or revealing, such as:

Provocative or low-cut clothing, cut-off or midriff shirts (to the extent stomach is revealed), mesh clothing, sagging or low-rider pants, revealing tank tops, tank tops with spaghetti straps, etc.

• Clothing that promotes inappropriate themes, such as:

Clothing that provokes inflammatory or racial remarks or gang/cult membership, clothing with decals or slogans that contain and/or refer to provocative, indecent, or offensive behavior or profanity.

• Clothing/Accessories that create a distraction to learning or the learning environment, such as: Sunglasses (except for medical reasons), caps, hats, body piercings, hair styles or colors, and/or makeup that cause distractions.
• Clothing/Accessories that create a safety hazard or are unsafe, such as: Caps, hats, or other head coverings, body piercings such as nose, tongue, belly, or eyebrow rings; and any other jewelry that may create a safety hazard.

Additional guidelines:

• The outer layer of clothing must meet the length requirement when leggings, tights, yoga pants, etc., are worn.
• A student standing erect with arms positioned at their sides must be able to touch the fabric of his/her garment with the middle finger, or the garment must be mid-thigh. If the fabric cannot be touched or the garment is not mid-thigh, the student is in violation of the dress code.
• A student standing erect with arms extended to shoulder height or a student seated should not reveal flesh.
• If uniforms are worn to class during the school day, they must meet the dress code requirements.
• Use of book bags is based on school policy and students' ages.
• Shoes must be worn at all times, and shoelaces must be tied.
• Athletic shoes:

As a practical matter, students are recommended to wear athletic shoes to school. Students are

required to wear this type of shoe for physical education, and there is limited instructional time and

space to change. Students who have to change shoes should be able to do so without assistance.

• Athletic shorts:

Athletic shorts must have pockets.

• The penalty for violation of the dress code is listed in the Code of Conduct as a Class I violation.

Repeated offenses can be considered as defiance of authority.

DRESS CODE FOR STUDENTS IN MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

The Coffee County Schools sincerely encourage all parents and students to be aware that dress and personal appearance influence the image and attitude that others have of them as individuals. Therefore, all parents and students should exercise reasonable judgment, tact, and decency when selecting school clothes. The school administration shall retain authority to make subjective judgments regarding a student’s dress and personal appearance. The administrator may make exceptions to any of these circumstances when warranted, or for certain groups during performance or special activities. 

The following types of clothing will be considered inappropriate:

• Clothing that is skin-tight or revealing, such as:

Provocative, backless, cut-out, low-cut clothing, one-shoulder tops, strapless clothing, shoulder less shirts, halters, spaghetti straps, tank tops, exposed undergarments, open-side shirts, mesh clothing, cut-off or midriff shirts, cut-off shorts, low-riders or sagging pants which expose underclothing or skin; pants, bike pants, sweat pants/shorts, athletic shorts without pockets, “soffe” shorts, scrubs, clothing with holes that is designed to expose parts of the body, leggings, tights, and yoga pants, etc. (outer layer must meet length requirement).

• Clothing/Accessories that promote inappropriate themes, such as:

Clothing that provokes inflammatory or racial remarks, gang/cult membership, or advertises tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or gangs; clothing with decals or slogans that contain and/or refer to provocative, indecent, or offensive behavior or profanity; bandannas.

• Clothing/Accessories that create a distraction to the learning environment, such as: 

Sunglasses (except for medical reasons), caps, hats, or other head coverings; hair styles or colors, and/or makeup that causes distractions.

• Clothing/Accessories that create a safety hazard or are unsafe, such as: 

An item/accessory that may create a safety hazard, including caps, hats, or other head coverings; body piercings (with the exception of a small stud) such as nose, tongue, belly, or eyebrow rings; and any other jewelry.

Additional guidelines:

• A student standing erect with arms positioned at their sides must be able to touch the fabric of his/her garment with the middle finger, or the garment must be mid-thigh. If the fabric cannot be touched or the garment is not mid-thigh, the student is in violation of the dress code.
• A student standing erect with arms extended to shoulder height or a student seated should not reveal flesh.
• If uniforms are worn to class during the school day, they must meet the dress code requirements.
• Use of book bags is based on school policy and students' ages.
• Shoes must be worn at all times, and shoe laces must be tied.
• Shirts should be tucked in when appropriate.
• Belts should be worn when appropriate.
• Only clear, transparent water bottles are allowed on campus.
• The penalty for violation of the dress code is listed in the Code of Conduct as a Class I violation. Repeated offenses can be considered as defiance of authority.