Uniform Policy
The SCEC administration understands that trends and expectations among students regarding dress, appearance, and grooming change continuously. However, in an effort to maintain uniformity and consistency and to avoid disruptions and / or safety concerns, the SCEC administration has established standards for dress and grooming which must be observed by SCEC students.
These determinations are based on whether certain aspects of a student’s dress, appearance, and grooming may reasonably be expected to create health, sanitation, or safety concerns, or have disruptive impacts on the student population, thereby affecting the educational climate of the school.
Fully realizing that dress, appearance, and grooming change continuously, the administration reserves the right to determine what is appropriate.
The determination will be based on whether a student’s dress, appearance, and grooming may create health, sanitation, safety, or disruptive attention to the student population, thereby impacting the educational climate of the school.
SCEC dress codes are to be strictly observed, and are set forth as follows:
1. As a general rule, all visible clothing (shirt) must be solid colors, without patterns or logos, and must be one of the following colors: red, white, or navy blue. Shorts or pants must be khaki or navy blue.
2. Long or short sleeved shirts are acceptable in the following solid colors, with no visible patterns or logos: red, navy blue, and white. Sweaters or sweatshirts without hoods may be worn over other shirts, subject to the same restrictions (solid red, white, or navy blue, with no visible patterns or logos). Hooded sweatshirts may only be worn if they are approved Cardinal Wear items (or solid red, white, or navy blue, with no visible patterns or logos).
3. As a general rule, Cardinal Wear sports apparel will be acceptable for purposes of this dress code.
4. Students’ feet must be completely covered by shoes at all times. House slippers, flip-flops, sandals, open-toed shoes, “Crocs”, and slides are not to be worn.
5. A student’s clothing must fully cover the student’s body from the shoulder to the mid-thigh at all times. Clothing may not include any “see-through” material. Slits, rips, or splits in clothing must not expose skin above mid-thigh or below the shoulder. All slits must be no larger than 2 inches in any direction. Clothing must be appropriate for an academic setting and will be evaluated against this standard consistently, regardless of student gender identity, race, or body type. All students are subject to evaluation of and / or determinations by SCEC staff, at the discretion of SCEC staff, with respect to this dress code.
6. Students shall not wear tank tops, halter-tops, garments with spaghetti straps, strapless garments, or leggings. Garments that include “see-through” material, “low-cut” neck and / or shoulder lines, or expose a student’s midriff or undergarments, are not acceptable. Undergarments must not be visible, regardless of whether a student is standing or sitting. Sleepwear and / or pajamas are not to be worn.
7. Coats, gloves, and jackets, including cold weather outdoor ski vests, headscarves, hats, head coverings, hoods, blankets and sunglasses must be stored in the hall lockers during the school day. Head coverings, hats, bonnets, ski masks, sweatbands, and bandanas of any kind are not to be worn at any time in the building, unless required for religious or medical reasons. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the responsible building principal or his / her designee. Head coverings will be subjected to confiscation and will require parent pickup.
8. Students may not display and / or wear clothing, jewelry, or tattoos displaying any of the following:
- Obscenities;
- Inappropriate or sexually explicit words, symbols, or images;
- Provocative, dangerous, distracting, or inflammatory words, symbols, or images; or
- Any other word, symbol or image that creates a disturbance to the educational process. This restriction includes, but is not limited to, any clothing, jewelry, or visible tattoo which encourages, promotes, or condones anti-social, immoral, or illegal behavior, or which encourages, promotes, or condones alcohol, tobacco, drugs, profanity, sex, death, or gang involvement. Visible defamatory slogans related to ethnicity, race, nationality, culture, gender, sexual orientation, or disability status are also prohibited.
9. Students are not permitted to carry backpacks or large bags during the school day. All backpacks and large bags must be made of a clear material, and must be stored in student lockers upon arrival and remain there until dismissal. Backpacks are not to be left in the hallways at any time. Students may carry a small purse or fanny pack that is no larger than approximately 6” x 9”. Students may also carry a laptop bag that measures no more than 13” x 9”. Exceptions to this policy may be made at the discretion of the responsible building Principal or his / her designee. All exceptions must be documented and communicated to relevant staff.
10. Pants must be worn at the waist and fully fastened. Undergarments must be completely covered by outer clothing at all times. This standard will be applied consistently to all students regardless of gender identity, race, or body type. Staff will not enforce this policy differently based on student appearance. Pants cannot be worn inside out.
Exceptions to the Dress Code
While the safety and appropriateness of student attire will always be warranted and enforced during school and school-related functions, the uniformity of colors policy need not be adhered to during physical education classes, extracurricular, athletic, academic, dramatic, or musical events or ceremonies unless required by the staff member supervising the event. Other appropriate attire requirements may be made for such events by faculty sponsors and/or Administration. Further exceptions to the dress code will be determined and implemented by Administration (e.g., dress-up/dress-down day, school spirit days, etc.).