Children need to wear clothes that are clean, comfortable and appropriate for the weather. The school reserves the right to question the appropriateness of a student’s dress when such dress interferes with the learning environment, the student’s health, and /or safety.  

Student dress should enhance, not interfere with the teaching‐learning environment. Any article of clothing that endangers the health and safety of students or interferes with the teacher‐learning process is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Clothing that displays inappropriate, obscene, or profane emblems, slogans or images.
• Excessively tight clothing
• Spandex, tank tops, mesh shirts, halter tops, etc.
• Hats and outer clothing, such as coats and jackets, being worn in the school building during school hours.
• Any other attire that may disrupt the proper order of the school or distract from the educational environment.

Philosophy:

• All students are encouraged to dress in a  manner that is comfortable and conducive to an active and safe school day.

• All students should be able to engage and focus in the educational environment without fear of or actual unnecessary discipline.

• Student dress code enforcement should not result in unnecessary barriers to school attendance.

• Teachers should be able to focus on teaching without the additional and often uncomfortable burden of dress code enforcement.

Dress Code Language:

Students must wear:

• Bottoms (that covers buttocks)

• Tops (with fabric in the front, back, and on the sides under the arms)

• Shoes

Students may wear:

• Fitted pants, including leggings and yoga pants 

• Sweatpants, shorts, skirts, dresses, pants

• Midriff baring shirts

• Pajama bottoms

• Ripped jeans

• Tank tops, including spaghetti straps, halter tops

• Athletic attire

• Religious headwear

Students cannot wear clothing with:

• Violent language or images

• Images or language depicting drugs, alcohol, or vaping (or any illegal item or activity) or the use of same

• Hate speech, profanity, pornography, or anything of a sexual nature

• Images and/or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class

• Visible underwear, bathing suits of similar design, or sports bras/bralettes as shirts.  Visible waist bands or straps on undergarments worn under other clothing are not a violation.

• Hats, hoods or other headgear that obscures the face (except as a religious observance)  

• Accessories that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon

Discipline:

Students who fail to meet the DMS Dress Expectations, and are in violation of the "cannot" or "must" wear sections, will face disciplinary consequences. Consequences will NOT result in any of the following:

• Excessive loss of class time. Time missed will be kept to a minimum.

• Students can't be forced to wear clothing that is not theirs.  

• Discipline will not be given disproportionately based on gender, race, body size, or body maturity.

It is the responsibility of the school to provide the means for students to be educated, and it is the  responsibility of the home to prepare the students to be educated. This preparation includes decisions  about appropriate dress for those students in school. Thus, parents should monitor the attire of their  children. However, we as a school community feel that it is necessary to establish basic guidelines of  dress to ensure the well being of the entire student body. We feel the guidelines to be followed by all  students should be safety, cleanliness, neatness, and decency. Student dress should facilitate a positive  teaching/learning environment. 

1. The following are NOT acceptable: 

● Hemlines or clothing that allows any part of a student’s underwear to be visible. ● Clothing that displays obscene/profane slogans or emblems or promotes or advertises  alcohol/drug usage. 

● Excessively tight clothing. 

● Clothing that allows overexposure of a person’s thighs, chest, or stomach. 

● Spiked collars, bracelets, chains, etc. that jeopardize safety. 

2. Safety regulations in classes may require that shirts, blouses, and tee shirts be tucked into pants or  skirts. 

3. Hats (headgear of any kind) including bandanas and outer clothing such as coats, jackets, etc. may  not be worn in school. Hats are not to be visible during the school day (unless for religious reasons).  Pants and shorts must be worn above the hips. If the health and safety of the student is endangered  or the proper order of school may be disrupted by the student’s attire or appearance, he/she will be  referred to the administration and will not be permitted to attend class until properly attired. 

It is expected that students will dress in a manner which is conducive to good health practices, safety  regulations and not detrimental to the classroom atmosphere. The wearing of any clothing that  substantially interferes with the educational process is unlawful and forbidden. Local and state health  laws prohibit bare feet in all public buildings. Dress code enforcement begins at home. A student in  violation of the dress code may be sent home to correct the violation immediately or a parent may be  asked to bring the appropriate dress. Please be aware that clothing that promotes inappropriate  messages is unacceptable and forbidden.