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Dress Code

Hickory City Schools visual dress code. The graphic shows what students can wear and cannot wear.

Policy Code: 4316 Standardized Dress Code for Students in Grades 6 Through 12

The Hickory City School Board believes that a safe and disciplined learning environment is essential to operating successful schools.  To this end, the Board may authorize schools at one or all grade spans (high school, middle school, elementary school) to implement programs in which students and/or faculty and staff are required to adhere to a standardized dress code during the school day. 

GUIDELINES

The clothing regulated by this Policy shall not be see-through, revealing, advertise drugs/alcohol, display obscene, offensive, or pornographic words or otherwise be disruptive.  All shirts, blouses and top garments shall cover the back and torso and have necklines and arm cuts that are not disruptive or distracting.

Therefore, students attending the Hickory City Schools in grades 6 through 12 will adhere to the following standardized dress code each school day during the entire school day. 

TOPS

All tops are acceptable as long as they fall under the above guidelines.  Shirts are not required to be tucked in.  However, untucked shirts may not extend below the student’s mid-thigh.

Sweatshirts with or without hoods may be worn, but hoods must not be raised or worn during school hours.

JACKETS/COATS/VESTS

All jackets, coats and vests are permitted as long as they fall under the above guideline, except those that extend below the student’s mid-thigh.

BOTTOMS/DRESSES

Acceptable bottoms include:

  • Pants, skirts, shorts, skorts and capris
  • Dresses are permissible but must not be sleeveless or have spaghetti straps.
  • Blue jeans are permissible but must not contain holes above the knee.
  • Shorts, dresses, skorts, and skirts shall be no shorter than mid-thigh.
  • Belts must be standard hook and eye or contain interlocking rings.  The belt tail cannot hang lower than four (4) inches.  Large belt buckles are prohibited.

SHOES/FOOTWEAR 

For health and safety reasons, appropriate footwear must be worn at all times.  Bedroom slippers are prohibited.  Socks are not considered to be footwear for purposes of this policy. 

HATS/HEADGEAR

Hats and headgear are not permitted to be worn during school hours.  Hats and headgear worn to school must be stored in the student’s locker or backpack during school hours.

MASKS/FACE COVERINGS

Protective facemasks and coverings are considered for purposes of this article to be articles of clothing and subject to the guidelines and regulations set forth in this policy. 

EXCEPTIONS

  • Reasonable exceptions will be considered when medically necessary.
  • Each school retains the ability to make exceptions to this Policy during its Spirit Week

NON-COMPLIANCE

  • Each school shall require full and consistent compliance of the standardized dress code with the least amount of disciplinary action. 
  • Penalties for non-compliance to this policy shall be established by the school’s disciplinary policies.

EXEMPTIONS

  • Exemptions will be considered and determined by the Superintendent or his/her designee when compliance with this policy interferes with the student’s sincerely held religious belief or customs.
  • No other exemptions will be considered.

To ensure compliance with this Policy, the Hickory City School Board shall provide for the following:

  • Provisions for the purchase of an adequate number of items for use in the “clothes closet” for use by students who are not in compliance;
  • Provisions for the purchase of clothing for students who, because of financial hardships, are unable to purchase the required clothing (may be based on free and reduced lunch eligibility);
  • Provisions that ensure that a student’s sincerely held religious beliefs are not substantially burdened;
  • Provisions for the involvement of parents;
  • Provisions for the enforcement of the implementation of the standardized dress code policy, including disciplinary consequences for students failing to comply;
  • Provisions to implement a procedure for evaluating the standardized dress code policy on a yearly basis
  • Provisions to consider reasonable exceptions when medically indicated

Details of standardized dress codes implemented at specific grade spans shall be attached as an appendix to this policy for reference.

NON-DISCRIMINATORY ENFORCEMENT

Each school to which this policy applies shall be administered in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of sex.

Students, parents and staff who believe this policy has been enforced in a manner which discriminates on the basis of sex may contact the Hickory City Schools Title IX Coordinator to initiate a grievance under Policy 1720/4030/7235 (Title IX Non Discrimination of the Basis of Sex).

This policy shall be reviewed annually or as often as the Hickory City School Board deems necessary.

Legal References: G.S. 115C-47, -390.2

Cross References: Student Behavior Policies (policy 4300), School Plan for Management of Student Behavior (policy 4302), Disruptive Behavior (policy 4315)

Adopted: November 19, 2007

Revised: June 25, 2012

      October 10, 2016

      April 10, 2017

      September 24, 2018

      July 27, 2020

      November 4, 2022

      September 9, 2024