Dress Code
Volusia County Schools has a student appearance and dress code for all elementary, middle and high school students. The policy was amended on July 27, 2021 to remove the uniform requirement for the 2021-2022 school year. Responsibility for the dress and appearance of students enrolled in the School District of Volusia County primarily rests with parents and the students. The standards of appearance for students shall ensure that the students are clean, neat, and properly dressed. They shall observe modes of dress and standards of personal grooming which are appropriate for the academic environment. It is the responsibility of the principal to see that the dress appearance of any student shall not be extreme, to the point of creating a disturbance, or be hazardous to the student and/or others, or school property. Complete guidelines can be found in Policy 217.
General Dress Code Policy Requirements
- Appropriate sizes - Garments must be of a length and fit that are suitable to the build and stature of the student.
- Upper garments – Upper garments must be long enough to clearly overlap the beltline or stay tucked in during the course of normal movement during the day.
- Lower garments – Lower garments with visible belt loops shall be worn with a belt that is properly fastened. Exceptions will be allowed for students in grades K – 5 and in individual cases based upon the discretion of the principal or designee. The waistband of pants, shorts or skirts must be worn and secured between the hips and the waist. Undergarments and the buttocks must remain entirely covered even while seated. Jumpers, skirts and shorts must be at least mid-thigh or below in length.
- Head - No hats, caps, visors, hoods, bandanas, sunglasses or other head gear may be worn on a school campus except with administrative permission (i.e. medical necessity, religious, school related events)
- Shoes/Footwear - All students shall wear shoes/footwear. Students must wear shoes that are safe and appropriate for the learning environment. Students must wear athletic shoes in all physical education classes.
- Outerwear – Coats, jackets, sweaters and other appropriate outer garments when necessary due to weather conditions. When outer garments with hood are worn, the hoods must be removed from the head while in school buildings. The outer garments must be of the appropriate size and shall not be overly baggy or violate any provisions of the dress code.
Unacceptable Attire
A student may not wear clothing (including bandanas), jewelry (including body piercing jewelry), buttons, haircuts, tattoos, or other attire or marking which are offensive, suggestive, disruptive or indecent, such as:
- Clothing associated with gangs.
- Clothing encouraging or promoting the use of tobacco, drugs, alcohol or violence.
- Clothing associated with the discrimination on the basis of age, color, handicap, national origin, marital status, race, religion or sex.
- Clothing exposing the torso or upper thighs, such as see-through garments, mini-skirts or mini-dresses, halters, backless shirts or dresses, tube tops or tank tops without over-blouses or shirts, spaghetti strap garments without over-blouses, bare midriff outfits, or shirts or blouses tied at the midriff.
- Clothing not properly fastened or with tears.
- Clothing or outer garments traditionally designed as undergarments, such as boxer shorts, underwear, tights, hosiery and sleepwear.
- Clothing or footwear that is construed by the principal, or designee, as hazardous or dangerous to the health or safety of the student or others or which might reasonably lead the principal or designee to forecast substantial disruption of, or material interference with school activities.