High School Dress Code

 

Tops (Men & Women): 

• Short or long sleeve polo style shirt; LRCA or small manufacturer’s logo only; any color or pattern

• Short or long sleeve button-down, collared dress shirt; LRCA or small manufacturer’s logo only; any color or pattern 

• Shirts must be buttoned up to the center of the chest

• Knitted sweaters and turtlenecks are acceptable in lieu of a collared shirt, provided they maintain a business casual look 

• In-season athletic team “Game Day Polo”, Fine Arts Cast, Band/Choir, or Academic Team Shirts may be worn on game or production days

• (Women only) Business blouses without collar or buttons are acceptable; must be modest and well-fitting; cannot be worn with a sweatshirt or hoodie

 

Skirts/Dresses (Women):

• Young ladies may wear dresses/skirts.  Length for both must reach 4 inches from the top of the kneecap.  Skirts may be plaid, patterned, or solid color. Dresses do not have to be collared, but must have sleeves that cover shoulders (or outerwear with sleeves), and a modest neckline.  If leggings or tights are worn, skirts/dresses still need to meet the length requirement.

 

Bottoms (Men & Women):

• Shorts (bermuda length), slacks, khakis, or corduroy pants; flat or pleated front

• Dress denim pants are permitted, providing they are solid color, darkwash or other similar style, and sufficiently business casual 

• Must be hemmed; no holes or frays; no baggy or sagging bottoms; must fit at the waist

 

Outerwear (Men & Women):   

• Sweater, ¼, ½, or full-zip jacket, or crew-neck sweatshirt; any color or pattern; no messages except LRCA, college logo, or small manufacturers logo 

• Outerwear does not count as a collared shirt

• No hoodies or hooded jackets, except with LRCA logo

• Rain jackets with hoods may be worn during inclement weather

 

Hair (Men):

• Hair must be clean and neat; natural color; cut above the collar in the back, combed out of the eyes in the front; short braids or twists for afro-textured hair

• No ponytails, mohawks, man-buns, dreads, long braids, or other distracting styles

• No facial hair; no sideburns lower than the ear; no hair bands for men 

 

Hair (Women):

• Clean and neat; natural color; no distracting styles

 

Details (Men and Women):

• All clothing must be clean, appropriately fitted, and free of tears, holes or frayed hems

• Clothing should not have lettering or messages other than school or college logos

• No head covering may of any type may be worn in the building including bandanas, hats, do-rags, visors, or hoods

• No visible tattoos; young women may have pierced ears, provided that earrings are modest and non-distracting. No other visible piercings will be permitted  

• No sweatpants, joggers, athletic shorts, pajamas, or scrubs any time

• Students must wear shoes or sandals; they should be clean and neat

 

Wednesday Dress and Friday Dress Days: 

• Wednesdays are a dress up day.  Gentlemen are required to wear button-down dress shirt and a tie.  Young women are required to wear “church casual” clothing  

• Fridays are a casual dress day.  Students may wear regular jeans - as opposed to “dress” denim” - and non-collared shirts with appropriate messaging.

• Even with Friday Dress, no sweatpants (or sweat pant-like pants), joggers, athletic shorts, pajamas, or scrubs any time

Wednesday Dress Expectations

 

Each Wednesday, young men are expected to wear button-down dress shirts and ties, accompanied by dress denim, slacks, khakis, or shorts.   

 

Young women have a lot more options for more formal attire, including slacks, khakis, blouses, dresses, skirts, and dress denim.  Here are some guidelines:

   

1. All clothing must meet our length requirement - “Wednesday Dress” does not mean short.  Pants, shorts, dresses, or skirts are all acceptable, provided they meet the minimum length standards and are modest.  Dress denim or slacks are also acceptable. 

2. Shoulders covered - Young women should have their shoulders covered, either by the design of the garment, or by acceptable outerwear (ex: a sweater worn throughout the day).

3. Avoid cut outs, crop tops, etc. - “Wednesday Dress” does not mean it is acceptable to wear clothing with exposing cut-outs, crops tops, etc.

 

Some may want to know what’s going to happen if I don’t dress appropriately?  

There is great value in practicing a more formal appearance and in finding comfort within those boundaries.  Students who fail to meet any dress code expectations, including Wednesday Dress, will be asked to correct their appearance.  Additional infractions will receive appropriate increasing consequences.   

 

What if my athletic team has a game on Wednesday, and we would normally wear our game-day uniform?  

That is fine!  Athletes in game-day uniform are still within dress code, provided the team has been instructed by the coach to dress out.  

What exactly is “dress denim?”

 

“Dress Denim” refers to denim pants that are business casual, either colored or dark wash, accompanied by an appropriate top.  There is always a risk in allowing something that requires interpretation with dress code. We do not intend to open up regular jeans as part of our daily dress code, so here are a few pointers to help in recognizing the distinction.

 

1. Color - Dress Denim is colored, dark blue or dark wash.  If you are wearing light blue denim, it likely will not qualify as dress denim.

2. Solid - dress denim is not ombre and does not fade at the knees; it does not have wrinkled patterns or other designs, washes, etc.; it does not have unnecessary or excessive stitching, zippers, or pleats; The design is plain, not biker style or distressed.

3. Holes - dress denim does not have rips, tears, frayed edges, or holes.  Even if these are part of the design of the pant, these do not meet our standard for dress denim.  

4. When in doubt - Dress it up!  Often, it’s the whole package that determines a business casual look.  Dressing up the top with a button-down or the bottom with dressier shoes will make or break the outfit.

 

“Dress Denim”

 

Not “Dress Denim”