Dress Code
Dress and Personal Grooming
Providing an effective learning environment for all students includes expectations that students are well-kempt, dressed and groomed in a manner that permits them to actively participate in school and that does not distract the education process. Student dress and grooming are not to adversely affect the student's participation in classes, school programs, or other school-related activities. Extremes in style and fit in student dress and extremes in style of grooming will not be permitted.
School principals maintain the right to determine extremes in styles of dress and grooming and appropriateness and suitability for school wear. Body-piercing ornaments are limited to the ears and nose, if ear-piercing and nose piercing ornaments are approved at the school level. Students in grades 9-12 are allowed to have a nose piercing. No student may wear, possess, use, distribute, display, or sell any clothing, jewelry, emblem, blade, symbols, sign, or other things that are evidence of affiliation in any gang.
Styles of dress and grooming never should be such that they represent a collective or individual protest.
Parents are allowed to vote, according to provisions of the School Board School Uniform Policy, whether or not students in their children's schools wear school uniforms. Information about school uniforms is provided at the school. The provisions of the Student Dress Code apply to uniforms. Information on the School System Uniform Policy is available on the System website at www.stpsb.org.
A violation of student dress regulations is a Group 2 offense in the Code of Conduct and results in disciplinary action that includes suspension.
Policies regarding dress and grooming stress the importance of reducing distractions that inhibit learning and are addressed as an attempt to enhance the safe learning environment.
Student Dress Code for Males
The following requirements apply to appropriate grooming and dress for male students.
- Sculptured hair styles that include pictures, symbols, letters, numbers, or hair in curlers, rollers, or excessively teased, etc., will not be permitted. The prohibition on sculptured hairs styles does not prohibit natural, protective, or cultural hairstyles, as defined by the Louisiana State Legislature. "Natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle" shall include but is not limited to afros, dreadlocks, twists, braids, cornrow braids, Bantu knots, curls, and hair styled to protect hair texture or for cultural significance.
- Facial Hair - Male students in grades 9-12 may wear a neatly trimmed mustache, beard, or goatee. Handlebar style mustaches are prohibited. Sideburns may be worn to the base of the earlobe, but pork chop style is prohibited.
- Any article of clothing with suggestive symbols, words, or advertisements of products or substances prohibited by the St. Tammany Parish School Board is prohibited.
- Shirts must be buttoned, except for the collar button. Tank shirts and undershirts may not be worn as outer garments.
- No see-through, sheer shirts, or lace-like clothing are permitted, and no skin may show between the lower garment and shirt in any position.
- Walking shorts are acceptable providing they meet the length requirement. Shorts must be at the fingertip or below when standing erect with arms extended down the sides or not more than 5" above the knee.
- Lower garments worn by students must be secured at waist level, with no undergarments revealed.
- All caps, hats, and bandannas are banned from school campuses during regular school hours.
- Hoods are not to be worn on campus during regular school hours except outdoors in inclement weather.
- Students are required to wear student school I.D.’s visible above the waist during regular school hours.
Student Dress Code for Females
The following requirements apply to appropriate grooming and dress for female students.
- Sculptured hair styles that include pictures, symbols, letters, numbers, or hair in curlers, rollers, or excessively teased, etc., will not be permitted. The prohibition on sculptured hairs styles does not prohibit natural, protective, or cultural hairstyles, as defined by the Louisiana State Legislature. "Natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle" shall include but is not limited to afros, dreadlocks, twists, braids, cornrow braids, Bantu knots, curls, and hair styled to protect hair texture or for cultural significance.
- Any article of clothing with suggestive symbols, words, or advertisements of products or substances prohibited by the St. Tammany Parish School Board is prohibited.
- No see-through, sheer shirts, or lace-like clothing are permitted, and no skin may show between the lower garment and shirt in any position. Tank shirts and undershirts may not be worn as outer garments.
- Dresses, culottes, split skirts, and walking shorts are acceptable providing they meet the length requirement. The minimum length of dresses, culottes, skirts, and shorts must be at the fingertip or below when standing erect with arms extended down the sides or not more than 5" above the knee.
- Lower garments worn by students must be secured at waist level, with no undergarments revealed.
- All caps, hats, and bandannas are banned from school campuses during regular school hours.
- Hoods are not to be worn on campus during regular school hours except outdoors in inclement weather.
- Students are required to wear student school I.D.’s visible above the waist during regular school hours.
For the most up-to-date information, visit the District Handbook page.