NEW 24-25 Rancho Dress Code

DRESS CODE

The Rancho Administration believes that:

• All students should be able to dress comfortably for school without fear of discipline or body shaming.

• An individual student’s clothing/self-expression should not be regulated based on another student’s or staff member’s personal perspective or discomfort.

• Staff should be able to focus on their jobs without the additional burden of dress code enforcement.

• Students should not face unnecessary barriers to school attendance.

• Reasons for conflict and inconsistent discipline should be minimized whenever possible.

Our dress code will:

• Maintain a safe learning environment where supportive clothing is needed, such as PE (PE uniform/shoes).

• Allow students to wear clothing of their choice that is comfortable but appropriate for school.

• Allow students to wear clothing that expresses their self-identified gender.

• Allow students to wear religious attire without fear of discipline or discrimination.

• Prevent students from wearing clothing with offensive images or language, including profanity, hate speech, and pornography.

• Prevent students from wearing clothing with offensive images or language depicting or advocating violence or the use of alcohol or drugs.

• Ensure that all students are treated equitably regardless of gender/gender identification, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, body type/size, religion, and personal style.

Students and parents/guardians shall be informed about the dress code prior to and at the beginning of the school year. The dress code will be clearly communicated in the student agenda and on our website as well as through other media and means.

Minimum Attire Standards

Student attire must permit the student to participate in learning without posing a risk to the health or safety of any student or staff

1. Students must wear clothing, including a shirt with pants or skirt, or the equivalent (for example, dresses, leggings, or shorts) and closed-toe shoes.  

2. Crocs, slides, and other clog-like shoes, while close-toed, are not allowed to be worn at school.

3. Pajamas and slippers are not allowed. No blankets and no stuffies/stuffed animals are allowed at school.

4. Clothing with holes (ripped jeans) must cover all areas outlined (see diagram above).

5. Hoodies with the hood on the head are not permitted in classrooms. 

6. Hats and other head coverings (not including hoodies) may be permitted in classrooms, provided they do not conceal prohibited listening devices.  Hats will not be allowed when they pose a safety concern in the classroom.

7. Clothing must cover the chest and the lower torso with arms raised (see diagram above). Clothing covering the chest and lower torso must not be see-through.  Strapless items of clothing are not permitted; tops must have some type of straps over the shoulders or halter style.

8. Clothing must cover undergarments. Visible waistbands or straps on undergarments worn under other clothing are not allowed.  

9. Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities, including science labs and other activities where unique hazards or safety gear is required.

10. Clothing must not have offensive images or language, including profanity, hate speech, pornography, or depicting or advocating violence or the use of alcohol or drugs.

Students and parents/guardians shall be informed about dress standards prior to and at the beginning of the school year. A student who violates these standards shall be subject to appropriate and consistently enforced disciplinary action.

School-directed changes to a student’s attire should be the least restrictive and disruptive to the student’s school day. Administration and enforcement of the dress code shall be gender-neutral and consistent.

Gang-Related Apparel

Gang-related apparel is that which could reasonably be determined to threaten the health and safety of the school definitions of gang-related apparel shall be reviewed and updated whenever related information is received. As necessary, the school shall collaborate with local law enforcement to update definitions of gang-related apparel.

Dress Code Consequences:

Any teacher who sees a student wearing clothing that violates the dress code, has offensive images or language, including profanity, hate speech, pornography, or depicting or advocating violence, or the use of alcohol or drugs should send that student to the office, and the student will need to change clothing (school loaned items) or call home to have a parent bring appropriate items.

Students not following dress code expectations will be referred to an administrator.  An administrator will meet with the student who violated dress code as soon as possible.   

1st Offense – The student will receive a warning and an administrator will go over the dress code with the student.  

2nd Offense –The student will receive a 15 minute afterschool detention. 

3rd Offense and beyond - The student will receive a 30 minute afterschool detention.  Students will also be placed on Social Probation for 3 weeks per offense.

Dress Code Contract:

Students who continue to dress in violation of dress code will have a parent conference with the admin, and they will be placed on a dress code contract.  

• Students who repeatedly violate the dress code contract will have a loss of school privileges, detentions, parent conference/shadowing at school, and other possible consequences. There will be no suspension for dress code violations. Admin will work with parent(s) and student to get to the root cause.

College Wednesdays

Every Wednesday, Rancho encourages all students to wear either a college t-shirt or sweatshirt. 

Team Color Fridays

Every Friday, Rancho encourages all students to wear their team t-shirt/color or sweatshirt.