HCPS, Reg. 7-3.1 (B) Student Dress
Student dress is an important factor in maintaining a positive educational environment. The Hanover County Public Schools School Board and school division staff rely on parents and students to support the division’s emphasis on safety and avoiding disruptions in the learning environment. A student’s dress and appearance should not cause disruption, distract other students from their school work, or compromise health or safety. This dress code applies to all school functions.
Note: Principals can make exceptions to the student dress code at their discretion to account for special events.
- For health and safety reasons, students must wear appropriate footwear (as determined by the building principal) at all times.
- Skirts, dresses, jumpers, and shorts must be at least fingertip length (no shorter than the tip of the middle finger).
- Clothing should not expose the student’s midriff, cleavage, or private areas at any time.
- Sleeveless garments must cover the top of the shoulder and not expose bare skin beneath the armpit or undergarments. Students may wear spaghetti straps, tube tops, halter tops, and tank tops only under tops, shirts, and blouses that comply with the student dress code.
- Students may wear yoga pants, leggings, and tights only with skirts, dresses, jumpers, or shorts that meet the length requirement set forth above.
- Students must wear pants and shorts, which they must secure to prevent the student’s undergarments from being exposed, to prevent the waistband from sagging below the student’s hips, and to prevent the garment from dragging on the floor.
Students may not wear the following:
- Clothing, jewelry, and other personal belongings displaying language or images that are vulgar, lewd, or obscene; that reflect adversely on or disparage another’s race, gender, sexual orientation, skin color, religion, national origin, ancestry, or disability; that promote the use of drugs, illegal substances, or alcohol; or that contain threats, gang symbols, symbols of groups associated with threatening or violent behavior, or groups that promote the unlawful use of weapons or other criminal behavior
- Hats, hoods, face masks, or head coverings of any kind while inside school buildings during regular school hours, unless worn for religious or medical reasons or approved in writing in advance by the building principal.
- Sunglasses while inside school buildings unless required under a physician’s prescription
- Chains of any type or studded/spiked jewelry
- Pajamas, sleepwear, or swimwear
- Clothing that is constructed of see-through fabric, is revealing, or that resembles undergarments