Dress Code

Pershing Middle School Gender Neutral Dress Code

At Pershing Middle School, we understand that how you dress allows you to feel confident, focused and ready for learning. We also understand that the primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and parents/guardians.   

Pershing Middle is responsible for ensuring that student attire does not interfere with the health or safety of any student and that one’s attire does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student or staff. 

The dress code requirements below apply equally to students regardless of gender identity and must be implemented by all staff consistently, which is grounded in the following principles: 

• All Students should be encouraged to dress in a manner that is comfortable, conducive to an active school day and should facilitate their participation in learning.
• Students should be able to wear clothing without fear of or actual unnecessary discipline or body shaming.
• The student dress code should serve to support all students to develop a body positive self-image.

Students Must Wear:

• Clothing must cover the trunk of the body from below the armpit to the upper thigh (see diagram below) and cover buttocks and midsection regardless of physical activity and without being subject to constant readjustment.
  • Clothing material covering the trunk of the body must be opaque (non-see-through)
• Shirts must have sleeves or straps of some kind.  There is no width requirement for straps.
• Closed-toed shoes must be worn at all times
  

Students May NOT Wear:

• Clothing may not depict, imply, advertise, or advocate illegal, violent, or lewd conduct, weapons, or the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other controlled substances.
• Clothing may not depict or imply pornography, nudity, or sexual acts.
• Clothing may not display or imply vulgar, discriminatory, or obscene language or images.
• Clothing may not state, imply, or depict hate speech/imagery targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any other protected classification.
• Clothing and accessories that endanger student or staff safety may not be worn.
• Apparel, jewelry, accessories, tattoos, or manner of grooming that, by virtue of its color, arrangement, trademark or any other attribute, denotes membership in a gang that advocates illegal or disruptive behavior is prohibited.
  

Student May Wear:

• Headgear including beanies, hoodies, hats and caps (students may be asked to remove at the discretion of staff when inside classrooms unless permitted for religious, medical, or other reason shared and approved by the teacher)
• Ripped jeans, as long as underwear and buttocks are not exposed
• See-through or mesh garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meet the minimum requirements of the dress code.
• Tank tops and halter tops
• Athletic wear
• Sun-protective clothing, including but not limited to hats, for outdoor use during the school day (Education Code 35183.5) 
  
  

If a student is not meeting the “must wear” and “may not wear” requirements in the dress code, the student will be informed by staff in a respectful and professional manner and instructed to correct the violation in a manner to limit loss of instructional time while balancing the seriousness of the violation. Violations will be corrected by changing into other clothes the student already has at school, removing the non-complying clothing if the student will be otherwise appropriately dressed, or turning clothes inside out. 
 
Like any other school rule or guideline, continual violations will be discussed with parents/guardians and may be assigned further consequences.

SDUSD NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
“San Diego Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying by reason of the following actual or perceived characteristics: age, ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, immigration status, marital or parental status, medical condition, nationality, national origin, actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Students who violate this policy may be subject to discipline, up to and including expulsion, in accordance with district policy, administrative procedure and state law. Employees who violate this policy shall be subject to discipline up to an including dismissal. Any disciplinary action shall be in accordance with applicable federal, state and/or collective bargaining agreements.”