Southwest Middle School Uniform Standards
(Updated for the 2014-2015 School Year)
Section 1: General Information
1. Dressing for Success the Patriot Way: Our Uniform Policy
The purpose of our uniform policy is to enhance the safety policies that are already in place. Our
uniforms help us with maintaining a safe and orderly environment that emphasizes learning as our
most important reason for being in school.
Uniforms are required for all students enrolled at Southwest Middle School. Each student’s
uniform must:
 Fit properly, at the waist, above the hips.
 Not be modified in any way.
 Not allow for sagging, bagging, or dragging.
 Not have a visible logo larger than a quarter; exception is Southwest MS logo.
Upon new enrollment during the school year, a student will have 5 school days in which to
comply with the dress code. If parents cannot make an immediate purchase of the uniform, in
interim, the student may use uniform items from the school’s uniform closet. By the 6th day, the
student must be in compliance.
2. Procedures for Administration of the Mandatory Standard Code of Dress
The school’s Uniform Dress Code shall strive to achieve full compliance through use of incentive
and positive reinforcement measures, and will resort to corrective action only when positive
measures fail to ensure compliance. The intent of this policy is not to inhibit or prohibit any
student who is not in uniform from receiving the education to which he or she is entitled. Also,
the intent of this policy is not to suspend or expel a student from class or from school, or lower an
academic grade as a result of not complying with the school’s Uniform Dress Code.
No student shall be considered in violation of the school’s Uniform Dress Code in the following
instances:
 When administrators allow exceptions to the uniform code for special events (i.e. dressup day, athletes on game days, clubs, picture day, etc.).
 During the first 5 days after transferring from outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School
District. Support for students during this time will be provided as needed.
 When a student is on campus outside normal school hours.
 When a student has been authorized by the school principal to wear a school activity
uniform such as those worn by members of sports teams, band, dance, etc.
3. Accommodations
The Southwest Middle School Student Dress Code is designed to be a religiously neutral,
mandatory, universally applicable code. However, Southwest MS recognizes that in some unique
circumstances, accommodations to the dress code based upon either medical or religious
justifications are reasonable and appropriate. Nevertheless, the mere fact that a request for
accommodation is made sincerely and supported by the appropriate documentation does not mean
it will automatically be granted. Southwest MS administration must also determine that the
requested manner of accommodation is “reasonable” in light of all the facts and circumstances.
Accommodations are limited to the following:

Medical Accommodation: - Must include valid documentation from a medical doctor
that includes justification statements.
 Religious Accommodation: - Must include valid documentation from a clergyman that
includes justification statements.
4. Special Notes
The administration reserves the right to prohibit a particular item of clothing or accessory if it is
not specifically covered by this policy but is deemed to cause sufficient concerns regarding the
appropriateness for the security of the school. Students need to be ready for school. No item
should be brought unless it directly relates to the child’s education. The school is not responsible
if these items are brought and lost, stolen, or damaged.
Section 2: Personal Appearance Standard School Attire
1. Shirts
Students are expected to wear navy blue or white shirts either long or short sleeved with collars.
Polos, Oxfords, and Peter Pan collared are acceptable. Shirts must be buttoned appropriately.
Shirts may not bear insignias, slogans, pictures, diagrams, or any other adornment or writing that
cannot be covered by a quarter. The only exception is Southwest Middle School attire. Official
school merchandise may be worn on selected days authorized by the principal. Shirts must be
TUCKED IN at all times, meaning that belts/belt loops are visible with the shirt neatly tucked
inside of pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, or capris worn at the waist.
2. Undergarments
Undergarments (including undershirts, bras, and underwear) should not be visible through the
uniform. Undergarments that are visible under the uniform shirt should be solid white, gray, navy
blue, or black.
3. Bottom Wear
 Girls
Girls are expected to wear khaki (tan in color) or navy blue pants, shorts, skirts, skorts,
jumpers, dresses, or capris. All bottom wear must be worn at the waistline. Shorts, skirts,
dresses, and skorts must have at least a 6-inch inseam and be no higher than 3 inches
above the knee. When leggings/tights are worn, they must be solid navy blue, black,
white, or gray (no patterns) and outerwear (i.e. the shorts, skirt, etc.) must still adhere to
the 3-inch above the knee requirement. Bottom wear should not include patterns at all,
even on pockets. Excessive rolling or binding of pant legs is not allowed.
 Boys
Boys are expected to wear khaki (tan in color) or navy blue pants or shorts (cargo pants
and shorts are permitted). Pants/shorts must be worn at the waistline above the hips.
Shorts must not exceed one inch below the kneecap or 3 inches above the knee. Bottom
wear should not include patterns at all, even on pockets. Excessive rolling or binding of
pant legs is not allowed.
The following are not acceptable for girls or boys:
 Denim, jeans, polyester/spandex clothing, athletic shorts/pants, sweatpants, or wind suits
 Skirts with slits
 Torn seams, frayed hems, cut-offs, or other modified clothing
 Flared pant legs, bell bottoms, hip huggers, or stripes of any kind
 Form-fitting garments
 Suspenders
4. Sweaters and Sweatshirts
If a student wishes to wear something over his or her uniform shirt, the following are the
guidelines for items to be worn while in the building during school hours:
 Solid black, gray, navy blue, brown, tan, or white sweaters or sweatshirts; no patterns
allowed; logos, insignias, etc. must be small enough to be covered by a quarter.
 Sweaters and sweatshirts must be crew neck, v-neck, or cardigan style.
 Southwest Middle School attire is acceptable.
 No oversized items.
 Pullover sweater vests are allowed with the same parameters listed above. No other vests
are permitted.
All other types of outerwear are to be placed in the student’s locker at the beginning of the school
day and remain there until the student is dismissed.
5. Jackets/Coats
Jackets or coats can be worn as seasonably appropriate before and after school. No jackets/coats
are allowed in the classroom or hallways, including denim jackets. Jackets or coats are supposed
to be placed in student lockers during class time and transitions.
6. Gloves
Gloves can be worn as seasonably appropriate before and after school. No gloves are allowed in
the classroom or the hallways. Gloves are to be placed in the student’s locker during class time
and transitions.
7. Belts
Plain black, brown, khaki, navy blue, or clear belts with a standard belt buckle are encouraged to
be worn with the uniform. Belts must be worn through the belt loops and cannot exceed 6 inches
in length from the buckle when buckled. Initialed, wrapped, message/blinking, studded,
decorative, chain, patterned belts, or oversized belt buckles are not permitted.
8. Socks
Socks must be worn under pants; pants cannot be tucked inside the socks. No inappropriate
patterns, pictures, words, etc. will be permitted as determined by school personnel in compliance
with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools general dress code policy.
9. Shoes
Students can wear athletic shoes, boots (seasonal), or low cut hard (rubberized) sole shoes. Shoes
with a heel of any kind are not permitted except by principal approval for designated special
events (dressing up for concerts, games, inductions, etc.). Students must wear matching shoes.
Pants must not be tucked into the shoe/boot. Shoes must be close-toed and close-backed.
No steel-toed or heavy boots, open-toe or open-heel sandals, flip-flops, bedroom slippers, slides,
or shower shoes are allowed. Shoestrings and shoe straps must be attached/tied at all times.
10. Hair
Hairstyles should be appropriate and consistent with good grooming. Hair accessories
(headbands, bows, ponytail holders, ribbons, and scrunchies) can be worn as long as they are
simplistic, solid in color, and not excessively distracting. Full head coverings (scarves, doo rags,
etc.) are not permitted. Bandanas of any kind are not permitted. Hair accessories that must be tied
in order to remain in place are not permitted. Clip-in feathers and clip-in color pieces are not
permitted.
11. Jewelry/Body Piercing
Jewelry should be tasteful with no inappropriate pictures, words, etc. or excessively distracting
colors, lights, etc. No facial or tongue piercings other than ears permitted.
12. Dental Ornamentation
The use of platinum, gold, or other veneers or caps for non-medical purposes is not permitted.
Costume dental wear is not permitted.
13. Glasses
 Non-prescription eyewear of any kind is not permitted including eccentric/faddish
eyewear.
 No sunglasses of any kind permitted in the school building unless they are prescription
glasses that tint in the sun.
 Contact lenses, if tinted, should be a natural color (blue, green, brown).
14. Headwear
Hats, stocking caps, doo rags, hoods, bandanas, or other head coverings are not allowed. Combs,
picks, brushes, rags, and scarves are inappropriate and will be confiscated if worn or used.
15. Purses/Book bags/Lunch boxes
 Purses are not permitted in the classroom and should be placed in student’s locker. A
small pencil-sized pouch may be carried to conceal sanitary products as needed.
 Book bags are not required nor permitted in the classroom. All book bags or carry totes
should be placed in student’s locker during the school day. Students are given adequate
locker accessibility before school and during the end of the school day to retrieve
necessary items.
 Lunch boxes may be carried. Lunches must be carried in a paper sack, plastic grocery
bag, or lunch box. Shopping bags, purses, string bags, or other book bags are not
considered lunch bags.
16. After School Dress Guidelines
Spectators
The dress code is not as structured for after-school activities. However, appropriate dress is
expected including no excessively tight or revealing clothing, no drug/alcohol/suggestive items.
Shoes must be worn at all times. Nothing that could be construed as a weapon is permitted.
Athletes
Athletes, club, and fine arts students participating in after-school activities will be required to be
in activity appropriate clothing and shoes.
All students are to remain in the school uniform until off campus with the exception of wearing
seasonably appropriate outerwear at the end of the day to wear home (such as a coat in the winter).