All students are expected to dress and groom themselves neatly in clothes and accessories that are appropriate for school activities.   To promote success and to avoid distractions, students are encouraged to dress for school and school events to help them present their best self to their peers, teachers, and administrators.   The school has a legitimate interest in requiring proper dress and personal grooming for every student.  All students are expected to become familiar with these standards and adhere to them. Students have the responsibility to observe the basic standards of cleanliness, modesty, and good grooming during the school day and at extracurricular events. Students are to use discretion in their dress and are not permitted to wear apparel that causes a substantial disruption in the school environment.

Please see the clothing (and for the purpose of this section, includes accessories) guidelines listed below for Columbia High School:

·          Clothing must cover areas from one armpit across to the other armpit and appropriate in length on the upper thighs. Rips or tears in clothing should be appropriate as well.

·          Shoes must be worn at all times and should be safe for the school environment.

·          See-through or mesh garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meet the minimum requirements of the dress code.

·          Bare shoulders are acceptable as long as the width of the straps are at least 2 (two) fingers wide.  No spaghetti straps are allowed.

·          Bare backs, plunging neckline and bare midriffs are unacceptable.

·          Headgear (i.e. hats, hoodies, caps, bandanas, etc.) cannot be worn once inside the building during the school day unless permitted for religious, medical, or other reasons by school administration.

·          Specialized courses may require specialized attire such as sports uniforms, JROTC, or safety gear.

·          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.

·          Sunglasses may not be worn inside the building.

·          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.

The administration reserves the right to determine what constitutes appropriate dress. Students who do not adhere to these guidelines will not be allowed to attend class. Parents will be called if appropriate clothing is not available or the student refuses dress-code appropriate clothing.

The length of shorts or skirts must be appropriate for the school environment. If there is any doubt about dress and appearance, the building administration will make the final decision. Students, whose dress causes a substantial disruption of the orderly process of school functions or endangers the health or safety of the student, other students, staff or others may be subject discipline.\

Decisions concerning students dress will be at the discretion of the faculty and administration.  A parent or designee may bring an acceptable change of clothing to school to correct the situation, or a student will wear P.E. clothes for the remainder of the day.    Repeated offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action as determined on a case-by-case basis.  The administration reserves the right to decide whether any current fashion or fad is appropriate for school wear and to require any student to change their attire if it is not found acceptable in the CHS Dress Code policy.