In its quest for excellence, Mesquite ISD is committed to requiring a higher expectation of dress for our students. The district believes that students should dress in a way that is appropriate for the learning environment. Maintaining a school atmosphere suitable for academic study will help students focus on the business of school. The Standard Dress Policy is a vital step toward furthering excellence and better preparing our students for college, careers, and life as adults.

The 2005-06 school year saw a very successful move to standard dress in our secondary campuses. Recently, MISD’s administration has reviewed the policy and made updates for the 2007-08 school year. The changes include new standards regarding acceptable outerwear, and clarifications on specific clothing items.

• Acceptable colors for pants, skirts, short and jumpers are khaki, navy blue or black (solid, single colors)
  
• All pants and shorts will be pleated or flat-front Docker® or similar style and must have belt loops.
  
• Belts must be worn with all pants and shorts and must be worn within the belt loops.
  
• Pants and shorts are to be worn at the waist with a belt at all times.
  
• Pants must be worn outside of shoes.
  
• Capri pants will be acceptable for girls as long as they are worn at the waist and with a belt.
  
• Shorts may be worn but must be knee length or longer.
  
• Skirts must be knee length or longer. Slits in skirts may not extend more than 3 inches above the knee.
  
• Skirts must be worn at the waist. If a skirt has belt loops, a belt must be worn.
  
• Jumpers may be worn but must be knee length or below.
  
• Jumpers must be worn over a standard dress-approved shirt.
  
• Brand logos or labels on clothing items in this section may be no larger than 1 ½” by 1 ½.”

NOT ALLOWED

• Oversized clothing
  
• Sweatpants, wind pants, pants or shorts with drawstrings, warm-ups, overalls or coveralls
  
• Leather, suede, vinyl, corduroy, denim and knit materials except for outerwear
  
• Baggy-style pants or shorts
  
• Cargo or carpenter style pants or shorts
  
• Soccer or boxer style shorts (except in P.E. or P.E. equivalent classes)
  
• Studs or decorations of any kind
  
• Gaucho style pants or gaucho style capris

• Belts must be worn buckled at all times and must be worn inside the belt loops.
  
• Belts must be solid color leather-like dress-style or canvas belts with buckle.
  
• Acceptable colors for belts are brown, black, navy blue, khaki or white.

NOT ALLOWED

• Scarves or ribbons used as belts
  
• Tie or fringe belts
  
• Excessively decorated belts or buckles
  
• Oversized buckles (no larger than credit card size)
  
• Chain or metal belts
  
• Lettering on belts or buckles
  
• Stripes, checks or designs

• Any solid color shirt that fits the style description will be allowed.
  
• Collared knit button polo style shirt (short or long sleeve)
  
• Oxford-style or dress shirts in long or short sleeve
  
• Turtleneck shirts
  
• Undershirts must be white, black, gray or same color as top shirt.
  
• All shirts, undershirts and turtlenecks must neatly be tucked in and remain tucked in when students are seated and arms are raised.
  
• Shirts are to remain tucked in during the school day.
  
• Clothing may have brand logos no larger than 1 ½” by 1 ½”.

NOT ALLOWED

• Lettering of any kind unless approved by school principal
  
• Cap sleeves or sleeveless shirts
  
• Visible stripes, check or other designs
  
• Thermal-type shirts
  
• Terry cloth shirts
  
• Zippered shirts
  
• Tight, extremely form-fitted shirts
  
• Low-cut blouses
  
• Cleavage showing
  
• Excessive layering of shirts

• Any solid color that fits the style description will be allowed.
  
• May only be worn over a standardized shirt or turtleneck as listed above.
  
• All must be pullover style or cardigan style
  
• Must be appropriately sized in shoulders, sleeves and length
  
• Bottom of sweatshirt, sweater or sweater vest may not extend more than 4 inches below the belt.
  
• Clothing may have brand logos no larger than 1 ½” by 1 ½”.

NOT ALLOWED

• Oversized clothing
  
• Zippers, snaps, etc.
  
• Sleeveless or cap sleeved sweatshirts
  
• Shrugs
  
• Short vest or sweater above the waistline
  
• Tight-fitting sweaters

• Shoes must be brown, black, gray, navy blue or white.
  
• Shoes must be leather-like or canvas lace up, loafer type or tennis shoe.
  
• Brown, black or navy blue boots are acceptable.
  
• Closed-toe mule style or closed-toe slides are acceptable.
  
• Sandals/open-toed shoes must have a back strap.
  
• Shoelaces must be white or match the color of the shoe.
  
• If socks are worn, they must match each other and be dark brown, black, navy blue, khaki or white. (solid color)
  
• Tights or hosiery must be brown, black, navy blue, white or neutral. (solid color)
  
• Shoes must be a matching pair.
  
• Shoes must be tied or fastened at all times.

NOT ALLOWED

• Flip flops
  
• Open-toed shoes without a back strap
  
• Colored shoelaces except those listed above
  
• Checks, stripes, lettering, wording, or designs on socks, hosiery or tights
  
• Fishnet type hosiery

• Extremely large or bulky jewelry will not be allowed.

Outerwear

These items will be allowed to be worn inside the school building:

• SOLID COLOR fleece or SOLID
  COLOR lightweight jackets (brand logos no larger than 1½” x 1½”.)
  
• SOLID COLOR fleece or SOLID COLOR lightweight jackets with school- approved logos.
  
• Approved school jackets (for feeder school or school of attendance only)
  

*All items in this category must be worn over standard dress shirt and must be appropriately sized

Any outerwear of choice, except for dusters or trench coats, is acceptable to be worn to and from school. However, any outerwear garment that does not fit the description in the “These items will be allowed to be worn inside the school building” section above MUST be removed upon entering the school building and placed in a locker.

Students that are concerned about being cold while inside the school building must follow the guidelines above. No other outerwear garments will be allowed inside the school building.

• Any school organization may offer a shirt to students as an optional purchase.
  
• Shirt must be polo-style, oxford-style or a sweater or sweatshirt and meet all criteria listed in the shirt section.
  
• Shirts may have a principal-approved school related logo.
  
• Students may wear approved school shirts or school organization shirts to school any day.
  
• Shirts will be worn with approved pants/shorts/skirts as listed above.
  
• JROTC uniforms may be worn weekly as designated by JROTC instructors.
  
• Students who wear special clothing for the courses they are taking (such as Clinical Rotation) must be in school standard dress when not in that class.
  
• Principals may designate certain days per year as exempt days and will determine what can be worn on those days. Principal decisions are final.

SENIOR SHIRTS

• Traditional senior shirts that are offered to the seniors at each high school may be purchased by graduating seniors.
  
• Design of shirt must be approved by the principal.
  
• These shirts will be in official school colors and may be a t-shirt style.
  
• Seniors may wear principal-approved senior shirts at any time.
  
• Shirts must be tucked in at all times.

Organizations such as Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts will not be allowed to wear uniforms to school.

SCHOOL PICTURE DAY

• Standard Dress

• Students who have special needs may apply for an exception from the stated guidelines.
• Exceptions will be evaluated and approved by the building principal.

• Startling, unusual or immodest attire of any sort shall not be permitted. Fads in hairstyles, clothing or anything designed to attract attention to the individual or to disrupt the orderly conduct of the classroom or campus is not permitted.
  
• Top and bottom clothing items cannot be the same color.
  
• All clothing must be appropriately sized.
  
• All clothing items must be properly hemmed or cuffed.
  
• Torn, ripped, frayed or cut clothing will not be allowed.
  
• Clothing and other articles that are considered “gang related” are not allowed.
  
• Hats, scarves, bandanas, hair coverings and sweatbands are not to be worn by students except under circumstances approved by the principal.
  
• Hoods are not to be worn on the head inside the building.
  
• Leather, suede, vinyl, corduroy and denim materials are not allowed.
  
• Spandex, nylon or stretch-type materials are not allowed.
  
• Hair is to be clean and well groomed. Unusual coloring or excessive hairstyles that may include “tails”, “designs”, “puffs”, etc. are prohibited.
  
• Tongue rings and visible body piercings, other than earrings on girls, are not allowed.
  
• Inappropriate tattoos and body art are not allowed.
  
• Grills or temporary decorations on teeth are not to be worn.
  
• Excessive makeup is not allowed.

• Hair is to be out of the eyes, not extend below the earlobes and cut so that it does not extend over the collar (dress shirt).
  
• Mustaches, beards and other facial hair are prohibited.
  
• Earrings are prohibited including spacers and gauges.

Girls: Additional Guidelines

• Low cut apparel is not allowed.
• Girls must wear sufficient undergarments.
• Ear gauges are not allowed.