DRESS AND GROOMING CODES
LOWER SCHOOL DRESS CODE
The goal of the Lower School Dress Code is to have a student body that is neat in appearance and is appropriately dressed. For students,
school is their place of work, and we expect them to come dressed for school and not for play. Sometimes the School needs to make a
subjective decision regarding the appropriateness of dress. The following guidelines will be in effect for all students:
1. All clothing should be clean, in good repair, and fit properly. (no frayed ends, cutoffs, holes in clothes, and no clothing that is
excessively baggy, excessively tight, or bares the midriff )
2. Socks and traditional athletic (tennis) shoes must be worn every day to ensure safety at PE and on the playground. For
students in grades 1-5, shoes must have laces that are hand-tied (no Velcro or elastic laces). TK and K students must wear
sturdy, traditional athletic shoes with either hand-tied laces (no elastic laces) or secure Velcro strapping. All students must have
sturdy, athletic shoes in order to participate in PE and play on the playground.
3. Sweatsuits, sweatpants, windpants and athletic shorts are not to be worn to school. Jeans, capri pants, and skorts are allowed.
4. Leggings/jeggings for girls are permitted. For girls in grades 3-5, leggings/jeggings may not be worn as a substitute for pants or
under shorts.
5. For students in grades 3-5, shorts or skirts must be mid-thigh length or longer.
6. Only Charlotte Latin sweatshirts, as well as sweatshirts with logos that contain no writing, may be worn (no college sweatshirts).
7. Students must wear collared, crew, or v-neck shirts. Tank, thin strap, and off-the-shoulder shirts are not permitted.
8. Jerseys and t-shirts with writing (with the exception of a small pocket logo) are not permitted.
9. Shirttails are to be tucked in and belts must be worn by boys if belt loops are present. Elastic waist shorts (not athletic shorts)
are also allowed.
10.Camouflage and tie-dye clothing may not be worn at school.
11.Boys may not wear earrings.
12.Hair should be clean and well groomed. For boys: eyes, earlobe and collar must be visible.
13.Hats and scarves are not to be worn inside buildings.
All outerwear should be clearly labeled.
LOWER SCHOOL DRESS CODE AT-A-GLANCE
BOYS
GIRLS
Shirts
• Collared shirts
• V-neck shirts
• Crew-neck shirts
• Collared shirts
• V-neck shirts
• Crew-neck shirts
• Shirts specifically coordinated with an outfit
Pants
• Pants
• Jeans
• Shorts (Grades 3-5 must be mid-thigh or longer)
• Pants
• Jeans
• Capris
• Shorts (Grades 3-5 must be mid-thigh or longer)
Skirts/skorts
Shoes
Sweatshirts
• Grades 3-5 must be mid-thigh or longer
• Athletic shoes
• Socks
• Athletic shoes
• Socks
• Charlotte Latin sweatshirts
• Sweatshirts with logos that contain no writing
(no college sweatshirts)
• Charlotte Latin sweatshirts
• Sweatshirts with logos that contain no writing
(no college sweatshirts)
MIDDLE SCHOOL DRESS CODE
PARENTS, HELP: It is in this particular area that parents’ cooperation is most important. It is difficult for the School to enforce this area
if, in fact, all parents don’t help to strengthen its position. The purpose of Charlotte Latin is to help prepare our students for responsible
adulthood. All dress at Charlotte Latin should be evidence of appropriateness, modesty, and good taste, as well as clean and in good repair.
The same pride that permeates the area of wearing athletic uniforms should also be exhibited during the school day.
It is most difficult to write a dress code for any school these days; however, the School accepts the premise that having a code is preferable to
not having a code. Therefore, the following rules are in effect:
•All clothing should be clean, in a good state of repair, and fit properly – no frayed ends or cutoffs, no holes in clothing, and no
clothing that is excessively baggy or excessively tight.
•Students are encouraged to wear shirts with collars. Any shirts with printing or writing of any kind are unacceptable. Only
CLS t-shirts approved in advance may be worn.
•Shorts must be long enough to reach the fingertips, with an inseam of at least 5 inches. Gym shorts, bathing suits, spandex
shorts, and tight shorts are not acceptable. Skirts and dresses must be long enough to reach the fingertips as well. Leggings,
jeggings, and tights are allowed only when worn with a top and/or skirt that is at least fingertip length.
•Any clothing that is used as sleepwear is never allowed, even on relaxed-dress days.
•Tank tops may not be worn as outer garments. Boys may not wear sleeveless shirts. For girls, spaghetti straps may not be worn;
sleeveless tops must have straps that are at least four fingers (3 inches) wide. Tops that reveal the midriff, cleavage, or underwear
are not appropriate.
•Boys may not wear earrings at any time, either at School or School events.
•Students may not wear hats, caps, or other head coverings, other than yarmulkes as an expression of faith, during the academic
school day.
•Each student should groom himself or herself carefully. There are to be no extremes of hair style or coloring. Ponytails and
headbands on boys are not acceptable.
•Shirts are to be tucked in; appropriate exceptions will be made for some shirts with straight hems.
•Camouflage clothing is prohibited, except by special permission from the Administration on designated occasions.
•A student who is out of dress code will not be allowed to attend classes until he/she changes into appropriate attire loaned
from the Middle School clothing closet. The inappropriate article of clothing will be kept in the Office until the school-issued
clothing is laundered and returned. Second and third offenses also result in after-school work detail. Subsequent offenses will
warrant additional consequences deemed appropriate by the School, including being sent home for the day.
The Administration may make changes in the Dress Code at any time.
UPPER SCHOOL DRESS CODE
Students not in compliance with the Dress Code are subject to after-school detention. Violations will result in a more serious disciplinary
response.
PARENTS, HELP: It is in this particular area that parents’ cooperation is most important. It is difficult for the School to enforce this area
if, in fact, all parents don’t help to strengthen its position. The purpose of Charlotte Latin is to help prepare our students for responsible
adulthood. All dress at Charlotte Latin should be evidence of appropriateness, modesty, and good taste, as well as clean and in good repair.
The same pride that permeates the area of wearing athletic uniforms should also be exhibited during the school day.
It is most difficult to write a dress code for any school these days; however, the School accepts the premise that having a code is preferable to
not having a code. Therefore, the following rules are in effect:
UPPER SCHOOL GIRLS
•All clothing should be clean, in a good state of repair, and fit properly—no frayed ends or cutoffs, no holes in clothes. Clothing
should never be tight.
•T-shirts are not permitted. Shirts with writing are not permitted.
•Girls may wear shorts, but with an inseam of at least 5”. Spandex wear and tight shorts are not acceptable. Skirts and dresses
must follow similar guidelines.
•No athletic wear will be permitted in classes during the school day.
• All tops must have sleeves or straps measuring at least 2”. No strapless, one shoulder, or racer back tops are permitted, even if
worn under a sweater or jacket.
•Undergarments must not be visible. Tops that show cleavage or midriffs are not allowed.
• Girls may not wear hats, caps, or other head coverings anywhere on campus during the school day, nor inside buildings at any
time.
•Each student should groom herself carefully. There are to be no extremes of hair coloring. Girls may wear earrings, but other
piercing adornments in evidence are prohibited.
• Camouflage clothing is prohibited at School and at School-sponsored events, except by special permission from the administration on designated occasions.
•Infractions of the Dress and Grooming Code can result in consequences ranging from after-school detention to suspension, with
accompanying grading penalties for the unexcused absence, from school.
These announced occasions are exceptions, as specified, to the Code for Upper School Girls:
•Relaxed Dress Code: T-shirts and sweatshirts may be worn. These include CLS, college teams, and professional teams. Any
writing is limited to the team name or logo.
•Special Occasion Dress Code: Girls are to wear dresses, skirts, or nice slacks that are in accordance with the current Dress Code.
No jeans, shorts, or tennis shoes are to be worn.
•The general rule for any off-campus occasion in which one’s participation represents the School is “as nice or even nicer than
during the school day”. Team dress will be prescribed by coaches and sponsors.
UPPER SCHOOL BOYS
•All clothing should be clean, in a good state of repair, and fit properly—no frayed ends or cutoffs, no holes in clothes, no
clothing that is excessively baggy or tight.
•Boys must wear shirts with collars. T-shirts are not permitted.
•Boys are encouraged to tuck their shirttails into their pants.
•Boys must wear appropriate belts.
•Athletic outer garments such as gym shorts, jerseys, and sweat pants are not permitted.
•Cargo pants, long or short, are not allowed.
•Boys must be clean shaven. Sideburns must not extend past the earlobe.
•Earrings and other piercing adornments in evidence are prohibited for boys.
•Boys may not wear hats, caps, or other head coverings, other than yarmulkes as an expression of faith, anywhere on campus
during the school day, nor inside buildings at any time.
•Boys should groom carefully. Hair should be neat and clean and cut to a length that is off the collar and above the eyebrows.
No headbands. No extremes of hair coloring.
•Camouflage clothing is prohibited at school and at School-sponsored events, except by special permission from the administration on designated occasions.
•Infractions of the Dress and Grooming Code can result in consequences ranging from after-school detention to suspension, with
accompanying grading penalties for the unexcused absence, from school.
These announced occasions are exceptions, as specified, to the Code for Upper School Boys:
•Relaxed Dress Code: T-shirts and sweatshirts may be worn. Those include CLS, college teams, and professional teams. Any
writing is limited to the team name or logo.
•Special Occasion Dress Code: Dress trousers or khakis, long-sleeve shirts, tucked, with button at wrist, and tasteful ties must
be worn. Footwear should be appropriate for a dress occasion. No tennis shoes, sandals, etc.
•The general rule for any off-campus occasion in which one’s participation represents the School is “as nice or even nicer than
during the school day”. Team dress will be prescribed by coaches and sponsors.