Dress Code

Students are expected to dress adequately, suitable for weather conditions, and in good taste. Any article of clothing or style of dressing that tends to draw attention, interferes with instruction, or threatens health or safety is considered inappropriate. Many of you have jobs or know someone who is employed. School is your full-time job. Generally speaking, if an item cannot be worn in a work setting, it should not be worn to school.

A student believed to be inappropriately dressed should be sent to an administrator for final determination and a course of action. There are certain unacceptable items of attire. Thus, the dress code for Rufus King includes the following restrictions:

No tank tops, halter tops, or strapless tops may be worn. Midriffs or cleavage may not show.
All students are required to wear shoes as a safety measure. Bedroom slippers and thongs may not be worn.
No outside coats or jackets may be worn during the school day. These items should be placed in the students' lockers.
No articles of clothing, especially shirts, decorated with obscene phrases (beer, alcohol, contraband, or tobacco comments), or any language that my be interpreted as abusive or vulgar, may be worn.
Shorts and mini-shirts will be allowed only if they meet the minimum specification of striking the student's leg at the end of his or her fingertips. Stretch fabric must meet the same specifications.
No student is allowed to wear a hat, cap, sunglasses, curlers, wave clips, hair rollers, head scarves, head rags, bandannas, sweat bands, or gloves during school hours.
No gang-related or clique representative articles can be worn.
Some athletic attire is considered inappropriate dress for academic classrooms. This includes bicycle shorts, fishnet shirts and shorts, and tank tops.
No tops or dresses that are low cut, have spaghetti straps or straps less than 2 inches wide, or have revealing sides may be worn. Slits in skirts and dresses should be fingertip length.
Pants with holes cut in them are not allowed. Pant legs must be worn down at all times. Pants that are extra large must be worn with a belt that fits at the waist. Boxer shorts, pajamas, and other undergarments should not be seen.
Clothing with shoulder straps should be fastened or strapped across the shoulders.
No student is allowed to wear dangerous jewelry inside the building. Jewelry with spikes and bar rings are not allowed.
When wearing capri pants or leggings, students must have on tops that strike their legs at the end of the fingertips.

Parents and students will be notified of any exceptions to the dress code. All school personnel will be accountable for the dress code standards being followed by students. This is a comprehensive policy. All students are expected to adhere to its intent. Inappropriately dressed students will be sent to an administrator for action and parents will be called for a change of clothes or to send them home when necessary. Wearing a jacket does not correct the problem of inappropriate dress when the jacket is taken off.

References - Atlanta Public Schools, Ms. Annie K. Jones, and Mr. Alfred Lawson