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Dress Code

Burroughs Elementary School follows the Columbus City Schools Dress Code Policy.

All clothing shall be within the bounds of decency and good taste as appropriate for school. Clothing shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times.

  • Dresses, skirts, or shorts shall be within the bounds of decency and good taste and not shorter than mid-thigh.
  • No sleep wear.
  • No bare midriffs. As a test for appropriate length, no bare midsection shall be exposed when arms are raised above the head.
  • Tops may not be low cut, off the shoulder or otherwise revealing.
  • Tube tops, spaghetti strap tops, halter tops and/or any strapless top or dress which reveals the midriff or breasts are neither acceptable nor permitted.
  • No undershirts shall be worn as outerwear.
  • Clothing may not be “see through.”
  • Shirts must be worn at all times and must be sized appropriately so that they do not interfere with normal school activities.
  • Shorts, pants, and skirts shall have no writing across the seat area.
  • Clothes may not be tight or form fitting.

Appropriate attire is important for student safety. Shoes must be worn at all times. Flip-flops, slippers/bedroom shoes and beach shoes are not permitted.

Commercial lettering or printing will be allowed on shirts and sweatshirts as long as it is acceptable for school attire.

  • Clothing and jewelry shall be free of writing, pictures or any other insignia which are crude, vulgar, profane, sexually suggestive or which advocate negative racial, ethnic, gender or religious prejudice, or use glorification of drugs, tobacco, alcohol or violence.
  • Metal studded collars and chains hanging from clothing are not allowed.

Hats, caps and other types of head covering (other than for religious/cultural purposes) shall not be worn inside school buildings.

Sunglasses are approved for wear outside, but not for inside the school building.

Students may wear Bermuda shorts, walking shorts or other shorts within the following guidelines:

  • The length of shorts must be within the bounds of decency and in good taste as appropriate for school.
  • Sagging shorts are not allowed.
  • Short shorts or gym shorts are not to be worn other than for physical education courses.

The fullness of pants must not interfere with normal school activities and must be neat and clean at all times. All long pants must be proper waist size, length and leg size (no sagging; no oversized clothing).

  • Students wearing overalls or other bib type attire must have the straps buttoned appropriately and wear an acceptable shirt or blouse underneath.
  • The waist of the pants must not be more than one inch bigger than the correctly measured student waist size.
  • Pants cannot be gathered or drawn together at the waist and must not hang below the waist.
  • Pant inseams must be appropriately sized for the student. Pant length should not touch or drag on the ground.
  • Belts must not be more than three (3) inches longer than the student’s measured waist size.

Children should be dressed appropriately for the season of the year and specific daily weather conditions. Students will have outdoor recess unless weather conditions or temperatures are so severe (below 25 º F) as to be unsafe. Children will go out regardless of how they are dressed, so please be sure they are dressed appropriately. During cold weather children might want to wear warm coats, pants or tights, gloves, hats, sweaters or boots. Social service agencies can help if you need assistance in obtaining warm clothing.


For safety reasons, students are required to wear athletic shoes during physical education class. All athletic shoes and all clothing should be labeled with the child’s name.