Student Dress Policy

Pojoaque Valley Middle School encourages a positive attitude toward student conduct and appearance. Because dress and grooming have a definite bearing on attitude and behavior, dress must be within the boundaries of decency and modesty.  Responsibility and social acceptability are part of a student’s education and must be practiced at school and while participating in extracurricular activities.

Pojoaque Valley Middle School will customize its dress code to reflect the needs and standards of its community.  The responsibility to interpret and enforce the policy rests on each site administrator.  Within the school’s guidelines, students and their parents/guardians have the right to determine the dress and personal appearance of students with the following exceptions:

• Dress or appearance that presents a health or safety hazard to self and others will not  be permitted (e.g., cleats or taps, flip-flops, bare feet, house slippers, safety pins on clothing, spike jewelry, wrist bands)

• Dress or appearance that is in violation of municipal or state law;

• Dress and appearance that presents a potential for disruption to the instructional program will not be allowed.  This includes but is not limited to:

• body piercing (with the exception of the earlobe)

• revealing or overly distracting attire

• necklines may not be lower than one horizontal hand width from  the neck; armholes may not be lower than one horizontal hand width from the armpit; [all tops are to have a minimum 2” shoulder strap, must overlap top of pants by at least two inches all the way around, and must cover the back]
•  under-wear including boxers, thongs, sports bras, tank style undershirts should not be visible
• shorts, skorts, skirts and dresses may be worn but must be at least mid-thigh in length or fingertip length when hand is extended
• pajamas are not allowed
  
•  caps and sunglasses are only allowed outside buildings and visor must shield the face

• clothing that displays disrespectful, violent or antisocial behavior towards anyone:
• symbols or images of the occult, profanity, vulgarity or gang activity (e.g., hairnets, bandanas, chains, sagging pants, excessively long belts, torn or ripped clothing, trench coats);

• clothing that promotes drugs, alcohol or tobacco, racism, images or symbols of sexual or sexist nature (e.g. Player 69, playboy, etc.)

• saggy pants pose a safety issue and are not allowed.  The waistband of pants or shorts must rest above the hips and be secured with a belt threaded through the belt loops.