Students are expected to comply with the following dress code. Noncompliance will result in disciplinary action.

• Wearing headgear is prohibited in the building. This includes, but is not limited to, caps, hats, hoods, bandanas, wave caps, sunglasses, tiaras/crowns, or any other head covering. Headgear, including ball caps, must be kept in student lockers during school. Headgear may not be fastened to belts, belt loops, book bags, or any other item and may not be worn as an accessory. School Administration will make exceptions to this rule for religious, medical, or other reasons.
  
  
• No tank tops, halter tops, strapless tops, spaghetti straps, or bare shoulder tops are allowed. Blouses, shirts, and tops that expose any portion of the waist, hips, torso, or midriff are not allowed. (If you raise your arms and the stomach shows or you sit down and the lower back is revealed, the top is inappropriate.) Other blouses, shirts, and tops that are not appropriate for school include, but are not limited to, low-cut, see-through, backless, or tube tops. Rips or holes are not allowed in blouses, shirts, and tops. All clothing must be worn properly and undergarments should never be visible.
  
  
• Hems of shorts, skirts and dresses must not reach above “mid-thigh” on students—even when leg coverings are worn underneath.
  
  
• It is never appropriate to wear tight, form-fitting, and otherwise revealing, clothing.
  
  
• Waistlines of shorts, skirts and pants MUST BE ON OR ABOVE THE HIPS/WAIST with no undergarments or other clothing showing under the pants or skirts. Pants with rips, holes, tears, or frayed fabric above the knee are NOT APPROPRIATE—even if tights, leggings, stockings or another garment is worn under the pants. Skirts, dresses, pants or other outer garments with slits above mid-thigh are NOT acceptable.
  
  
• Oversized and/or baggy pants or shorts that a student must hold up with a handare never appropriate.
  
  
• Health regulations and safety issues require that shoes be worn at school at all times. House slippers and flip flops are NOT appropriate.
  
  
• No pajamas or sleepwear of any kind are allowed to be worn at school.
  
  
• Jeggings, pants and tights that are usually made of stretch Lycra, spandex, or nylon, leggings, leotards, undergarments, or any garment that is made to look like these garments may NOT be worn as outer clothing, even if shirts, blouses and other tops are worn over them.
  
  
• Students may wear leggings and tights under skirts, dresses or shorts but ONLY IF the hems of shorts, skirts and/or dresses do not reach above mid-thigh. (However, even then, the shorts may NOT be tight to the body.)
  
  
• No student clothing, jewelry, belts, belt buckles, shoe laces, or any other fashion accessories shall display words or symbols that advocate or depict violence, drugs, alcohol, sex, gang affiliation or other illegal activity expressed or implied. No student clothing or accessories shall be disruptive. Clothing, accessories, jewelry, and etc. that have caused past disruption to the school environment are also not allowed.
  
  
• Jewelry or accessories that may be used as weapons are not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, chains—including wallet chains, spiked rings, two or three finger rings that are joined, and bulky chains worn around the neck or waist. Sharp objects that could pose a danger, such as straight pins and safety pins, are not allowed on clothing or book bags.
  
  
• Students are not allowed to display clothing or symbols that have been identified by the Gwinnett County Police Gang Taskforce as being commonly identified with gangs. Garments, jewelry, body art and tattoos that communicate gang affiliation are prohibited at school, and no item may be worn in a manner that communicates gang affiliation.
  
  
• Gang related attire includes, but is not limited to, the following: students rolling up one pant leg, long bulky chains and necklaces, gang-styled belt buckles (belt buckles which have Old English script letters and symbols), large oversized pendants on necklaces and chains, bandanas, altering clothing from its original form to change the names and/or intended marking on the clothing, sweatbands, and draping articles of clothing, towels, or other objects out of pant pockets, over the shoulder, or around the neck area.
  
  
• All belts must be properly fastened around the waist. The belt should not be excessive in length and should not be hanging from either side of the body.
  
  
• All students should be dressed in symmetrical fashion. Students may not wear clothing or accessories in a manner that would distinguish a particular side of their body.
  
  
• Writing on the body and face painting/decorating, except for regular use of make-up, is prohibited.
  
  
• A student will be required to change clothing before going to or remaining in class if, in the judgment of the administration, a student is dressed inappropriately. Additionally, any student dress and/or appearance that may not be stated specifically in this code, but that the administration deems distracting or disruptive, will not be permitted. The Sweetwater Middle School Student Dress Code is subject to updates and changes at any time during the school year and/or summer school as additional apparel becomes identified as gang affiliated or inappropriate. You should frequently check the Sweetwater Middle School web site to learn about changes to this dress code.

Exceptions to the Sweetwater Middle School Student Dress Code
may be made by the Principal or his/her designee for specific reasons.