Most standardized school dress codes prohibit certain types and styles of clothing based on modesty, safety, and what is generally considered appropriate in an academic setting. But as long as a student's attire conforms to an individual school's dress code, they are permitted to wear whatever they wish.
Common types of prohibited clothing include:
• Overly revealing clothing such as low-cut tops, drooping pants, and shorts and skirts which are shorter than the required length. One popular method of determining the minimum length a student's shorts or skirt is to have the student place their arms flat against their sides, pointing straight down, with the idea that their clothes must be at least as long as the ends of their fingertips at their side, though this varies from school to school.
• Excessively baggy clothing, or extremely tight clothing which could be considered revealing. Baggy clothing is considered especially undesirable because it can be used to easily conceal weapons or contraband on school grounds.
• Wallet chains, or decorative metal chains on clothing, which can be associated with gangs and otherwise used as weapons.
• Explicit or gang-related clothing, which depicts inappropriate text or images or could be associated with a gang or illegal activity. Profanity, drug or alcohol references, and violent or sexual themes are all prohibited.
• Most, if not all types of body piercings other than the ears. Some high schools allow specific types of facial piercings with the consent of a student's parents.
• Tattoos. Again, tattoos may be allowed in some high schools with a parent's written consent, under certain circumstances.