SMUHSD Dress Code

Aragon High School expects that all students will dress in a manner that is comfortable and conducive to an active school day and allows them to express their self-identified gender.  Student dress choices should respect the school’s mission and the district’s intent to sustain a community that is inclusive of a diverse range of identities. The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and their parent(s) or guardian(s). The school is responsible for seeing that student attire does not interfere with the health or safety of any student, that student attire does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student.  

In 2020, the San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees adopted a revised dress code.  The basic principles include:

• The student dress code should serve to support all students to develop a body-positive self-image.
• All students are encouraged to dress in a manner that is comfortable and conducive to an active school day and allows them to express their self-identified gender.
• Students should be able to wear clothing without fear of or actual unnecessary discipline or body shaming. 

The following guidelines shall apply to all regular school activities:

1. Clothes shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments below the waist. Shirts or tops must be worn at all times. (updated November 2021)
2. Shoes must be worn at all times.
3. Hats, caps and other head coverings shall not cover the face unless for religious purposes. Masks are not allowed unless for a medical purpose.
4. Students CANNOT Wear Clothing, jewelry and personal items (backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles etc.) that depict:
1. Violent language or images
2. Images or language depicting drugs, alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, e-cigarette or vaping, hate speech, profanity, pornography (or any illegal item or activity) or the use of the same
3. Images or language that create a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class (defined as race, ethnicity, country of origin, religion).

Clothing Guidelines:

• Clothes shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments. 
• Shirts or tops must be worn at all times and must cover the back, front and sides of the torso
• Fabric must cover all private parts and that fabric must not be see through.
• Hats, caps and other head coverings shall not cover the face unless for religious purposes.  Hoodies must allow the student’s face and ears to be visible to staff and must not interfere with student engagement in the classroom.  Hoods are  not to be worn during class time.  Masks are not allowed (unless used for health reasons)
• Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education, science labs, industrial arts, and other activities where unique hazards exist.

Students cannot wear clothing or any personal items that depict:

• Violent language or images 
• Images or language depicting drugs, alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, vaping or juuling, hate speech, profanity, pornography (or any illegal item or activity) or the use of the same  
• Images or language that create a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class (defined as race, ethnicity, country of origin, religion, gender or sexual orientation)
• Clothing, including gang identifiers, as identified by AHS Administration or Aragon Police Department, must not threaten the health or safety of any other student or staff.

Violations will result in a change of clothing. The student may be required to go home, and there will be parental notification. The first dress code offense will result in detention, and repeat offenses will result in Friday or Saturday Work Study and/or Suspension.