Tennessee High School

Preparing students for post-graduate success

Tennessee High School follows the Bristol Tennessee City Schools District Handbook's dress code policy:

Bristol Tennessee City Schools has dress standards in place to promote the culture of the school district as one of self-respect, as well as respect for others. Students shall dress and groom in a clean, neat, and modest manner so as not to distract or interfere with the operation of the school and to prepare for their future college and career expectations. Shirts and shoes are required at all school events.

School administrators have the obligation to determine when a student is attired in a manner which is likely to cause disruption or interference with the operation of the school and will take appropriate administrative action, which may include suspension. The administrator has full discretion to determine what is inappropriate. Teachers are to enforce the dress standards per the parameters below.

Clothes must not violate the following guidelines, even if the clothes are part of the prevailing fashion. 

• Shirts/blouses must have a neckline that exposes no cleavage. If the shirt/blouse has buttons or a zipper, it must meet the above requirement.
•  Muscle shirts, tank tops, midriff shirts, halter tops, tube tops, spaghetti strap tops, and backless or off-the-shoulder tops are not permitted.
• See-through clothing, mesh clothing, or cutouts are not allowed.
• Shirts/blouses worn outside the waistband must be of sufficient length so that no flesh is exposed.
• Cold shoulder shirts or dresses are allowed if undergarments are completely covered.

Sweaters/ Sweatshirts:

• Sweaters, sweatshirts, and hoodies are permitted if they meet the shirt/ blouse dress code or are worn over a shirt or blouse that does meet the dress code.  The hood may not be worn on the head.   
  

Shorts/ Pants/ Leggings/ Yoga Pants/ Other Similar Tight-fitting Attire:

• Must be worn at the waist and be size appropriate.  No sagging is allowed.
• Must have “NO HOLES where skin above the shorts requirement and/or underwear is exposed.”
• Shorts must not be any shorter than the length of your fingertips when arms are extended by your side. All shorts, including athletic shorts, must meet these criteria.

Skirts/ Dresses:

• Skirts, dresses, and jumpers must not be shorter than the length of your fingertips when arms are extended by your sides.  Dresses or skirts meeting this requirement will not be allowed if they have slits. The top of the dress must meet the shirt/ blouse requirements of the dress code.

ALL  STUDENTS

Clothing must cover areas from one armpit to the other armpit and down to the fingertips when arms are by the side. Tops MUST have shoulder straps and be long enough to cover the waistline and NOT expose the midriff.

Headwear/ Hats:

• No head coverings are permitted.  This includes, but is not limited to, hats, hoodies, scarves, sweatbands, stockings, do-rags, bandanas, toboggans, etc.  These items must be removed upon entering the building.
  
  

Facial Coverings:

• There may be times when masks will be required by our school district. At other times, however, students may elect to wear a mask as a precautionary measure to help prevent the spread of sickness.
  

Other General Rules:

• Industrial chains, wallet chains, accessories with spikes, pet chains, and collars around the neck or wrists are prohibited.
• Clothing that displays the names of/or advertisements for drug, alcohol, tobacco and/or e-cigarette products and profane, vulgar, violent, illegal, immoral, hate messages or sexual innuendoes are prohibited.
• Flags may not be worn as attire.
• Accessories must be free of offensive or suggestive words or graphics and contain no references to drugs, alcohol, tobacco and/or e-cigarette products, illegal/immoral substances, or activities. Mushroom accessories are not allowed.
• Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times.
• Students are not allowed to wear, carry, and/or display bandanas or items associated with gangs. Student attire cannot be modified (for example – rolling up pant leg) to display gang affiliation.
• No sunglasses may be worn or be visible at any time during the day.
• Athletic/spirit group uniforms worn to school must meet all dress code requirements.
• Blankets are prohibited.
• Gloves are not allowed to be worn during class except where instructed by teacher (i.e., shop class).
• No costumes or accessories, to include face painting or make-up that might be confused for face painting, resulting in a disruption of instructional time. Accessories may include any item on a student that is not a clothing item.