Community Corner

Dress Code: Are Students Stylish—Or Too Sexy for School Event?

Students were barred from dance after "arbitrary" enforcement of new policy.

With prom season just around the corner—Moorpark High's is May 18—the hunt is on for the perfect dress.

But for some students, finding attire that appeals to their fashion sense, passes the parent test, and fits the parameters of a school dress code can be fraught with difficulty.

Dozens of girls going to a winter formal at an Orange County high school were subjected to wardrobe inspections that have been termed invasive and degrading.

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According to a report by San Juan Capistrano Patch, girls at the Capistrano High School dance were eyed head to toe by administrators, some of whom are male, and made to a lift their arms and walk back and forth so their outfits could be judged as appropriate.

Some students, including those pictured here in the dresses that they wore, were denied admission because administrators said their dresses fit “too tightly.”

Find out what's happening in Moorparkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Male students did not have their attire screened, according to the report.

The story has prompted a firestorm of debate on what constitutes appropriate dress, who has the final say on the standard, and the fairness of dress codes.

We want to know what you think. Is your school district’s dress code in keeping with the times or stuck in the ‘50s? Is its enforcement fair to all students? Has it made it hard to shop for clothing that meets the requirements?

Tell us in comments.


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