A top, a bottom and shoesAll that a Maryland district and a California high school say a student must wear.
Jeans, leggings, sweatpants or shortsEach counts as a bottom in dress codes from Texas, Maryland and California.
Sneakers you can run in at recessPreferred at a Collier County elementary school, which has recess every day.
Hoodie, with the hood down indoorsAllowed that way at a Florida middle school. A California high school allows the hood up.
The uniform, if your school has oneAt a Collier County elementary school that is a solid polo with khaki, black or navy bottoms.
Gym clothes in your bag, on a PE dayMiddle schools in Connecticut, Murrieta and Livermore all have students change for PE.
Coat, unless it is above 50 degrees by mid-morningA Minnesota elementary school checks at 10 a.m. and asks for outdoor coats up to 50.
All 73 things to wear
The short answer 7
A top, a bottom and shoesAll that a Maryland district and a California high school say a student must wear.
Coat, unless it is above 50 degrees by mid-morningA Minnesota elementary school checks at 10 a.m. and asks for outdoor coats up to 50.
Gym clothes in your bag, on a PE dayMiddle schools in Connecticut, Murrieta and Livermore all have students change for PE.
Hoodie, with the hood down indoorsAllowed that way at a Florida middle school. A California high school allows the hood up.
Jeans, leggings, sweatpants or shortsEach counts as a bottom in dress codes from Texas, Maryland and California.
Sneakers you can run in at recessPreferred at a Collier County elementary school, which has recess every day.
The uniform, if your school has oneAt a Collier County elementary school that is a solid polo with khaki, black or navy bottoms.
Tops 6
Crew-neck, V-neck or collared shirtApproved tops at a Florida middle school, with quarter-zips, sweatshirts and dry-fit.
School spirit shirtWearable any day at a Florida middle school and at a Collier County elementary school.
Shirt long enough to cover your stomach and backRequired at a Texas high school. A California high school allows midriff-baring shirts.
Shirt with a brand or team logoA Maryland district and a California high school allow logos that break no other rule.
Tank top, where the code allows strapsA Maryland district and a California high school allow them. A Florida middle school bans sleeveless.
Top with straps two fingers wide or widerThe measure at a Tulsa elementary school, which is moving from uniforms to free dress.
Bottoms and shoes 10
Athletic shorts or athletic wearOn a Texas high school’s may-wear list. A California high school allows athletic attire.
Enclosed shoesEvery shoe must be enclosed at a Florida middle school: no sandals, slides or flip-flops.
Indoor shoes, to change into from snow bootsAn Iowa school does not allow snow boots in the building and asks for spare shoes and socks.
Leggings, yoga pants or skinny jeansFitted pants are fine at Texas and California high schools. One uniform school bars leggings as pants.
Pajamas, only where the code says soA California high school lists pajamas as allowed. Schools in Florida and Tulsa ban them.
Ripped jeans, where nothing underneath showsAllowed in Texas, Maryland and California codes. A Florida middle school bans holes and tears.
Shoes with rubber solesWhat one kindergarten teacher’s welcome letter asks for, for gym and outdoor play.
Shorts or a skirt that reach mid-thighThe length set by a Florida middle school and by elementary schools in Tulsa and Collier County.
Shorts under a dress or skirtOne kindergarten teacher’s letter suggests it, because the class sits on the rug every day.
Sweatpants or joggersBoth count as a bottom at a Texas high school. A Texas elementary school with a uniform bans both.
For a gym or PE day 10
Hair tie, to secure long hair in PEConnecticut middle schools ask for it, and for jewelry off.
Hat in a solid school color, for PE outdoorsSuggested by a Murrieta middle school, with a water bottle.
Laced shoes, tiedA Murrieta middle school wants PE shoes laced and tied so they stay on.
PE clothes in solid school colorsA Murrieta middle school asks for solid black, white, grey or red.
Plain black shorts without stripesA Livermore TK-8 school’s PE shorts, unless you wear the school’s own pair.
Plain sweatpants and sweatshirt, for PE in the coldAllowed in plain colors in Murrieta and Livermore; Connecticut middle schools recommend them.
Sneakers with socks, for PEOn Connecticut middle schools’ PE list. A Tulsa elementary school requires athletic shoes for PE.
Spare shirt and shorts in your gym lockerA Murrieta middle school suggests a back-up set. Its PE department does not lend clothes.
White crew-neck T-shirtThe PE shirt at Connecticut middle schools. A Livermore TK-8 school asks for all white too.
Your name on every piece of PE clothingA Livermore TK-8 school asks for PE clothing labeled with the student’s name.
At a school with a uniform 10
Belt through the loopsA Texas elementary school allows a belt worn at the waist. Large buckles are out.
Blue denim jeans with the uniform poloOn a Texas elementary school’s daily list, beside khaki or navy pants, shorts and skirts.
College shirt on Thursday, spirit shirt on FridayOptional at a Texas elementary school. Students who skip them wear the polo.
Generic navy skirt or grey cardiganEngland’s guidance names both as items many retailers sell, which are not branded.
Jeans on a cold morning or a dress-down dayA Collier County school allows them when the school day starts at 50 degrees or colder.
Khaki, black or navy bottomsThe uniform colors at a Collier County elementary school.
Plain coat in an easy-to-find colorEngland’s Department for Education says requiring a school logo on a coat is unnecessary.
Polo in red, black or sky blueA Texas elementary school’s shirt from Monday to Wednesday.
Second-hand uniformSchools in England should make it available and say on their website how to buy it.
Solid-color polo with a collarThe uniform top at a Collier County elementary school, short or long sleeved.
By weather 8
Boots, while the fields are muddyA Minnesota elementary school says boots still matter in spring as the snow melts.
Coat, hat and mittens, at a feels-like 9 to 39 degreesA Wisconsin elementary school’s rule for junior kindergarten to grade 2.
Hat, or a hood that tiesAn Iowa school accepts a hood for recess if it ties and stays on.
Outdoor clothes for at least 20 minutes outsideA Minnesota elementary school goes out daily unless it is below 5 below zero or above 100.
Rain jacket, for recess in light rainA public school with two recesses a day goes out in light rain and suggests a jacket or umbrella.
Sleeves and pant legs that cover, at a feels-like 40 to 49A Wisconsin elementary school asks its youngest grades for arms and legs covered.
Snow pants and boots, to leave the blacktopWithout them students stay on the blacktop at schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Warm coat, first of the Magic 5A Minnesota elementary school’s winter recess list: coat, snow pants, boots, mittens, hat.
Hats, hoods and what you carry 6
Clear backpackThe only kind allowed at a Texas school district’s elementary school.
Hat, where your school allows one in classA Maryland district permits hats if the face shows. Tulsa and Texas schools bar them indoors.
Religious headwearNamed as allowed at Texas and California high schools. A Maryland district protects religious attire.
School ID on a lanyardA Florida middle school requires its picture ID around the neck at all times on campus.
Spare clothes in a labeled bagOne kindergarten teacher asks for pants, a shirt, underwear and socks to keep at school.
Sun hat, for outdoorsA California high school cites the state law that lets students wear sun-protective clothing outside.
Leave at home 16
No bandanaBanned in any color at a Texas high school. A Texas elementary school bans them too.
No cleatsOn a Florida middle school’s list of prohibited shoes.
No clothing with violent images or hate speechBarred by a Texas high school, a Maryland district and a California high school alike.
No flip-flops, slides or sandalsBanned at a Florida middle school. A Murrieta middle school bars flip-flops and slides from PE.
No headgear that hides your faceBarred by a Maryland district and a California high school, except for religious reasons.
No heavy coat in classHeavy coats stay in lockers at a Tulsa elementary school.
No high heels or platformsNot allowed at a Florida middle school. Connecticut middle schools discourage high heels.
No hood up indoorsFive schools in Florida, Tulsa, Texas and Collier County say so. A California high school differs.
No jacket worn to hide a dress-code slipA Florida middle school says outerwear may not cover an infraction.
No jewelry in PEA Murrieta middle school bans all jewelry from its PE classes.
No open-toed shoes or sandalsUnacceptable at a Texas elementary school. A kindergarten teacher rules out sandals too.
No pajama bottoms, plain or flannelBanned at a Florida middle school. A Tulsa elementary school does not permit pajamas either.
No slippers or house shoesRuled out at a Florida middle school and a Tulsa elementary school.
No street clothes over your gym clothesA Murrieta middle school allows no jackets, flannels or sweaters over or under PE clothes.
No swimsuitOn the cannot-wear lists of a Texas high school and a Maryland district.
No tank top in PEA Murrieta middle school bars tank tops and sleeveless shirts from PE class.
How it works
What should I wear to school? Whatever your school’s dress code allows: some require only a top, a bottom and shoes, others a uniform. These 73 things follow the rules of fifteen schools and districts and England’s uniform guidance.
Read the full guide
Why two schools give opposite answers
Dress codes come in two kinds. Some state the little a student must wear and allow most of the rest: a Maryland district permits hats, tank tops and ripped jeans. Others list what is approved: a Florida middle school names its tops and bottoms and bans holes, sleeveless tops and open shoes. Read your own school’s code before you copy anyone else’s outfit.
What England limits from September 2026
A school in England decides its own uniform, but from September 2026 it may require no more than three branded items, or four at a secondary or middle school if one is a tie. The rest can be generic: the guidance’s examples are a navy skirt and a grey cardigan, which many retailers sell.
Write a name inside coats, PE clothes and spare clothes: two schools and one kindergarten teacher ask families to label them.
Questions and answers
What should I wear to school tomorrow?
Check two things tonight: the forecast and the timetable. A Minnesota elementary school asks for a coat unless it is above 50 degrees by 10 a.m., and middle schools in Connecticut, Murrieta and Livermore expect PE clothes and sneakers on PE days.
What should I wear to school today?
Whatever your dress code allows, plus what recess asks for. A Minnesota elementary school sends students out for a minimum of 20 minutes each day; in snow it lists a warm coat, snow pants, boots, mittens or gloves and a hat or hood.
Can I wear a hoodie, leggings or ripped jeans to school?
It depends on the code. High schools in Texas and California allow leggings and ripped jeans, and the California school allows hoods up. A Florida middle school allows hoodies with the hood down and bans holes and tears.
What should I wear to school on a PE day?
Sneakers with socks, athletic shorts and a T-shirt, changed into at school. Connecticut middle schools ask for a white crew-neck shirt, a Murrieta middle school for solid school colors, and a Livermore school does not let students wear their school clothes for PE.