Now that Rancho Cucamonga High School has entered its 8th week of school, students have noticed an increase in dress code enforcement compared to previous years. According to Mr. Richard Martin, the RCHS Assistant Principal of Student Services, enforcing dress code is a priority. 

“It’s a priority of ours to make sure everybody follows the dress code…It’s to make sure everybody feels comfortable,” Martin explained. 

RCHS uses the Chaffey Joint Union High School Disrict dress code, which was updated in June of 2022. The dress code has remained mostly the same throughout the years; however, last year, the dress code was relaxed to be lenient with spaghetti straps and halter tops now allowed. 

According to the CJUHSD dress code, “attire that is revealing (displaying undergarments or private areas), excessive bare midsection, and strapless tops are not allowed.”

However, many students believe that the dress code should be even more tolerant, and that popular clothing such as tube tops should be added to those newly allowed pieces. The differing opinions between RCHS admin and students proves that valuing the safety of students and student opinions can be difficult to balance. 

“I was wearing a long pink tube top and was dress-coded on the first day of school and was late to class because of it, ” junior Kaylee Perez said.

Tube tops are popular right now, especially since the weather has been warm and it is a huge factor in students’ choice of outfits every day. 

“I don’t appreciate [the dress code] because if it’s really hot, it’s hard to be able to wear certain clothes because of the dress code,” freshman Ellea Abellanosa said.

For some RCHS students, dress code is a controversial subject considering many feel that it’s the best way to express themselves and their personal style. Given that so many students have so many different styles and that different trends are always circulating, when it comes to fashion, restrictions aren’t always taken into consideration. 

Many students feel as though dress code interferes with their ability to express themselves and to participate in trends they all shared similar responses. 

Perez said she believes that the dress code standards affect her self-expression.

“Yes, because tube tops and corset tops are trending as well as low waisted jeans, and they’re more strict about that,” Perez explained.

While some students think the dress code hinders their ability to express themselves, others also think it is unfair. 

“It’s not a fair dress code because we should be able to wear what we want,” Abellanosa said.

Although students have very strong opinions on dress code, Martin said there are reasons and benefits of enforcing it. 

“It’s to make sure everybody feels comfortable because when people wear certain things it makes others feel uncomfortable,” Martin said.

And while students believe that the dress code prohibits self-expression, Martin said he disagrees.  

“It does not interfere because it should be in a way that everyone feels comfortable. Students have many ways of expressing themselves. Students have a tough time here, but the school dress code is pretty relaxed,” Martin said. 

The consequences of the dress code also must be contemplated when students choose their outfits and debate defying the dress code. 

“[The] first time, parents get called and they get a shirt to cover up, if they do it again detention and then suspension,” Martin said.

Martin said the biggest offenses he sees are students that wear clothes that depict alcohol or drugs. These types of clothes are strictly prohibited. 

According to the CJUHSD dress code, “personal belongings, attire, and/or skin art that advertises and/or promotes alcohol, tobacco, drugs, weapons, hate, gangs, violence, pornographic language or imagery, or any illegal item or activity is not allowed.” 

Martin said he believes that the safety of students and everyone being comfortable in their school environment is the overall goal of the dress code.