The Paideia dress code is designed to set students apart as students, young people who treat their vocation with gratitude and respect. Just as an athlete wears the uniform of his team or a doctor wears the uniform of his profession, a student wears the uniform of his vocation.
The school’s goal is to set a dress code that (1) creates an atmosphere conducive to diligent study, (2) teaches the student to look appealing, (3) is easy for parents to obtain, and (4) is easy for teachers and staff to enforce. If you have questions about any details not clarified here, we encourage you to ask a teacher or the head of school.
To mark our assemblies as special events, every Friday will be a “dress-up day”, with students wearing their best uniforms. Please consult the list below to see what items are appropriate for Dress-Up Days.
Elementary Boys (K-6th)
 |
Normal Uniform |
Dress-Up Uniform |
| Pants or Shorts. Solid-colored Khaki or Navy Blue. Shorts are permitted September and April through June. | Pants or Shorts. Solid-colored Khaki or Navy Blue. Shorts are permitted September and April through June. | |
| Polo Shirt. Solid-colored White, Navy, or Light Blue. | Oxford Shirt (Button-down). Solid-colored White | |
| Sweater, Vest, or Paideia Logo Sweatshirt. Optional for cold weather, worn over polo shirt. Solid-colored Navy. | Sweater, Vest, or Paideia Logo Sweatshirt Optional for cold weather, worn over button-down. Solid-colored Navy. | |
| Shoes. Close-toed. Socks required. | Shoes. Close-toed. Socks required. |
Elementary Girls (K-6th)
 |
Normal Uniform |
Dress-Up Uniform |
| Pants, Skirts, Jumpers, or Dresses (must be Uniform-Style). Solid colored Khaki or Navy Blue. | Skirts or Jumpers (must be Uniform-Style). Solid colored Khaki or Navy Blue. | |
| Polo Shirt or Polo Dress. Solid-colored White, Navy, Light Pink, or Light Blue. | Oxford Shirt or Blouse (Button-down). Solid-colored White. Must be worn with Jumper or Skirt. | |
| Sweater, Vest, or Paideia Logo Sweatshirt. Optional for cold weather, worn over polo shirt. Solid-colored White, Light Pink, or Navy. | Sweater, Vest, or Paideia Logo Sweatshirt Optional for cold weather, worn over button-down. Solid-colored White, Light Pink, or Navy. | |
| Shoes. Close-toed. | Shoes. Close-toed. |
Secondary Boys (7th-11th)
|
Normal Uniform |
Dress-Up Uniform |
| Pants or Shorts. Solid-colored Khaki or Navy Blue. Shorts are permitted September, and April through June. | Pants. Solid-colored Khaki or Navy Blue. Black or Brown belt required. | |
| Polo Shirt. Solid-colored White, Navy, or Light Blue. |
Oxford Shirt (Button-down). Solid-colored White. School tie required. School Tie. Solid-colored Navy from Land’s End. |
|
| Sweater, Vest, or Paideia Logo Sweatshirt. Optional for cold weather, worn over polo shirt. Solid-colored Navy. |
7th/8th: Sweater, Vest, or Paideia Logo Sweatshirt. Optional for cold weather, worn over button-down. Solid-colored Navy. 9th-11th: Blazer. Solid-colored Navy from school-preferred uniform vendor French Toast or Land’s End. |
|
| Shoes. Close-toed. Socks required. | Shoes. Close-toed. Socks required. |
Secondary Girls (7th-11th)
|
Normal Uniform |
Dress-Up Uniform |
| Pants, Skirts, or Jumpers. Solid-colored Khaki or Navy Blue. | Skirts or Jumpers. Solid-colored Khaki or Navy Blue. | |
| Polo Shirt. Solid-colored White, Navy, Light Pink, or Light Blue. |
Oxford Shirt (Button-down). Solid-colored White. School tie required. School Cross-Tie. Solid-colored Navy from French Toast or Land’s End. |
|
| Sweater, Vest, or Paideia Logo Sweatshirt. Optional for cold weather, worn over polo shirt. Solid-colored White, Light Pink, or Navy. |
7th/8th: Sweater, Vest, or Paideia Logo Sweatshirt. Optional for cold weather, worn over button-down. Solid-colored Navy. 9th-11th: Blazer. Solid-colored Navy from school-preferred uniform vendor French Toast or Land’s End. |
|
| Shoes. Close-toed. | Shoes. Close-toed. |
Seniors (12th Grade)
|
Normal Dress Code |
Dress-Up Days |
| As our seniors grow into adulthood, they have the privilege of wearing the same dress code to school as our teachers. We encourage them to look to the teachers as a model for appropriate, professional clothing. that shows respect for the learning environment. |
Seniors should dress up for our Friday Assemblies. Gentlemen should wear a button-down, tie, and blazer of their choice. Ladies should wear a skirt/blouse or a dress of their choice. Once again, we encourage the seniors to look to the teachers for examples of appropriate clothing for the school workplace. |
Dress Code Standards
- Please write your name clearly on the inside of each garment, especially on sweaters and outerwear.
- All clothing should be laundered and in good repair.
- Boys’ shirts should be tucked in the whole time the student is on campus. Girls may choose whether to tuck or not tuck in shirts.
- Girls’ skirts, jumpers, and dresses should be at least knee-length as measured by the line at the back of the knee. (For girls with longer legs, we suggest Land’s End or French Toast to find long enough skirts.) Lower Elementary girls should wear shorts or leggings underneath skirts/jumpers. Leggings are not considered pants and may only be worn underneath a skirt/jumper.
- Pants, skirts, dresses and jumpers should be uniform-style. Cargo pants, corduroys, and jeans are prohibited, even if they are appropriate colors. For girls, leggings should not be worn in lieu of pants but may be worn underneath skirts and jumpers.
- For elementary-level boys, belts are optional. For secondary-level boys, belts are required every day. Belts for girls are optional. If worn, belts should be conservative and dark colored.
- For elementary-level boys, ties are optional. For secondary-level boys and girls, school ties are required on dress-up days.
- The standing rule in classrooms (although teachers may occasionally suspend it) is that coats may not be worn in class. In cold weather, please send your student to school with a dress-code appropriate sweater or a Paideia-logo sweatshirt. Non-dress code hoodies and sweatshirts are not considered coats and should not be brought to school even for recess use.
- Shoes should be clean, functional, and close-toed. Tennis shoes in a variety of colors are permitted, but Crocs-style shoes, light-up shoes, “wheelie” shoes, and any other shoes that cause a distraction are prohibited.
- Clothing not specified as solid color (e.g. socks, tights) may have patterns or prints but no prominently displayed characters (animals, people, etc.) or writing.
- Hair must be neat and tidy. Boys’ hair must not cover their ears, be over their collar, or be in their eyes. Girls’ bangs must be kept out of their eyes. Hair color should be in the spectrum of natural hues.
- Earrings are permitted for girls. All other piercings are prohibited.
- Girls’ and boys’ undergarments, including camisoles, must be concealed beneath outer clothing.