Skip To Main Content

Dress Code

A Central Catholic student represents his school, his family, and himself at all times. We strive to instill in our students a sense of pride in their appearance and a sense of self-discipline. Our dress code is integral to what sets a Central Catholic student apart signaling them towards their masculinity, unique relationships, and identity, as well as the indispensable quality of being part of this school’s larger community. Because students are expected to be neat, and well groomed, the school has set the following standards of dress. Other standards may be implemented if necessary.

  1. Required:
    • Any color dress shirt, designed to be worn with a tie, buttoned at the collar, and tucked into pants
    • A necktie knotted at the collar
    • Solid color dress slacks (without outside pockets, patch pockets or pocket flaps), with a belt worn at the waist
    • Any color socks that cover the ankle
    • Leather dress shoes, loafers, or deck shoes (solid color is preferred). Shoes must be distinctly nonathletic and must cover the heel completely. The Dean of Students/Vice Principal of Student Affairs will be the final arbiters of what constitutes “non-athletic.”
       
  2. Permitted:
    • A sport coat or blazer (shirt collar and tie must be visible)
    • Official school sweater or vest, which can be purchased in the school bookstore
    • Team jerseys (worn over the shirt and tie), uniforms or other outerwear only on special occasions. Team captain(s) and moderators should see Assistant Principal for Student Affairs for WRITTEN permission.
  3. Not Permitted:
    • Outerwear that is not official school outerwear. Apparel (including pins or buttons) with suggestive, vulgar, inflammatory, libelous, or inappropriate lettering, words, designs, or pictures, or references to alcoholic beverages, drugs, or tobacco products
    • Flannel shirts, outerwear, sweatshirts, jackets, work clothes, denim-wear, cargo pants or pants with patch pockets, flaps, or outside attachments
    • Dickie-brand pants, work style pants, or pants with metal rivots
    • ANY type of boot or any other shoe that rises above the ankle. Slippers or other shoes that are fur or flannel lined are also not permitted.
    • Earrings or other similar adornments or jewelry, chains, necklaces, clamps, excessively large key holders used as wearing apparel, or studded belts
    • Ripped, torn, sliced, patched, discolored, over-sized, or excessively baggy pants or shirt
    • Visible tattoos, body piercing, plugs of any kind
    • Baseball caps, hats, bandannas, sunglasses, or any other type of headgear, at any time in the building • Jackets, hoodies, pullovers, vests, and other outerwear, EVEN THOSE that bear the Central name or logo or that of one of its athletic teams.
    • Any excessive alteration of clothing, like rolling of the sleeves and cuffing of the pants.
    • Fingernail paint or painted fingernails and facial makeup

Hairstyle: All hair on the head must be its natural color, clean, and not totally covering the ears or eyes, or falling below the shirt collar. A single black hair tie may be used to pull the hair back to remain in compliance. Mohawks, or hairstyles with designs, patterns, and lines are not permitted. Hair shall not exceed 3-½ inches from the scalp. Sideburns may not extend below the ear or extend toward the cheek. Eyebrows may not have designs, patterns and or lines in them. This is not permitted.

Facial Hair: Students are to be clean-shaven. Neatly trimmed mustaches are permitted. Goatees, chin or lower lip hair are not permitted. A doctor’s note about a skin condition must state a minimum requirement for shaving.

Compliance: Students are to comply with the dress code throughout the school day, including arrival and departure. Students who disregard the dress code may be sent home or suspended from school until the violation is corrected. They may also be assigned conduct points and detentions. Four violations will be cause for out-of-school suspension until a meeting can be held with parents.

A physically incapacitated student may wear an alternative shoe if he submits a physician’s request written on the physician’s stationery. The request, stating the medical condition and the expected length of recuperation, must be submitted to the Dean of Students. Faculty are expected to and will enforce the dress code. The Vice Principal of Student Affairs and the Dean of Students are the final arbiters of the appropriateness of a student’s appearance.

Reciprocal Students: Students from other schools attending classes at Central Catholic must adhere to their school’s written dress code and comply with Central Catholic’s policy to be neat and clean. While attending or visiting other schools, Central Catholic students must adhere to the required Central Catholic dress code, regardless of that school’s dress code policies.