The Impact of School Dress Codes on the Quality of Student Life at a Selected High School

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that school dress codes have on the quality of life in a senior class at Elizabethton High School. Archival data were obtained from the Elizabethton School District outlining the dress code violations of the class of 2016. Eight participants from the class completed a Likert scale opinionnaire. The archival data and resulting opinionnaires were analyzed. While the archival data revealed a mere 10 dress code violations over a four-year period, the responses to the opinionnaire highlighted the impacts of a school dress code on students' quality of life. Students suggested that they understood the school's purpose for implementing a school dress code (25% Neutral; 50% Agree; 25% Strongly Agree) and yet teachers were inconsistent in their enforcement (62.5% Strongly Agree; 37.5% Neutral). In addition, the students disagreed with the argument that dress codes promote a safe learning environment (12.5% Strongly Disagree; 12.5% Disagree; 50% Neutral; 25%Agree). Finally, the results revealed that 90% of dress code violations were incurred by female students. Future studies would benefit from considering gender discrimination and dress code policies.