How many american schools actually have uniforms every school in south africa has a uniform what about america?
Posted by Street_Essay_1020@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 224 comments
RedditWidow@reddit
I feel like this is an easy question to google, but ok, I'll do it for you.
18.8% of Public schools and 57% of Private schools in the United States require students to wear school uniforms
Source: https://www.uniformmarket.com/statistics/school-uniform-statistics
LetterheadClassic306@reddit
uniforms in us public schools are pretty rare actually. most don't require them at all. private schools often do though, especially catholic ones. i'd guess maybe 15-20% of public elementary/middle schools have them, and even fewer high schools. some districts in cities like chicago or baltimore have tried them but it's never been nationwide. the uk and south africa inherited more of that british tradition while we kind of went our own way after independence.
Historical_Term2454@reddit
Quite rare for public schools.
Somewhat common for private schools.
RockStar5132@reddit
I grew up in Alabama. After columbine my entire county went to a uniform policy that consisted of white or navy blue polo shirts, khaki or navy blue pants, black or white solid colored shoes (the tongue couldn’t even be a different color), shirts tucked in, and jackets could only be like one of 3 solid colors total. I’m not sure if it’s that way now as I graduated 2009/2010, but it was only just starting to get a little relaxed by the time I graduated.
CrownStarr@reddit
Was it related to columbine? What exactly was the logic there?
RockStar5132@reddit
Yeah they were worried about people bringing weapons to school. It was a massive overcorrection that restricted everyone for over a decade
used-to-have-a-name@reddit
Not just that. The shooters had been bullied for the way they dressed.
hammerofspammer@reddit
That was actually debunked, along with a bunch of other myths
https://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/20/columbine.myths/
Euphoric_Ease4554@reddit
Debunked means someone has a varying opinion in this case.
Euphoric_Ease4554@reddit
Does this address uniforms?
hammerofspammer@reddit
No, but it stops the repeating of a myth potentially justifying the actions of two murderers
Euphoric_Ease4554@reddit
Just a confusing reply since the question was about school uniforms.
hammerofspammer@reddit
I’m sorry you struggle to read an entire comment and understand context.
Not much I can do to help you with that
Euphoric_Ease4554@reddit
You’re such a bully
used-to-have-a-name@reddit
OK… but it WAS used as part of the rationale for requiring uniforms in the years following. That’s all I was saying.
hammerofspammer@reddit
Oh, fair enough.
RockStar5132@reddit
Right but the uniform policy doesn’t magically get rid of that. It almost encourages it because of the branding and how much the uniforms cost.
CaptainHunt@reddit
That’s a side benefit for the rich white parents. It weeds out the poor kids. My elementary school’s board considered adopting a similar uniform around the same time and my mom was on the board. The more well off members of the board were pushing it because it would not only help with safety, but it would also help gentrify the neighborhood. My mom and some other members of the board voted it down because it would adversely affect the low income families in the school.
Euphoric_Ease4554@reddit
Interesting. The uniforms I wore are actually cheaper than buying non-uniform school clothes. At the end of every school year, there was a uniform garage sale at the school, to buy a larger size if needed and for new students, to save money.
MacaroonSad8860@reddit
My parents did the same back in the 90s when the rich moms proposed a uniform
CaptainHunt@reddit
On paper, if everyone is wearing the same outfit, then there’s less things for bullies to target, that’s the rationale used by the people trying to get uniforms at my school. But we all know that is bullshit.
sgtm7@reddit
It's not bullshit just because it might have other consequences.
CaptainHunt@reddit
No, it’s bullshit because bullies don’t care what you’re wearing, if they want to bully you, they find a way.
sgtm7@reddit
They do care. If it is something that makes you different from others, then they will target it. You are correct though. It doesn't have to be clothes, it could be other things as well, though. I would be the one voting to remove one of those things by saying yes to uniforms. I will admit that I am biased, because I like uniforms. Wish I could have had them for something other than the days I wore my uniform for JROTC.
Maserati777@reddit
Punishing everyone for the crimes of one or two individuals is as old as time.
hammerofspammer@reddit
Logic. Alabama.
Hmmmm. Why doesn’t this work?
AlmiranteCrujido@reddit
"Scary kids wear all black, and/or trenchcoats as outerwear?"
Creeping fascism, really.
RachelRTR@reddit
I'm pretty sure you're from Baldwin County lol. I was in high school when the switch happened. We were so pissed.
RockStar5132@reddit
Yep from 1998 until 2019 I lived in Baldwin county between Fairhope/daphne. I was in third grade when the switch happened so like not terribly long after I moved there lol
Dalton387@reddit
In middle school, they made of switch to uniforms. It consisted of two different color slacks and 3 different color polos.
The idea was to not have kids make others feel bad about the quality of their clothes. It didn’t work, since you could still tell who had nice polos and slacks, bs Walmart ones.
sweetEVILone@reddit
Not at all rare
Historical_Term2454@reddit
I’m sure you have the source to back that up
sweetEVILone@reddit
I’ve been a public school teacher for 20 years and taught in four states. Every school that I have worked at had uniforms. If it were “quite rare” then that wouldn’t have been the case.
Emergency_Coyote_662@reddit
idk about quite rare. i’d say less common than not but it’s definitely a thing in my neck of the woods
nomadschomad@reddit
Very common for big city, public school districts
Historical_Term2454@reddit
Very common? No.
There are a few in Houston ISD.
nomadschomad@reddit
3/4 of HISD schools have a uniform or standardized dress policy. We could mince words over whether standardized dress is truly a uniform, but I’m counting it. The most common version is blue or khaki slacks with red, white, or navy polo.
Dallas is closer to 100%. Chicago 85%.
More or less similar in Miami, Baltimore, Long Beach.
Much less common in LA and NY
nevermindthatyoudope@reddit
Chicago does, or at least did 10 years ago.
AnxiousRepeat8292@reddit
There’s private school that don’t have uniforms? I feel like it’s very common for private schools
Brilliant_Towel2727@reddit
Uniforms are typically more a thing with religious private schools, whereas secular private schools tend to have more relaxed dress codes.
AlmiranteCrujido@reddit
Of the private schools around here we looked at for our kids, none of the secular ones had uniforms until the high school level, and only one of the private high schools did.
It's very common at sectarian/parochial schools around here.
Judgy-Introvert@reddit
I knew someone who went to a Catholic private school. They didn’t have uniforms.
Atlas7993@reddit
The private school district I went to for k-8 didn't have uniforms until you were in high school. I didn't go to the high school, though, because it was way more expensive.
Several_Ad_6576@reddit
My private grade school I attended from 2nd to 7th grade did not have uniforms. Then moved and attended 7th/8th grade that did have uniforms. Then attended a private high school for 4 years that did not have uniforms.
macrocosm93@reddit
There are some that don't. Like rich kid private schools in LA, etc., I think don't usually have uniforms. But like for Catholic schools I think it's definitely the norm.
AnxiousRepeat8292@reddit
Ahhh okay yeah I was thinking about Catholic schools
GOTaSMALL1@reddit
I went to a Catholic HS that didn’t have uniforms. There were a few others in our area that didn’t either.
It was replaced with a really strict dress code though.
AnxiousRepeat8292@reddit
Dang that’s crazy I feel like it should be a dress code. Idk about strict but I like dress code
zeprfrew@reddit
The Quaker schools in my local area don't have uniforms.
AlmiranteCrujido@reddit
Where public schools started picking it up in the 1990s, it was a response to gang problems.
Where a few public schools in my area they have strict dress codes at public schools (they'll say "common dress" isn't a uniform) it remains a red flag of a school with really deep issues with socioeconomically-disadvantaged students, and/or gangs.
Bonch_and_Clyde@reddit
It depends on the state. Pretty sure all public schools and most private schools in Louisiana have uniforms.
I went to a Catholic school in New Orleans. Our uniform was quasi-military style.
Hmrd_Trash@reddit
Inner city public schools
Educational-Big-6609@reddit
This
EllieIsDone@reddit
There a few public schools in Houston that do.
I haven’t been to any of them, though.
Historical_Term2454@reddit
There are some public schools that do, usually charter, gifted/talented or speciality schools.
gmwdim@reddit
Yeah was about to comment, it’s common for charter schools which can be either public or private.
Healthy_Blueberry_59@reddit
This depends on the district. In my district 99.9 percent of the district public schools have one because it is required.
NilocKhan@reddit
El Paso has the kids wearing uniforms. Just colored polos and khakis though, nothing too crazy
Courwes@reddit
In my city about 70% of the schools have some type of uniform. They aren’t all the same. mostly black navy or khaki pants and the shirt color typically will be school colors.
I went to all public schools and all three had uniforms. I never had a school year without one.
Goodlife1988@reddit
My kids attended parochial grade school. (Uniforms). Son attended a Jesuit boys high school. (Khaki pants/shorts and a HS branded polo shirt). Daughter attended a Catholic girls HS. (Uniforms).
whatsupgrizzlyadams@reddit
In my area all the public schools wear uniforms. Blue polos ( navy or light blue) navy sweater or sweater vest optional in winter, khaki pants.
Private schools do also and its also polo shirts, sweaters and dress pants in thier schools colors.
Fangsong_37@reddit
Private schools almost always have uniforms. Public schools (taxpayer funded) usually just issue a dress code but mostly allow students to dress how they wish as long as their clothing meets the dress code requirements.
WiseQuarter3250@reddit
private schools it is common.
public schools usually not, but in some communities to help reduce divisions between students (gang rivalry for the minority of schools with that problem, poor vs rich, then cliques identified usually by their clothing like goth vs. ropers vs. jocks vs. preppies, etc). They have a very general dress code as uniform. It's usually casual clothes, you can get cheap. like a red polo shirt (no specific manufacturer) and solid unembellished jeans.
AggressiveAd5592@reddit
It's low in public schools, I'd guess 10%. In private schools, 50% or more.
TheLeopardMedium@reddit
There's no way it's anywhere near as high as 10% of public schools that have uniforms.
Rasp75@reddit
Most of LAUSD have it for elementary school. Middle school there are still quite a few and it's usually gone by high school.
TheLeopardMedium@reddit
LAUSD is an outlier, but as I look into it now it seems more like a dress code and less like an actual uniform.
Rasp75@reddit
It is probably dress code, they usually limit shirts to a couple colors and pants to a couple colors and you can mix match how you like.
TheLeopardMedium@reddit
Yeah, that sort of thing is markedly different than what OP is asking about, which are actual uniforms mandated and distributed by the school.
thejt10000@reddit
I don't have more recent stats, but pre-covid "In the 2019–20 school year, 18.8 percent of public schools required that students wear uniforms. "
https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=50
TheLeopardMedium@reddit
A few things at play here:
-These stats consider "dress codes" as uniforms. Sometimes that's a dress code as small as "shirts must be collared" or "no graphic tees". This isn't any way comparable to a distributed school uniform as they have in South Africa.
-Many of the schools included in this stat may have dress codes on the books but they do not actively enforce it. I looked up the stats for my city and the public schools here are listed as having a uniform, by which they mean dress code, and even the dress code does not exist in actuality, as I see the kids in these schools everyday.
CrownStarr@reddit
This has got to be a regional thing, growing up and now living in northern Virginia I’ve never seen or heard of a public school with uniforms.
used-to-have-a-name@reddit
It might indeed be regional, but I sort of associated it with big city school districts versus suburbs or rural. That was kind of how the pattern played out here in Texas.
thejt10000@reddit
Private schools are almost always non-profit even though they charge tuition.
AggressiveAd5592@reddit
You're technically right.
Maserati777@reddit
No uniform in Metro Detroit public schools. Between 1995-2008.
Only uniform was in gym class.
Odd-Condition-4773@reddit
I think it’s probably important to delineate uniforms vs. dress code. Typically private and charter schools have uniforms. Public schools may/may not have a uniform but have a dress code as to what you “can’t” wear (super revealing clothes, stuff with extreme logos or messages, etc.).
West_Guidance2167@reddit
Very very few public schools. We lived outside of Nashville for a while and they had a stricter dress code with just khakis or blue pants and then shirts with a couple different color choices. I think that that was more of a gang related situation.
Duque_de_Osuna@reddit
Public schools generally do not, some private schools may.
Rasp75@reddit
Quite a few in LAUSD have it for elementary and middle school but it's mostly limited to school t-shirts or polos shirts and pants in a couple of colors.
jvc1011@reddit
It’s also entirely unenforceable, so there are always kids who don’t wear it.
Rasp75@reddit
They just give the kids a couple t-shirt from any special event t-shirt left over from the prior year or a regular one the school had if they could not afford them. Pants they did not worry about. My kids always ended up with a couple every year from events the school did. They were strict about enforcing it.
jvc1011@reddit
They can’t restrict a child’s access to education in any way based on their ability to afford a certain item of clothing. That’s entirely illegal. Every LAUSD school my wife or I has ever worked in could not and did not enforce uniforms.
Rasp75@reddit
All the ones my kids went to would give you shirts if you couldn't afford them and you could wear jeans. There was also a used uniform box you could grab pants and shirts from that had been donated after kids grew out of them. Kids went to 6 elementary schools and 3 middle schools and everyone seemed to be is some uniform combination every day I was there before or after school.
jvc1011@reddit
And even so, they can’t legally force you to wear them.
normiepitbullmom@reddit
Many public schools in Baltimore City, Maryland have uniforms, but they’re not like official uniforms. You have to wear something like a navy polo shirt and khaki pants. Private schools require uniforms. I grew up going to Catholic school and until 5th grade, I wore a uniform.
Spirited-Way2406@reddit
Alaska. I don't know of any public school district in the state that does. Some religious schools do.
Now, every public school I'm aware of has school colors and a mascot. (Go Bears!) Hats, scarves, and things with the school colors and mascot are commonly sold to raise money for the school, but nobody has to wear them.
RandyArgonianButler@reddit
Public schools: Very few districts. I only know now of one public school district in my area that has uniforms. Probably 5% of total schools.
Charter schools: Most of them. Struggling to even think of one that doesn’t.
Private schools: All of them.
laneyjsm@reddit
Huh, I live in Florida and I had a “uniform” all throughout public school. It was usually a polo with khakis/jeans. In highschool, it was just a collared shirt with whatever pants but they didn’t care that much and I was wearing a tshirts every day.
used-to-have-a-name@reddit
Texas, too. I wonder if it’s a southern thing?
Dr_Watson349@reddit
My kids go to school in Florida, and they do not have uniforms.
Novel_Willingness721@reddit
That’s more of a dress code than a uniform. Dress codes are quite common, though can be challenging to enforce
AlmiranteCrujido@reddit
I mean, dress codes vary a lot. The dress code at my elementary school was really basic, with the "no open-toed shoes" being the one that mainly caught people in the summer.
That one both made sense to me and kind of annoyed me when the weather got warm.
"No short shorts," and "no tank tops or spaghetti straps on boys" were two that were always like "what, why would anyone want to wear those?" even if these days we'd call the latter sexist.
Beagalltach@reddit
Also common in Louisiana (all grades). Generally polos and khakis too, but the colors and regulations on logos loosen in High School
Harbinger_Kyleran@reddit
This is quite common in public Florida Elementary / Middle schools where I live, but not so much in the public high schools.
Adorable_Dust3799@reddit
Most of the schools around here tried uniforms around 25 years ago. Some kept it, many switched to a set of required colors, and most gave up.
Euphoric_Ease4554@reddit
Many private schools (especially Catholic schools) and some public schools have uniforms. It varies a lot.
vaspost@reddit
Uniforms are not common. About 18 percent of public school in the US require uniforms: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/education/school-uniforms-overview
Most of the public schools with uniforms are probably charter schools that are trying to mimic private schools.
The goal of uniforms is to strip the individuality from a person. This might be culturally acceptable in China but not in the US. Fortunately the reasons proponents of school uniforms give have been disproven: https://ehe.osu.edu/news/listing/school-uniforms-don-t-improve-child-behavior-study-finds
Of course the real reason some schools promote uniforms is to strip students of individuality and make life a little easier for teachers and administrators.
AlmiranteCrujido@reddit
One thing I'd be curious about for that 18% figure is how that translates to in student population vs. number of schools. My guess would be that the percent of the student population is even lower, but I have zero data to support it either way.
used-to-have-a-name@reddit
My guess is that it’s actually the other way around. As in, it’s a small number of big urban districts that enforce uniforms. For instance, here in Texas, Houston, Dallas and El Paso have uniform policies while the rural areas and suburbs don’t. 🤷🏻♂️
MasterOfPuppetsMetal@reddit
The only 'uniform' we had in public high school was for PE. It consisted of a gray shirt with our school name and a small emblem of our school mascot and dark green shorts. Even then it was loosely enforced. PE teachers really only cared that we wore PE appropriate clothing.
an_optimistic_egg@reddit
I've never worn a school uniform. They are more common in private schools, though.
JtotheC23@reddit
Sorta common with private schools, especially ones related to the church (my area these are all Catholic schools, idk if that's consistent with the whole country tho).
You'll occasionally see them required at schools in tougher neighborhoods of cities. This is pretty specific to areas with lots of gang activity. The reason is that it prevents kids from wearing gang colors to school, which can cause issues. It's fucked up, but it's the reality in some niche areas.
FormerlyDK@reddit
Most schools don’t around here. NY. Only parochial schools. Maybe some private schools.
HairyDadBear@reddit
My private school in kindergarten needed a uniform. My public school only needed a lanyard with our ID.
cheekmo_52@reddit
Most public schools in the US do not have uniforms. (They often have dress codes specifying what is unacceptable attire, but you can wear your normal clothes to school.) However uniforms seem to be very common in private schools. The majority of American children attend public schools because they are free to attend and open to every child that lives within the boundaries of their district. Private schools, on the other hand, typically require a tuition payment and can sometimes be selective about who they admit.
shammy_dammy@reddit
Looks like about 20% of US schools have a uniform.
jvc1011@reddit
Public schools here in Los Angeles have them, but they are optional. The law says that everyone is entitled to a free public education, and requiring a uniform is… not free.
California has an additional law that neither schools nor teachers can ask students or their families for school supplies. Many families provide supplies for the class anyway, but we can’t ask because it reads as an obligation. And again, students have a right to a zero-cost public education.
I went to 15 years of private schools and wore a uniform for 12 of them. Many, but not all, private schools require uniforms.
Traditional_Trust418@reddit
Most public schools do not have uniforms. I've never lived near one that did. A lot of private and charter schools (that you have to pay to attend and typically have an extra focus on one area of teaching) have uniforms.
A few of my siblings went to a Charter school that focused heavily on teaching the arts and they had a uniform. You had to wear khaki pants or skirts and navy or red polo shirts.
pippintook24@reddit
it's mostly private schools. i went to a public school and my last year the principal tried ( and failed horribly) to introduce uniforms, but they didn't provide them. it was basically black polo shirt and either black or khaki slacks for boys, and black blouse and either black or khaki skirt for girls. not even school colors, and no one had the same "uniform. and on top of that, only a handful of students went along with it.
avanoly@reddit
Common where I live in Louisiana
GreenDavidA@reddit
IIRC, Louisiana has a higher percentage of charter schools than most states, and it’s more common for charter schools to have uniforms.
avanoly@reddit
Public/private as well down here. It also has to do with income as well as many people are poor. Most charter schools are in Orleans parish and are a result from Katrina.
rubiconsuper@reddit
It’s not common with a few caveats. In my experience I’ve seen uniforms for school used in 3 ways prominently. 1) private school, both rich and poor who can attend get uniforms. 2)sometimes more affluent areas will have a rather simple uniform for elementary and/or middle school kids. 3)very impoverished areas, it’s not always a guaranteed that these areas will have them. This is done so that students don’t have to worry about their clothes and they’re going to get a set or so of new clothes for the year.
Upstairs-Coconut1562@reddit
No public schools in New England as far as I know. That's more of a private school thing.
Dave_A480@reddit
Public schools cannot require uniforms - at most there can be a dress code, but that is rare.
Freedom of Speech doesn't apply to private entities, so private schools can require uniforms and at least the Catholic ones do....
Virtual_Win4076@reddit
Private schools do, not public
EstablishmentSea7661@reddit
Chicago public schools do. Other major cities as well. They wear uniforms in the public school in the show "Abbott Elementary". The argument is around safety - you can identify students easily and also, they can't wear gang symbols that way.
SkiingAway@reddit
NYC + Boston don't.
That doesn't seem beneficial to safety in any way. If anything, that seems like it would put them at greater risk of harm.
Pinwurm@reddit
... my local public High School in Boston wears uniforms. So you're incorrect.
SkiingAway@reddit
Interesting, none of the ones I've been around in Boston do. Looking further it appears it's a decision left to the individual schools.
EstablishmentSea7661@reddit
Yeah, not all of the CPS schools do, but most do.
You can identify non-students on the grounds. In a city where gang activity is pretty rampant, this is pretty crucial.
SkiingAway@reddit
Yeah, but now you can also easily identify unsupervised students on their way to/from school in the city, which is much less great for their safety.
Who's on the grounds ought to be covered by student ID's and secure entrances.
EstablishmentSea7661@reddit
You can identify them in the suburbs that don't have uniforms, too. Small kids walking with backpacks at about 8am and again at about 330pm. Doesn't matter how they're dressed.
In the worst neighborhoods, kids don't walk unsupervised. Check out "leave no veteran behind". They have a safe passage program where military veterans get job experience and funds for schools by escorting kids in the bad neighborhoods.
Uniforms have been proven to provide safer school grounds and communities in inner city neighborhoods. I don't think they really change student behavior, though, and I believe that idea has been debunked.
ND7020@reddit
Here at least most private schools don’t either.
craftbakeread@reddit
I was very involved in the private/prep school world from the 2000s to 2020, generally traditional “uniforms” aren’t super common, but most everyone has a very strict dress code that usually involves a set of uniform piece options ordered from a specific school-affiliated website.
MortimerDongle@reddit
Yeah, in the Philadelphia area as well, most private schools have uniforms, with the notable exception of the Quaker schools. The Catholic schools all have uniforms, so do most of the secular schools I'm aware of.
mpjjpm@reddit
Not really true anymore. A fair number of public schools in low income urban areas require uniforms. Usually just a school uniform polo shirt plus khaki or navy blue pants/skirt.
sideshow--@reddit
It varies. Elite private schools and public schools in poorer areas tended to require uniforms while public and private schools in middle to upper middle class areas tend not to require them. And many religious private schools also require them.
DanvilleDad@reddit
The really elite schools have a dress code but not uniforms. For instance Deerfield requires boys to wear a sport coat and tie but it’s not a prescribed blazer with a patch or school insignia.
TheRealThordic@reddit
Yeah I was gonna the same. Most prep schools are dress code, not uniform.
Professional-Front58@reddit
As someone who went to an all boys Catholic High school, it was the trend in our area that the Boys schools had a dress code (button down shirt, tie, sports coat, khaki pants with belt, brown or black socks and brown or black shoes with allowances for some individuality in color choices unless specified). Girls schools and CoEd schools went with a uniform that had no allowances for individuality.
The thinking at the time (and probably still to this day) is that the girls would take a mile if you gave an inch and grab designer brands to show off, where as boys would just get creatively compliant but stay with in the bounds of the rules (I recall for one “wacky tie day” I used a coat hanger to get an old tie that was on its last leg to provide support so it would defy gravity similar to Dilbert’s tie in the newspaper comics. The dress code said we had to wear ties. Ain’t no rule about the tie having to comply with the laws of physics.). There were also some kids who thought bow ties were cool before Matt Smith did. Since we had no color requirements for sports coats, they could run from traditional navy blue, to tan or brown, to powder pastel blue that was popular in the 80s (I am not old enough to be a high schooler in the 80s, mind) and the down right bizarre of a red or orange sports coat. There were also school actually encouraged parents to buy sports coats from thrift stores because the moment the school day was over all the boys would take them off and if the parents were lucky, they’d get shoved in a crumpled up lump into a backpack.
yozaner1324@reddit
Almost none, but I had to wear one in highschool. I went to a public school that had a separate engineering campus that was funded by a local millionaire and his one requirement was that all the students wear a uniform. I've never heard of another public school that had uniforms. Even most private schools don't have uniforms.
Grand_Raccoon0923@reddit
A lot of private schools have uniforms. Public schools might have a dress code, but not usually a uniform.
Libertas_@reddit
Thankfully pretty rare for public schools.
Successful-Pie4237@reddit
I travel to highschools all over the Northeast for work. I've never seen a public school with uniforms. Dress codes obviously but no uniforms.
Similar_Ad2094@reddit
These questions always kill me because the many people don't understand how States work. So I'll use my answer for most of these q. Varies wildly by State.
DoublePostedBroski@reddit
Not by state, but by school district within the state.
AlmiranteCrujido@reddit
Around here, the "common dress" (which they don't like you calling "uniforms," but a distinction without a difference IMO) policy varies by school within the district.
The district where I live doesn't have it generally, but a few of the poorest schools do. 5 out of 16 between elementary and combined K-8 if I remember right, none of the middle-school only ones do.
Similar_Ad2094@reddit
The school district is in the state. So was I wrong?
Lugbor@reddit
District A might require uniforms, but district B, right next door (so to speak) does not. Uniforms are decided at the district level. Not state, or area.
DoublePostedBroski@reddit
I mean, it can be misconstrued that you’re talking at the state level.
tawzerozero@reddit
School districts are organs of the state in the US. Likewise so are counties, cities, fire districts, etc. Ultimately the state is defining the regulatory environment and powers these local entities have.
In my school district, only certain schools chose to do uniforms - mainly ones that linked it to a program like being a Fundamental school. The state gave the district the power to desice how to do uniforms, and my district devolved it even further to the individual schools.
As someome with an American polisci degree, I'd say you were right.
Jhooper20@reddit
Down here where I live, they've had uniforms for the past two decades (policy was implemented in 06) for public schools. Usually the standard Polo/Khakis (or khaki skirt for girls) combo in whatever color the given school they attend chooses.
jreid1985@reddit
Charter and private schools can. Public schools cannot, although they do have dress codes.
Khpatton@reddit
(Disclaimer that the answer is going to vary a lot by school district and state)
In most states, uniforms in public schools are uncommon. Also, where they do have uniforms, they’re not typically as strict as private school uniforms and do not tend to dictate much about hairstyles, jewelry, makeup, etc. the way they do at schools in many countries. I’m a public school teacher and the only public schools I’ve personally encountered that have uniforms just require a solid-colored polo shirt and neutral pants. I would guess that the overwhelming majority of private schools require uniforms, but I have almost no experience with private schools.
In my experience (and maybe just in my region), there was more of a push for public school uniforms around twenty years ago, but many schools near me have since abandoned them.
TyraNotBanks5@reddit
Where I live, the poorer public schools have generic uniforms and most of the private schools have official uniforms that are branded to the specific school. The middle class and up public schools don't have uniforms.
Judgy-Introvert@reddit
None of the public schools have uniforms where I live. Even a few of the private schools around here don’t have uniforms.
GSilky@reddit
Depends. My nephew went to the same schools I did 30 years ago, and he had a uniform, while me and his mom didn't.
SabresBills69@reddit
very few. military dtyle schools and religious schools are the ones with uniforms.
some schools might have clothing rules
seifd@reddit
In my current town, the main city's public school system requires it, as do the catholic schools and some of the charter schools. However, it seems that the suburban school districts do not. So, probably more students in my town wear a uniform than do not.
WinstonWilmerBee@reddit
Very rare.
Terms like “public school” and “private school” get used differently around the world, so I’ll be specific.
In the US education is a human right the government is required to provide for. These schools that are government-funded and run do not have uniforms. They are largely free to attend (there may be nominal fees for books or supplies). They do have dress codes, but those for covering the body and not having “obscenities” (swears and sexy stuff) on clothing. In very, very rare cases a community may decide to switch to uniforms; this is usually only when there’s gangs that wear specific clothing to signal to each other. By “rare” I mean maybe a dozen schools out of tens of thousands.
Schools that not explicitly government-run, and therefore can be selective about what students they do/do not allow, can have uniforms. We have several kinds of these schools. School uniforms are mainly understood to be used in religious schools that families must pay tuition to attend.
JplusL2020@reddit
I lived in Louisiana when I was in kindergarten and had a uniform (public school)
I generally think they're a good idea
No_Report_4781@reddit
It’s fairly common. It’s a common result driven by racism and corporate profit, which also exacerbates another reason - underfunded schools lacking teachers
LongOrganization7838@reddit
Not super common for public school, more common for private, how much of a uniform will also change school to school, some is the full button up and slacks/skirts, some is just a polo in the school colors sometimes with the schools crest sometimes just blank,
AnxiousRepeat8292@reddit
I always had to were a uniform and I think that’s what it should be. Everybody looks the same and nobody can get bullied for lame clothes or anything like that
FancyPickle37@reddit
I went to a private school and they talked about doing uniforms but parents always voted against it. The only school in my area I know of that has uniforms is a catholic school.
used-to-have-a-name@reddit
Most public schools do not require uniforms, but instead let kids wear what they want, within the bounds of a dress code.
In big cities, however, it’s not uncommon for public schools to institute a uniform as an equalizing factor, especially where significant socioeconomic differences exist. But at least in Texas, each school district makes that decision independently. So kids in Houston and Dallas metro areas might have uniforms, but in the suburban and rural districts in between, they don’t.
Small-Tax-2829@reddit
The uniforms here are slacks (khaki or navy) and 2 or 3 acceptable polo colors (dependent on school colors). My allowed colors were red, white, and navy. Shirts had to be tucked in. Belts, a lanyard with an id badge, a mesh backpack, and black closed toe shoes were also required. I think sock color was also regulated. Private schools here are similar but the shirts usually have a school emblem. None of those things were equalizing. Poor people wore walmart/thrift stores uniforms. Rich kids got theirs from a specialty uniform place. It was very obvious yet equalizing was the reason they gave for instituting them. It is easier on parents though.
used-to-have-a-name@reddit
For sure. The equalizing aspect is more rationalization than reality.
But it was definitely convenient as a parent.
jessek@reddit
Really only private schools have uniforms. I've heard of some public schools having them, but in that case it was slacks and polo shirts vs the traditional UK etc style uniforms.
IHaveBoxerDogs@reddit
Private schools often have uniforms that are more similar to school uniforms in other parts of the world. A jacket or sweater, skirt or pants, often a tie, and dress shirts.
In my experience, the public schools here that have uniforms, they tend to be very minimal. Dress pants/skirt and polos.
I used to live in London and I loved checking out the school uniforms. I especially liked the occasional ones that had hats. I can’t imagine hats being part of school uniforms here!
MountainTomato9292@reddit
My kids’ public elementary school did, but not middle or high school.
Cheap_Coffee@reddit
When I went to school the uniform was jeans, flannel shirt, and work boots.
Living_Fig_6386@reddit
In general, public schools in the USA do not have school uniforms (there are a handful of exceptions scattered around the country). It's much more common for private schools and parochial schools to have uniforms, but not all do.
Lucky_otter_she_her@reddit
like none, mostly a private school thing, also sometimes in economically deprived high crime areas where it's a bandaid solution to atleast make things FEEL more orderly
manicpixidreamgirl04@reddit
Around 25% total. 50% of private schools and 20% of public schools.
Louisianimal09@reddit
In the New Orleans metropolitan area, most schools have uniforms which is generally unique for schools in the US. We’re more of an outlier in that regard.
qu33nof5pad35@reddit
Private and Catholic schools do.
bigfudge_drshokkka@reddit
There’s no federal guidelines requiring all US schools to enforce dress codes let alone uniforms, most states don’t have a state level enforcement, counties/school districts are the ones who determine all that.
ReferenceCreative510@reddit
Elementary and high school (both private) had them.
QuasiLibertarian@reddit
It's common at private schools, and parochial schools (run by the Catholic Church). It is not common at most public schools. The small percentage of public schools that do require uniforms are typically in poor (urban) areas, and enact uniforms or strict dress codes to try to level the playing field between rich and poor students, enforce discipline, and/or avoid students wearing gang colors. Most of those are publicly funded "charter schools" or "magnet schools" that operate like a private school.
Some school districts in the southeastern US also have strict dress codes, more out of tradition than for any other reason.
Discount_Plumber@reddit
Pretty uncommon around here for public and private schools.
Major_Enthusiasm1099@reddit
In my school district, it's up to the discretion of the principal, and the district. Some schools are designated to have a dress code and some schools, the principal can choose whether or not to enact one.
In the private schools around me, they seem to all have dress codes. But in public schools it's hit or miss. At least where I live
MollyOMalley99@reddit
A lot of public schools in my area (maybe half?) have a dress code policy that the kids have to wear beige or navy khakis with solid polo shirts, some limiting what colors the shirts can be. They also have "spirit" days on Fridays, when they can optionally wear jeans with T-shirts from their various school-related extracurricular activities.
Private schools usually require a uniform, often required to be purchased from specific retailers and ridiculously $$$$.
Small-Tax-2829@reddit
Ah...Jean days. We had to pay $1 on Fridays to wear jeans
Porcupine-in-a-tree@reddit
Catholic schooos usually do and some private schools. Pretty rare for public schools.
meowmix778@reddit
Very few, but private schools, especially religious ones do.
bangbangracer@reddit
It depends. We have public and private schools. It's incredredibly rare for public schools to have them, but not unheard of. But it's incredibly likely for private schools to have them, but not unheard of for them to not require them.
Small-Tax-2829@reddit
My school district instituted uniforms for public schools in the 90s. All private and public schools here wear uniforms. The other areas I've lived in as a full time resident also had uniforms. The US is big. It's gonna vary wildly, but I dont think it's as rare as people are saying
rawbface@reddit
It varies wildly.
Here in NJ uniforms are pretty much non-existent in public schools, thankfully.
GreenTurtle0528@reddit
As a result of bullying and theft, many public schools systems do have uniforms, at all levels. Historically, in the US, all church related schools had a uniforms.
Remarkable_Table_279@reddit
Not all. I went to one and we didn’t have uniforms after around 86. And I know of other schools like that without uniforms…but there is a dress code.
0utlaw-t0rn@reddit
Uncommon for public schools. There are some districts that do but it’s more of the exception.
Common for religious private schools. Uncommon for progressive (or more progressive) private schools.
emmie-claire@reddit
In my area it's only the Catholic schools that have uniforms. Even the fancy prep school lets students dress how they want (within a reasonable standard of decency of course, but even blue jeans and a t-shirt are fine).
Bluemonogi@reddit
Most public schools do not have uniforms- some do but most do not. Private schools often have uniforms.
Every public school I attended had a dress code though. So even though there was no uniform your shorts or skirts had to be a certain length or you could not wear clothes with tobacco or beer logos for example.
We only had uniforms to wear for our physical education class at my school. You had to buy them from the school. They were ugly. You could wear leggings or something under them if you had to do activities outdoors in cool weather.
holymacaroley@reddit
The majority where I am do not have uniforms unless it's a school where you pay tuition. Even the schools that do them, the uniforms are laid back like a solid color polo shirt with khaki or navy trousers.
WheelsOnFire1973@reddit
Where I live, until about twenty years ago, only Catholic schools had uniforms. Most other public and private schools have gone to uniforms since then. In my district, I know of one private k - 12 that doesn't have uniforms and one public high school. That's it.
vaspost@reddit
Uniforms are not common in public schools. 18 percent of public schools in the us require uniforms. Most of those are probably charter schools.
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/education/school-uniforms-overview
WheelsOnFire1973@reddit
I guess all these kids just really like khaki pants and blue polos.
vaspost@reddit
Just because the are required to wear the uniform do mean they like it.
WheelsOnFire1973@reddit
It was a joke.
Over 90% of public schools in my state wear khaki pants and a solid color polo as uniforms (I looked it up, but I can also just like, look around). In my town, they are mostly blue. They are not charter schools.
Comfortable-Elk-850@reddit
Most public schools don’t have uniforms but some may have casual rules like my son’s school, he had to wear dress shirts and a tie, with beige or black pants/ shorts. Girls also but could wear skirts in addition to pants. Anything that fit that was fine. They later went to monogrammed dress shirts, so he had to buy a school shirt to wear. A lot of the public schools in my area are going towards wearing specific uniforms just like the private schools. They found that kids focus more on school and less on the stigma of how others dress and who has the latest fashions or not. Poor kids/ rich kids, all dress the same, no one knows your social situation or cares like they would if they didn’t have uniforms. I live in a city so for the city, uniforms are pretty common in all schools now a day. Outside the city it’s not as common in public school, just the private ones wear uniforms.
AncientGuy1950@reddit
Few public schools do, relatively common for private schools, and who knows what Home schools do?
CommitteeofMountains@reddit
America largely based its school system on Prussia, which doesn't have a tradition oof school uniforms. South Africa likely based its system on England's.
No_Cartographer5955@reddit
I think it’s more common in general for schools in the US not to have uniforms. However, every school in the school district I grew up in required uniforms. I went to school in a neighboring district for two years when my mom worked there, and I actually hated having to worry about what I was going to wear every day. Uniforms make it so easy, and then no one stands out or doesn’t fit in because of what they’re wearing. I loved my school uniforms, especially my elementary school ones because they were plaid, while my middle and high school ones were more simple solid colors.
lexicon951@reddit
I went to a private Christian school and we still didn’t have uniforms. Honestly, I didn’t know of a single Christian school in our state that did. Catholic schools probably do but they weren’t in our association. AACS is the American Association of Christian Schools, they all compete against each other in yearly athletic, musical, and academic competitions, and Catholic schools aren’t in the association (which may be part of why growing up we never considered Catholics Christians but more like an off-brand like Mormons)
bloopidupe@reddit
When I was growing up in the 90s and 2000s, all elementary schools and middle schools had uniforms. I do not know if public schools in NYC are still like that.
djmcfuzzyduck@reddit
Depends on the area. I grew up in NH and no uniforms plus like a full page and a half of appropriate clothing for school. Kiddos in AZ had uniforms till 9th grade. Their clothing policy is a paragraph. It’s kinda amazing to see how far we have come.
front_torch@reddit
I had gym clothes. That's the closest thing
lattelady37@reddit
Louisiana schools have them for most of the schools.
TheLeopardMedium@reddit
people on this sub love to focus on the rare exceptions. 99.5% of schools in the US do not have any type of uniform.
BreakfastBeerz@reddit
Private schools account for about 25% of all primary education campuses, but only about 10% of students attend private schools as they are usually a lot smaller. Most private schools require uniforms, few public schools require them. So the numbers are roughly 25% of schools, 10% of all students.
manderifffic@reddit
Private schools and charter schools have uniforms. They're fairly casual anymore. I had a few cousins in private schools and they just had to wear polo shirts and either khaki pants or skirts. I think there may have been a plaid skirt, too. The more monied schools require button up shirts and ties and jackets. When I was in a public elementary school in the 90s, they actually put a strict dress code (collared shirts in the school's colors, khaki pants or skirts) to a vote and they narrowly missed on it passing.
krill482@reddit
Very rare, unless you go to a private or charter school.
Outlaw_Josie_Snails@reddit
Some public schools, especially in urban districts, have instituted a khaki and polo dress code (particularly in elementary schools).
Other than that, uniforms are more common in private schools than public schools.
clutzycook@reddit
It varies. It's more common in private or religious schools, but not universal. Public schools are less likely to have uniforms, but it's not entirely unheard of.
Roam1985@reddit
For public (state-run) schools: Fairly rare though virtually all of them have some variety of "Dress Code".
For private (non-state-run) schools: Very common, and even when they opt for Dress Codes, they are still significantly more restrictive than a public school's dress code.
(For example: a public school's dress code might ban shorts, tank tops, and offensive messaging on t shirts. A private school's dress code may require slacks and collared shirts.)
Felis_igneus726@reddit
Some do; most don't. Private schools are more likely to have uniforms than public schools.
Note that in the US, "public schools" are the free, government-funded schools that most American kids attend, while "private schools" are independent and usually charge tuition.
EstablishmentSea7661@reddit
Common here, I think most Chicago public schools require them. Less so in the suburbs. It's set at the school level.
MotherOf4Jedi1Sith@reddit
My children's public school does not, but the down just north of us does. I think mostly because it's closer to a major city. The charter school indoor town also has uniforms
indictmentofhumanity@reddit
I went to military school, my freshman year of high school, and we had uniforms with rank and insignia.
Admiral_AKTAR@reddit
It varries wildly, just like everything else in American schools.
Most private schools, especially religious based ones, have a uniform. But I know of some that just have a dress code that dos not include matching uniforms. The same is for public, charter and correctional schools.
For example none of the piblic schools I attended had a uniform. We did have dress codes that were updated frequently dor various reasons. Girls in my HS for example had to make sure yoga pants where not see through, which was a problem at the time. And Boys couldn't wear cut off t-shirt or tanks that showed ribs or had a thin strap.
bryslittlelady@reddit
All 3 of mine in public school have uniforms.
pastrymom@reddit
The argument public school parents often have is “I can’t afford that”. Schools can’t put barriers up like that
MortimerDongle@reddit
It's uncommon for public schools, but some districts have uniforms. Many private schools have uniforms, but not all.
Ok-Energy-9785@reddit
A lot
BUBBAH-BAYUTH@reddit
It’s not common to see them where I live, private or public.
BigPapaJava@reddit
Some public schools have them, but it’s uncommon.
Private schools often have them.
A few years ago, there was a push in American education to require uniforms in public schools, arguing it would improve discipline and focus. That went almost nowhere.
GarciaWolf@reddit
Catholic schools definitely have uniforms and I think most charter schools do also. Public schools do not in my area
MrHandsRadDay@reddit
Most charter schools are technically public, and the vast majority of them require uniforms. As of now, I’d say one in three require uniforms, and that is sharply increasing.
AbiWil1996@reddit
A good majority of private schools, some magnet schools (my elementary was a magnet school and we had uniforms). Public schools are hit or miss. Some require them. Some don’t.
realnanoboy@reddit
Some private schools have uniforms, but the vast majority of students don't wear uniforms to school.
AndreaTwerk@reddit
A majority don't.