AURORA, Colo. – This is the last weekend of summer for thousands of Aurora Public School students, and this year they will return to Aurora Central High School with a new dress code.
Students returning to classes at Aurora Central High School next week will be under a stricter dress code, which school officials hope will promote school spirit and create a better learning environment.
However, Aurora Public Schools said this dress code can have some safety perks.
"The principal did say that this would make it easier to identify who is supposed to be on campus and who is not," said Corey Christiansen, a spokesperson for Aurora Public Schools.
Students selecting their back to school outfits will be limited to only a few colors. White, black or dark green are the only options for shirts. Also, no logos larger than two inches can be displayed.
The type of pants students will be allowed to wear to school will also be restricted. The school will require students to wear black khaki pants or blue jeans at the waist with no visible holes. Leggings, yoga pants, sweat pants, pajamas or athletic shorts will not be allowed.
Hats and beanies are also not allowed, but hijabs -- veils traditionally worn by Muslim women -- will be excluded from the new policy.
Students that Denver7 spoke with said they don't like the idea of a dress code.
"I don't like it at all," said Nick Solas, who will be a freshman. "It just sucks cause I bought new clothes that doesn't [sic] fit the dress code. They're different colors than the ones I can wear."
"I'm not a huge fan of it," said Emerita Rodriguez, a senior. "It's kind of hard to find those colors, and different outfits in those colors."
While they don't agree with the code, they do understand there can be some safety perks.
"You never know who may try to come on campus and do bad things," Solas said.
Christiansen said the decision for a dress code wasn't a gang related issue, adding parents wanted a dress code implemented.
Christiansen also said Aurora Public Schools understands some parents cannot afford to buy extra clothes that fit the dress code. As a solution, the school is providing some clothing that ranges between $6-$20. Christiansen also said if parents cannot afford that, the district will provide some type of help to those families.
