Polk County considers uniforms for high schools | News

Bartow, Florida - Hemlines too high, pants hanging too low: it's a problem some Polk County parents of high school students want to solve.

One suggestion surfacing at school advisory committees is uniforms for high school students. "They accept it after awhile," says parent Julie Hamilton.

Middle and elementary school kids did. In the late 90's Polk became the first public school district to have a uniform policy for middle and elementary schools.

Bartow Middle School students choose between blue jeans and khakis for bottoms and t-shirts in one of three colors.

"Sometimes it's just easier in the morning," says Sadie Patterson, a seventh grader. Sadie says she likes the idea of uniforms in high school. "Don't get judged like, 'Oh your shirt is ugly,' because everyone wears the same thing," says Sadie.

"I am in support of uniforms in high schools," says Sadie's mother Lisa. She adds, "Everyone is on a level playing field and it lessens the distractions, plus it helps parents in this tough economy."

But some high school students like the chance to express their individuality through what they wear.

"I wouldn't like uniforms in high school," says one student wearing goth-like clothing.

"I focus better when I wear what I want," says 10^th grader Jack Hubbard.

Some students welcome the uniforms. "You can see boys' pants to their ankles and girls' shirts to their boobs. It's not a good representation of a school with high standards. It's good and bad at the same time to have uniforms," says Emmanuel Alexander, a 10^th grader at Bartow High School.

School district officials say they are reviewing the student code of conduct, but there are no immediate plans to change the dress code... unless enough parents of high school students asking for it.

Polk School District officials are attending student advisory committee meetings this month to get feedback from students, parents and school administrators on uniforms in high schools.