EL PASO, Texas  — Students at Charles Middle School in El Paso will head back to school soon, but they won’t be back in black.

According to a letter to parents from Nick DeSantis, the school has adopted a new dress code based on policy feedback from families, faculty, staff and community stakeholders.

What You Need To Know

  • Charles Middle School in El Paso, Texas, has adopted a new dress code that prohibits all-black outfits as well as sweatshirts with hoods

  • According to the principal, all-black outfits are associated with "depression and mental health issues and/or criminality"

  • The dress code also limits shoes, socks, bottoms and tops

  • Charles is a public school in the El Paso Independent School District

Among other restrictions, the policy prohibits students from wearing black tops with black bottoms. DeSantis wrote that the look has “taken over the campus” and is associated with “depression and mental health issues and/or criminality.”

Students are also forbidden to wear sweatshirts with hoods and pockets in order to “remove opportunities for students to hide, use, and distribute items that they should not have in school.”

As for footwear, students are limited to athletic or uniform shoes with a closed toe. Sandals, crocs, slippers and flip-flops are a no-go.

Socks must be a solid color in white, gray or black.

Bottoms are limited to khakis or blue jeans. They can’t have rips, tears or distressing. Cargo pockets, extra pockets and hidden pockets are forbidden. They must be worn at the waist and length must be at the fingertips or beyond when the arm is fully extended.

Tops are limited to hunter green or black polos with a collar in plain style or with a Charles logo. Sweaters are permissible within the same parameters.

Winter coats are permitted but must be put away while inside the building.

Solid T-shirts in gray, gold or black are acceptable in physical education classes, but students must change back into uniforms after PE class.

Also restricted are hats, beanies and sunglasses inside the buildings. The policy prohibits all piercings other than ear.

Tanks, spaghetti straps, crop-tops, ripped tops or any tops that expose any part of the torso are forbidden. Pajamas won’t fly either.

The policy also prohibits the wearing or use of any electronic devices.

Charles Middle School is a public school in the El Paso Independent School District. According to U.S. News, its student population is just under 600. Eighty-seven percent of students are identified as economically disadvantaged.