RUMSEY HALL DRESS CODE

2024-2025

The dress code at Rumsey Hall School is intended to create a sense of purpose and pride among the student body and the school community. Student dress and appearance should be neat and presentable at all times. We are eager to support students whose cultural, religious, and gender identities extend beyond our current dress code. Please note, the dress code will be modified as needed for our pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students.

FORMAL SCHOOL DRESS

Formal School Dress is worn each Monday and for special events held on campus

• Students must wear a navy blue blazer with a Rumsey patch (left side), a white or light blue button-down collared shirt (or polo for Pre-K and K), khaki dress pants (long) (with a belt, excluding Pre-K and K) or skirts  (should fall below the fingertips of the student).  
• The blazer can have a Rumsey pin but not others.
• Skirts need to be khaki on Formal School Dress days.
• Students may wear leather dress shoes, flats, or a solid canvas style dress shoe. Sneakers and shoes with patterns or designs are not permitted.
• Shirts must be solid white or blue. No shirts with stripes, patterns, or writing are permitted with formal school dress.
• Boys must wear a school tie. Ties can be purchased in the school store. Optional in Pre-K and K.

CLASS DRESS

During the academic day on Tuesday-Friday and for most meals, the following dress code applies:

• SHIRTS - Students are required to wear a collared shirt. This can be either an oxford style button-down or polo shirt. Button-down collared shirts must be buttoned and tucked in. Ties are not required with class dress.  Shirts should be solid in color or have a small stripe, or check pattern (no Hawaiian shirts, etc.)
• PANTS - Khaki or Chino style dress pants are allowed.  Students are not permitted to wear denim of any kind, athletic wear, cargo style pants, or camouflage. 
• SHORTS - Dress/Bermuda shorts may be worn in place of pants from the start of school through October and during the Spring Term.
• SKIRTS - Students must wear skirts that fall below the fingertips when their arms are at their side.  A collared shirt is required with a skirt. No tube skirts are allowed.
• DRESSES - Students are permitted to wear dresses throughout the school year. Dresses should be modest in fit and the same length as skirts. Deep V-neck, spaghetti straps, and strapless dresses are not allowed.
• SHOES - May be of any style, including sneakers, boots or sandals. No flip flops, shower shoes, slides, Crocs, or slippers.

Other Dress Code Notes:

• From November-March Break, students are not permitted to wear shorts and students choosing to wear a skirt or dress must wear leggings or tights. The leggings or tights may not have rips or tears in them. Flared yoga pants may not be worn as leggings.
• When the weather is colder, students may choose to wear a sweater, quarter zip pullover, fleece, or a blazer but their collar must be visible. Non-hooded Rumsey sweatshirts can be worn, but other sweaters or sweatshirts must be plain or have a singular small logo on them.  The only exception is that Seniors, once committed to their high school, may wear the outerwear of that school (also non-hooded).
• From November-March break, a turtleneck can be worn in place of a collared shirt when a student chooses to wear a sweater, quarter zip, or blazer.
• Hooded sweatshirts may not be worn with Class Dress or Formal School Dress.
• Leggings may be worn with dresses or skirts but can not be worn as pants alone.

• Halter tops, backless or off-the-shoulder shirts, tops with cut-out patterns, sheer tops, T-shirts, athletic gear including exercise pants, mesh shorts, team jerseys, immodest apparel, and patched or ripped clothing are not permitted with Class Dress.
• Midriffs must be fully covered.
• Hats may not be worn in academic buildings or the dining hall.
• No extreme hairstyles or hair colors are permitted. Longer hair must be kept from covering the face or eyes. The School will determine what is considered extreme.
• No piercings, other than ear piercings, are allowed.

PLAY CLOTHES

After the academic day, on weekends, and for certain spirit events during the school year student dress is more relaxed. Athletic wear, jeans of any color, appropriate t-shirts, and sweatshirts are permitted. Pajamas are not to be worn as play clothes.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Commencement (Pre-Primes-VIIth Form)

• Option 1: Navy blue blazer with a school patch, a Rumsey tie, solid white or light blue Oxford-style shirt, light Khaki pants or skirt, dress socks and dress shoes (no sneakers)

• Option 2: White dress with a conservative neckline and back, hemline no more than 3in. above the knee, shoes or sandals with a low heel

Varsity Banquet and Commencement Dance

• Option 1: Oxford-style shirt with a tie with  dress pants or Bermuda-style dress shorts. Dress shoes are encouraged for the Varsity Banquet but sneakers are allowed for the dance. Blazers are optional and discouraged for the commencement dance.
• Option 2: Keeping modesty in mind, skirts and dresses should be the same length as described above. Conservative dress tops may be strapless, halter or spaghetti strap but should fall no lower than mid back, in-line with the shoulder blades. Shoe heels should be no higher than 3 inches.  

ONLINE UNIFORM STORE

For ease of purchasing we have an online store with several items that meet both our Formal Dress and Class Dress requirements. Although families are not required to purchase through this platform the items available through the online store will, at the very least, give you an idea of the style we are aiming for with our dress code. Students whose skirts do not meet the length requirements will be asked to purchase skirts from the school store that meet the length requirement.