Appearance Code

General Guidelines

Three principles that will be applied to the dress code guidelines, listed in order of importance, are modesty, appropriateness, and distinctiveness. We trust that you will follow the guidelines, showing deference where you may not personally agree or find it convenient. Please refer to ACA’s Uniform Information for specifics (clothing options, color selections, etc.). All school apparel should be chosen from this list.

All students should be clean and neat in appearance.

Final decisions on questionable appearance/clothing/accessories will be made by the administration.

Accessories (jewelry, belt buckles, shoes, etc) may not have inappropriate symbols or writing on them (rock music, Gothic, etc.).

Athletic shoes are approved for all grades as long as the shoes are clean and neat in appearance.

Sweaters and sweatshirts must not have pictures or writing on them. Jackets with writing on them must be approved by the administration. Hooded sweatshirts may not be worn.

Sunglasses may not be worn.

Failure to follow the appearance code may result in after school detention.

Boy's Appearance Guidelines

  1. Boys should wear slacks that are listed on our approved uniform list. Slacks must be worn with a belt. They should be worn at the natural waistline.

  2. Shirts worn must be those listed on our approved uniform list and must be tucked in. Colors or writing on undershirts must not show through the uniform shirt. Sleeves of polo shirts may not be rolled up.

  3. Kindergarten through second grade boys may wear shorts listed on our uniform list. They must be long enough to come to the knees. Shorts must be worn with a belt.

  4. Boys may not wear any necklaces or earrings.

  5. Hats may not be worn in the school buildings.

  6. Generally, boys' hair must have a conservative, neat appearance. Specifically it must be tapered, off the ears and collar, out of the eyes, and not "bushy". No hair coloring of any kind is allowed, including bleaching, striping, highlighting, etc.

  7. Boys must be clean-shaven at all times, and sideburns must come no lower than the bottom of the ear. 

Girl's Appearance Guidelines

  1. Girls should wear skirts and blouses that are listed on our approved uniform list. The skirt may not have a slit in the front or on the sides. The skirt needs to look like the skirts on our uniform listing.

  2. Blouses and polo shirts must be tucked in. Sleeves of polo shirts may not be rolled up.

  3. Length of skirts should be to the knee when sitting and to the bottom of the knee when standing/walking. Skirts must be worn at the natural waistline. An appropriate belt should be worn if there are belt loops on the skirt.

  4. Elementary girls should wear shorts under their skirts/jumpers at school for modesty during recess activities.

  5. No backless shoes or backless sandals for girls in K-6th grades. Flip-flop, beach-style shoes, or slipper-style shoes are not acceptable for K-12th grades.

  6. Hairstyles must reflect Biblical femininity, and must be, in the opinion of the administration, conservative. Extreme hairstyles are not allowed 

  7. Excessive use of makeup is not allowed.

  8. Jewelry may not be excessive. Regarding earrings, piercing is limited to the earlobe, and only two sets of earrings may be worn at once.

Interscholastic Sports Attire

Students who come to interscholastic games as spectators are expected to dress in accordance with school modesty, appropriateness and distinctiveness guidelines. Team players must wear the team uniform required by the coach.