Standard School Attire For Nashville Schools
Metro Nashville Public Schools have recently adopted a Standard School Attire (SSA). Since many Brentwood families are zoned for Davidson County, I thought it might be helpful to discuss what standard school attire means--and where we can buy standard school attire for our kids.
Beginning Fall 2007, the school board will require that all public school students in Davidson Co. wear clothing within specific guidelines. Students who do not comply will face in-school suspension.
What CAN Nashville students wear to school?
--->Metro Schools just released the list of additional shirt colors for each school. Here's a link to Nashville's shirt color list, plus "real parent" tips for interpreting specific SSA guidelines. It's tricky!
WHERE can I buy Nashville school uniforms for Metro schools?
Target now carries an in-store uniform line called French Toast, along with a few suitable items from Target house brands. Target has French Toast slacks in khaki and navy for $14.99 and French Toast knit shirts in navy and white for $6.99. For girls, Target offers a Peter Pan collar blouse with delicate trim, a feminine knit shirt, a darling pleated skirt with self-tying belt, and the traditional navy jumper. Target also sells feminine cable-knit cardigans in navy and white. You can view the entire Target uniform selection online, but not every item will be available in stores.
UPDATED: WALMART SELLS SSA!
On my July trip to Walmart, employees were unpacking the first of its SSA clothing. There were a few racks in the boys' clothing department, but the bulk of its uniform selection (both male and female) was in the girls' clothing department. Walmart offers uniforms similar to Target's, but a dollar or more cheaper per piece. Standard knit polo shirts cost $5.88, khaki pants cost $11.88. Walmart also sells the cute pleated uniform skirt I saw at Target.
--->For Tennessee's tax free weekend, Walmart's uniform prices have dropped to $4.50 a shirt.
Old Navy always features khakis--the closest store is in Cool Springs near Best Buy. Just be careful not to buy their pants with leg pockets, which may be interpreted as cargo pants.
Even Dollar General will sell affordable, uniform-style clothing, with slacks as low as $8 a pair. There is a Dollar General Market next to Babies 'R Us at Nolensville Road and Old Hickory Blvd. As yet, Dollar General did not have uniform clothing in stock.
--->Here are the official guidelines for Metro Nashville Public School's Standard School Attire, along with some example photos of what your child can wear.
If you're looking for one-stop shopping, try the Parker Uniform Shop in Maryland Farms. They supply uniforms to Nashville private schools, but you can buy the basics there, too.
--->Here's a map to Parker Uniforms in Maryland Farms.
Another local resource is the School Uniform Warehouse at 740 Thompson Lane. (615) 269-3135
Of course, we're not limited to Walmart and Target. Many Nashville private schools make uniforms available through Land's End. Did you know you can also order the same quality uniforms from Land's End without a school logo? Here's a link to the Land's End uniform catalog online!
NOTE: Students who attend Williamson County schools do not have a standard school attire. Here is a link to the Williamson County school dress code.
--->Here's a new article with specific ways to dress your child for Nashville's school uniform rules, including questionable SSA clothing like jogging pants and black denim.
The idea to force people to wear uniforms is completely stupid. Kids need to be able to be individuals insted of looking like everybody else. People look dfferent for a reson, because the world would be uber boring if everone were the same. If my school made us wear uniforms I wouldn't do it I'd wear Skinnies and a froot loop shirt. I lke being myself and plus those uniforms for girls are a little skanky and guy are too tight around the "genital area" and thats a lot worse than standard school dress code. I'm an idividual and I refuse to change. If we get uniforms I'm definatly not wearing them, I mean ooh you kicked me out of school for refusing to be just like everyone else, thank you very much, I wouln't want to go to a school lke that I'll just go to Middle College High...Peace
I do not agree with SSA at all. I dont see how making the students look identical will help them with math or reading. Little johnny cant read. If you put him in a white-collared shirt and khakis little johnny still cant read. Someone please explain to me why metro is becoming so lethargic?
I am new to nashville and need to know the school colors for Bailey middle school and Kirk patrick elemantray school
i want uniforms please make it maditory for every school to have uniforms
I really can appreciate everyone's opinion. I dont have a problem with the dress code either way. the problem that I have, is that I cant find a single uniform anywhere. I have been all over, I have a kindergarten child and a seventh grader at meigs. I have found some uniforms for the 7th grader, but for the kindergarten child, I am really having a hard time with uniforms he is a little husky. I dont know what else to do... sincerely a parent in great need...
It is past time to regulate school attire. Will it change the world? NO Will it help kids to deal with different economic scales? Yes Will it keep kids from wearing skirts that are way too short or tight and pants that actually cover their asses? Yes! If you have not been a parent and observed how some kids come to school, do not preach to us that this is a bad idea. Kids used to wear house shoes and wifebeater t-shirts to class along with a variety of other clothes that were certainly not conducive to a learning atmosphere. Individuality is a slippery slope -- I support it always but some things do need to be set as a standard. Dress how you want at night and on the weeekends and have a great year!
Check Craigslist(Nashville) for uniforms (under clothing and under kid's and baby items) I found some on there for cheap$1- $2.
Thanks for sharing your information, PM!
Academy isn't somewhere I'd think for school uniforms.
These off-the-beaten-path stores may be saving graces for parents who wait for the very last minute to buy school uniform clothing!
Academy has the best price and quality that I have seen. Academy Sports and Outdoors (Cool Springs) and (Madison)
"However, if uniforms reduce the amount of school violence and decrease the possibility of hidden weapons, that's a small price to pay." The problem is that uniforms do not have this effect at all. Although overall, uniforms have no change in student behavior (except for a modest decrease in high school academic performance), in Long Beach, their implementation of SSA-style uniforms correlated to a substantial increase in concealed weapons, and in Memphis, they correlated to an increase in both fights and disciplinary infractions. Both districts took considerable, and expensive, measures to combat these ill effects. Thus far, in Nashville, there is a strong correlation between SSA proponents and mis-representors of information.
I understand your frustration! Even with budget shopping, outfitting our kids will cost us. However, if uniforms reduce the amount of school violence and decrease the possibility of hidden weapons, that's a small price to pay.
If anyone cannot afford appropriate clothing, please contact your child's principal. A few local retailers have made clothing donations for families who cannot buy new clothing.
the uniforms that our kids have to wear is unfear now i have to spend my whole paycheck on stupid uniforms this is just dumb now our kids clothen will have no personaLITY and if they did it because kids were gettingn talked about there still going toget talked about the popular kids will still were name brand shirts.they;ll still were jordan and nike tenashoes so you didnt solve anyones promblem
I think this is ridiculous nobody should have to go this far!!!!!