What Is the Dress Code at Wilkes-Barre Academy and Why Is It Enforced?

The dress code at Wilkes-Barre Academy is a standard uniform policy requiring students to wear official academic attire purchased through Flynn & O’Hara. On regular classroom days, students wear maroon or white embroidered polo shirts or Peter Pan blouses paired with khaki or steel grey twill pants, walking shorts, or maroon plaid jumpers and kilts, alongside solid belts and approved dress shoes. On physical education days, students wear ash grey logo shirts or sweatshirts, maroon athletic shorts or sweatpants, and athletic sneakers.

Our dress code was originally established by a collaborative parent-faculty committee with a clear mission: to foster an academically focused, respectful, and orderly learning environment. As a private, non-profit K-8 institution with a single classroom per grade level, our close-knit community values standards that keep the focus on intellectual curiosity, character development, and mutual respect.

Having a clear uniform policy brings several distinct benefits to daily school life:

• Encouraging Professionalism and Focus: Dressing purposefully for school helps students build habits of neatness, self-discipline, and personal responsibility.
• Fostering Socioeconomic Equality: Uniforms minimize visible economic differences, ensuring our classrooms remain inclusive spaces where children are recognized for their ideas and character rather than brand names.
• Strengthening School Community and Identity: A unified appearance nurtures school spirit and belonging across every grade level.
• Enhancing Campus Safety: Uniforms make it easy to identify enrolled students instantly, reinforcing the security measures we maintain at our campus.
• Streamlining Morning Routines: Knowing exactly what to wear saves valuable time and eliminates daily wardrobe debates at home.

Families can review our official school year information paperwork before each academic term to ensure they are prepared with all required attire.

Uniform Supplier and Sourcing

To maintain consistency in colors, fabrics, and quality, our designated academic and physical education pieces must be purchased through our official vendor, the Flynn & O’Hara uniform store.

When shopping online or in-store, families can use our school vendor code (PA704). Sourcing through our approved supplier guarantees that shirts, sweaters, and jumpers feature the correct embroidered crest and meet our durability and tailoring standards.

Uniform Category	Regular Academic Attire	Physical Education Attire
Tops	Maroon or white embroidered polo shirts; Peter Pan collar blouses; wine knit sweaters/vests	Ash grey t-shirts, crewneck sweatshirts, or hoodies with heat-transferred school logo
Bottoms	Khaki or steel grey twill pants/shorts; maroon plaid jumpers, kilts, or skorts	Maroon micromesh gym shorts or heavyweight sweatpants with heat-transferred school logo
Footwear	Black or brown dress shoes; tan Dirty Buc Oxford shoes; saddle shoes (heels ≤ 1.5 in.)	Athletic sneakers of choice
Socks / Tights	Solid white, gray, or burgundy crew socks, knee-highs, or tights	Athletic socks
Belts	Brown, tan, or black belt required with all pants and shorts	Not applicable (elastic waistbands)

Daily Uniform Requirements and Seasonal Guidelines

Our core uniform emphasizes a neat, professional appearance every day of the week.

Daily Uniform Standards: What Is the Dress Code at Wilkes-Barre Academy for Core Classes?

For standard classroom days, students adhere to the following baseline rules:

• Tops: Short- or long-sleeve polo shirts in maroon or white featuring our embroidered school logo. Girls may also opt for short- or long-sleeve white Peter Pan collar blouses. All shirts must remain neatly tucked into bottoms throughout the day.
• Layering & Knitwear: When extra warmth is needed indoors, students may layer with an embroidered wine V-neck pullover sweater, V-neck cardigan, V-neck sweater vest, or a maroon quarter-zip sweatshirt.
• Bottoms: Students wear flat-front twill slacks in khaki or steel grey. Girls may also wear our maroon plaid drop-waist jumper or wrap-around kilt. (We recommend pairing kilts and skirts with discreet bike shorts or spandex shorts underneath for comfort during daily movement.)
• Belts & Length Requirements: A solid brown, tan, or black belt must be worn with all pants and walking shorts. All skirts, kilts, skorts, and shorts must measure no shorter than two inches above the knee.

Seasonal Schedules: What Is the Dress Code at Wilkes-Barre Academy During Warm Months?

To keep students comfortable during warmer weather, we observe a seasonal dress policy:

• Permitted Warm-Weather Attire: Students may wear khaki or steel grey twill walking shorts or pleated skorts from the first week of school through October 31, and again beginning April 1 through the end of the school year.
• Sneaker Allowance with Warm-Weather Bottoms: Sneakers may be paired with approved walking shorts or skorts during these warm-weather windows.
• Winter Restriction: Between November 1 and March 31, shorts are prohibited. All students must wear approved long pants, kilts, or jumpers paired with standard dress shoes during this colder season.

Footwear, Grooming, and Physical Education Policies

Details regarding daily grooming, footwear, and physical education attire are outlined below and also detailed in our student handbook and wellness policies.

Shoes, Socks, and Outerwear Guidelines

• Dress Shoes: Standard uniform shoes must be solid black or brown dress shoes, tan Dirty Buc Oxfords, or traditional saddle shoes. Shoe heels must not exceed 1.5 inches.
• Prohibited Footwear: Heavy winter boots, rain boots, hiking boots, and fashion boots (such as Uggs) are not permitted in classrooms. If worn to school during inclement weather, students must change into approved dress shoes upon arrival.
• Socks and Hosiery: Socks, knee-highs, and tights must be solid white, gray, or burgundy. Novelty or character socks are not permitted during regular days; however, students in Grades K–4 enjoy designated “silly sock days” on special spirit occasions!
• Indoor Outerwear: Heavy winter parkas, denim jackets, non-uniform hoodies, and hats are strictly for outdoor travel and recess. Indoors, only approved uniform sweaters, vests, and school-branded quarter-zips may be worn.

Gym Uniform Rules and Approved Club Apparel

On scheduled physical education days, students arrive at school wearing their official gym attire for the entire day:

• Tops: Ash-colored short-sleeve t-shirts, heavyweight crewneck sweatshirts, or hooded sweatshirts featuring our heat-transferred school logo.
• Bottoms: Maroon micromesh athletic shorts (adhering to the two-inch-above-the-knee length rule) or maroon heavyweight sweatpants with the heat-transferred school logo.
• Footwear: Any supportive athletic sneaker paired with athletic socks.
• Approved School Club Shirts: On gym days, students may also wear official school club or activity T-shirts that represent school organizations—such as Science Olympiad, Glee Club, Winter Follies, or Ski Club—provided they reflect official school colors.

Special Events, Casual Days, and Dress Down Standards

Throughout the school year, we host designated “Dress Down Days” to reward students, support charitable community causes, or celebrate school spirit. While casual attire offers a fun break from standard uniforms, student clothing must always remain neat, modest, safe, and appropriate for an active classroom environment.

On these special dress days, students are encouraged to express their personal style while maintaining respect for the school learning atmosphere. Teachers and staff ensure that attire remains suitable for desk work, laboratory activities, and outdoor recess.

Prohibited Items on Dress Down Days:

• Clothing that is revealing, including crop tops, bare midriffs, halter tops, or spaghetti straps.
• Any clothing with rips, tears, or frayed holes.
• Skirts, dresses, or shorts that sit higher than two inches above the knee.
• Tops displaying offensive slogans, inappropriate graphics, or musical group/band references.
• Pajama bottoms or lounge sleepwear in the classroom. (Note: During freezing winter months, students may bring clean sweatpants or pajama bottoms strictly to pull over their clothes for warmth during outdoor playground recess.)

Frequently Asked Questions About Wilkes-Barre Academy Dress Guidelines

For more general information about our school day and operational policies, visit our frequently asked questions page.

When Are Students Allowed to Wear Shorts and Sneakers?

Shorts, skorts, and accompanying sneakers are permitted from the opening week of the school year through October 31, and again starting April 1 through June. From November 1 through March 31, all students must wear long pants, jumpers, or kilts with regulation dress shoes.

Are Hair Dye, Piercings, or Makeup Permitted?

We ask that students maintain clean, natural grooming:

• Hair: Hair must remain a natural hair color. Unnatural dyes (such as neon pink, blue, or green) and extreme theatrical hairstyles (such as Mohawks) are not permitted.
• Jewelry & Piercings: Body piercings other than standard ear piercings are prohibited. To ensure safety during recess and physical education, dangling earrings and bulky jewelry are not allowed.
• Makeup & Tattoos: Excessive cosmetic makeup and temporary or permanent tattoos are prohibited.

What Happens If a Student Violates the Dress Code?

When minor uniform discrepancies occur (such as an untucked shirt or a forgotten belt), teachers provide a gentle reminder. If an outfit does not meet basic standards or violates casual day guidelines, parents may be contacted to bring compliant uniform items to school. Repeated failure to adhere to guidelines on casual days may result in a student losing Dress Down Day privileges.

Conclusion

At our single-location campus at 20 Stevens Road in Wilkes-Barre, PA, our dress code is designed to set our students up for success every single day. By removing morning wardrobe stress and keeping classrooms free of visual distractions, our uniform standards allow our students and certified faculty to focus on what matters most: academic excellence, personal growth, and a strong sense of community.

For the complete, detailed policy document, please review our official dress code page or reach out to our administration office.