Students who opt out must attend another middle school in the district. In addition, the administration at South Shore found that the average cost of clothing a child in a school with a prescribed wardrobe is less than in schools without such a program, sometimes 80 percent less. I needed to keep them on an academic focus. My kids were really into what others were wearing. Only five students have elected to attend another public school.
Uniforms are voluntary.
Responding to parent concerns about the cost of uniforms, the school sought community financial support for the uniform program. Largely as a result of financial donations from businesses and other community leaders, the percentage of students wearing uniforms rose from 30 percent in 1994-95, the first year of the program, to 85 percent during the current year. Maymont principal Sylvia Richardson identifies many benefits of the uniform program, including improved behavior, an increase in attendance rates and higher student achievement. Carver is a magnet school to which parents and students apply knowing about the uniform policy. Students receive their uniforms at no cost to them.