Academic Attire Standards

Sewickley Academy’s Academic Attire Standards reflect the school’s decades-long commitment to academic and professional excellence. They are designed to uphold high expectations across the entire school community.

These expectations apply to all students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 during the entire school day and on school trips, unless otherwise specified. Exemptions for Junior Pre-Kindergarten, Pre-Kindergarten, and the Classes of 2027 and 2028 are explained in more detail in the FAQ section. 

Examples of acceptable and unacceptable attire for the Sewickley Academy school day, additional information on Dress-Up Days and Spirit Days, and how these standards will be enforced are included below.

Additionally, an OPTIONAL Lands’ End shopping page is available with details about items, pricing, and ordering. We will also have clothing samples for families to see and students to try on.

Please reach out to your division head with any questions.
 
 
 

Acceptable Academic Attire

Shirts & Sweaters

Shirts must have a collar and may be plain colored, patterned, or striped. Acceptable shirts include: 
  • Short-sleeve collared polo or golf shirt
  • Long-sleeve collared polo or golf shirt
  • Short-sleeve button-down
  • Long-sleeve button-down (all of the above must have a collar).

A sweater or quarter zip may be worn over a collared shirt. 

All shirts must be worn appropriately, buttoned, and tucked in at all times unless cut straight across at the hem and intended to be untucked, such as sweaters worn over a collared shirt.

Pants & Shorts

Dress slacks or pants with belt loops are permitted and must be worn at waist level. 

Shorts may be worn, but may not be any shorter than two inches above the knee. 

Lower School students are permitted to wear pants and shorts with elastic waistbands if the material is consistent with pants typically adorned with belt loops for older students, including chino and corduroy.

Skirts, Skorts, & Dresses

Skirts and skorts may be worn, but may not be any shorter than two inches above the knee. 

Dresses are acceptable with short or long sleeves and must be no more than two inches above the knee or longer (collars are not required on dresses). 

For students in all divisions, leggings and tights are only permitted under acceptable skirts, skorts, or dresses. 

Footwear

Students may wear a variety of comfortable, practical shoes as long as they are safe and suitable for a learning environment. Appropriate options include:
  • Sneakers/athletic shoes (clean and in good condition)
  • Casual lace-up or slip-on shoes (e.g., Vans, Converse, Keds, Supergas)
  • Loafers or deck shoes
  • Ballet flats or other closed-toe flats
  • Low, ankle, or mid-top boots (not Ugg style or slipper-like materials)
  • Dress shoes appropriate for school activities
  • Weather-appropriate boots (rain boots or snow boots worn only during poor weather).

Dress-Up Days

The options for Dress-Up Days include a tucked-in dress shirt with a tie and jacket or blazer and dress slacks or pants with belt loops OR a dress or skirt. Students in the Middle and Senior Schools must wear dress shoes; sneakers are not permitted. However, for the Lower School, sneakers are permitted and ties are not required. Dress-Up Days comprise the entire school day, and students are expected to remain in dress-up clothes until dismissal.

Spirit Days

Spirit Days will no longer take place every Friday; instead, they will be held at times designated by the school. On Spirit Days, students are encouraged to wear Sewickley Academy colors (red, black, white, and/or gray) or Sewickley Academy branded clothing. Leggings, joggers, long or short sleeved t-shirts, crew neck shirts, and sweatshirts in school colors or with Sewickley Academy branding will be permitted on these days. Hooded shirts are also permissible, but must have Sewickley Academy branding. Please refer to the FAQs below for more details.

Unacceptable Academic Attire

Below is a list of unacceptable attire with visual examples to assist in your attire selection. This list is not exhaustive and may be updated over time to conform to the overall Academic Attire Standards.

List of 11 items.

 

Academic Attire Standards FAQs

As we receive questions regarding the Academic Attire Standards, we will respond to them individually, as well as post responses here, which may be helpful to the entire community.

List of 5 items.

  • Am I required to purchase clothing from specific stores?

    No, as long as your clothing adheres to the Academic Attire Standards, you may purchase from any store you wish.

  • Could you provide more examples of what is acceptable and unacceptable attire for Spirit Days?

    Acceptable Spirit Day clothing selections:
    • Leggings
    • Joggers
    • Blue jeans or colored denim
    • Athletic shorts
    • Long or short-sleeved t-shirts
    • Crew neck shirts
    • Sweatshirts
    • Hooded shirts – must have Sewickley Academy branding

    Unacceptable Spirit Day clothing selections:
    • Crop tops, tank tops, halter tops, sleeveless shirts, or sleeveless dresses
    • Shorts, skirts, skorts, or dresses that do not meet minimum length requirements
    • Casual sandals, Crocs, flip-flops, slides, Ugg-style boots/shoes/slides, or any shoe that is unsafe, overly casual, or not secure on the foot

  • Do the Academic Attire Standards apply to all grade levels?

    No, our Junior Pre-Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten children will be exempt from the new Academic Attire Standards and may wear clothing that they find most comfortable for learning and play.

    Also, in understanding our families and how the updated standards impact the oldest students in our Senior School, we determined that a thoughtful and prudent approach would be to exempt the Classes of 2027 and 2028. As we strive to meet families where they are, we want to be mindful of the timing of this change for students as they approach their final years at the Academy.

    We recognize that the students in the Classes of 2027 and 2028 joined the Academy under the existing dress code and would have a limited opportunity to fully utilize a new wardrobe. Therefore, after careful reflection, we have adopted a transition plan that exempts these students from the updated Academic Attire Standards. Students in these two classes may continue to wear clothing consistent with the 2025–26 dress code during the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years as the community transitions to the new standards.

    While we offer this flexibility, we welcome all students to follow the updated Academic Attire Standards to support a more unified Academy community. Beginning in the 2028–29 school year, all students will be expected to adhere fully to the new Academic Attire Standards.

  • Is there a store that offers clothing that will fit Academic Attire Standards?

    Yes, Land's End will provide a storefront where you may purchase clothing with or without Sewickley Academy branding.

  • Will the Academy have themed Spirit Weeks?

    Yes, there will be Spirit Weeks at the Academy. Families will be notified of the details of these occasions and what attire will be appropriate for those days.

Sewickley Academy

315 Academy Avenue, Sewickley, PA 15143