The debate over whether students should wear school uniforms continues on. Here are some of the potential benefits and disadvantages of school uniforms.
Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah Scott
The pros and cons of school uniforms are constantly a source of debate. Some people argue that uniforms have a positive impact on the school environment by promoting confidence and a sense of belonging. Others fear that school uniforms prevent kids from expressing themselves through their clothing choices and discriminate against students who don't fit into the traditional gender binary.
The research on school uniforms is often mixed. While some schools have found uniforms beneficial, other research has found that they have little effect. Some studies have even reached the conclusion that requiring school uniforms can be harmful for some students.
Let's take a closer look at some of the potential benefits and disadvantages of requiring students to wear uniforms at school.
Student Safety
Some people think that school uniforms can help make schools safer for kids. When Long Beach, California, required all students in grades K–8 to wear uniforms in the 1990s, reports of assault and battery decreased by 34%. Additionally, assault with a deadly weapon decreased by 50%, fighting incidents declined 51%, and sex offenses dropped by 74%. Possession of weapons dropped by 52%, possession of drugs went down 69%, and vandalism was lowered by 18%.
Sparks Middle School in Nevada reported a decrease in gang activity after instituting a uniform policy. They also reported a drop in fights, graffiti, property damage, and battery. Overall, there was a 63% drop in police reports.
Other proponents of school uniforms report that it prevents students from concealing weapons under clothing. Some also believe intruders would be recognized faster, making the students and staff safer in the event someone from outside the school community tries to enter the school.
But not all studies have found that uniforms reduce discipline issues. In fact, one peer-reviewed study found that school uniforms increased the average number of assaults by about 14 per year in the most violent schools.The Miami-Dade County Public Schools Office of Education Evaluation and Management found that fights in middle schools nearly doubled within one year of making uniforms mandatory.
Focus on Education
For many students, clothing can be a major source of stress. Not having certain brand names or not wearing fashionable items could lead to feelings of insecurity.
Some people feel students are better able to concentrate on school when they all wear the same clothing. Researchers in Australia noted that students who wear uniforms had improved discipline and academic performance.
But not all studies have found that uniforms improve grades. In fact, at least one study found that school uniforms had a negative effect on achievement.
Attendance Rates
Research shows that kids may show up to school more often when they’re wearing uniforms. A study by researchers at the University of Houston found that the average attendance rate for girls in middle and high school increased by 0.3 to 0.4% after school uniforms became mandatory. Another study also found that attendance rates increased and suspensions decreased once students began wearing uniforms.
Students may also be more likely to show up to school on time when they have to wear uniforms. If they don’t have to spend time choosing what to wear every morning, students are able to get out the door more quickly, which may make for fewer late arrivals.
Discipline Issues
Proponents of uniforms report that wearing uniforms can improve behavior in students. One school that found this to be true was the John Adams Middle School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When they mandated school uniforms, discipline referrals dropped from 1,565 in the first semester of the previous year to 405.
An Australian study also concluded that students wearing uniforms were more disciplined and they listened significantly better. Classes were also more likely to start on time.
Not all studies have found this, however. Some research has found that disciplinary issues and bullying didn’t decrease after instituting a mandatory uniform policy.
Related: 7 Steps to Take If Your Black Child Is Being Singled Out At School
Dress Code Enforcement
Many school officials spend a lot of time policing dress codes. Enforcing policies can require a lot of resources as teachers may send kids to the office, and administrators have to determine whether clothing is too baggy, inappropriate, or revealing. School dress codes and how they are enforced are also often problematic, sexist, and discriminatory.
Kids who violate dress codes may spend a lot of time in the office awaiting consequences, or they may receive suspensions for repeated violations. School uniforms can avoid many of these issues, keeping kids in the classroom rather than the front office and preventing staff from wasting time trying to enforce commonly problematic policies.
Cost for Families
Parents may spend less money on school clothes when kids wear uniforms. There is less pressure to buy expensive name-brand clothing, and school uniforms might be more affordable.
Opponents of school uniforms, however,say that requiring parents to buy specific articles of clothing goes against the idea that students should be given free education. When public schools force parents to buy uniforms, it places a financial burden on families.
Impact on Self-Esteem
Proponents of uniforms report that they have a positive impact on student self-esteem. Wearing the same clothing as everyone else means that students don’t have to worry about whether their clothing choices will be acceptable to their peers.
But opponents argue that uniforms may have a negative impact on some students’ body image. Research conducted at Arizona State University found that students without uniform policies actually reported higher self-perception scores than students with uniform policies. This may be especially true for nonbinary and trans students who are forced to wear gendered uniforms that reflect the sex they were assigned at birth rather than their gender identity.
Additionally, when all students wear the same clothing, they may be more likely to compare themselves to their peers as clothing fits differently on everyone’s body.
The Problem With Research on School Uniforms
Although there are many studies that examine the potential pros and cons of school uniforms, many of them revealed correlation, rather than causation. Just because grades went up or behavioral problems went down, there’s no way of knowing that the reason for the change was due to uniform policy. There are many other factors that may have influenced these issues.
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