For some middle-schoolers, ripped Hollister jeans, American Eagle graphic tees and big earrings are part of a look that defines personalities and are worn to impress their peers. Some might be able to wear such clothes to school, but not these private-school kids. And they don't really mind.

Two Northside private schools enforce student dress codes, but with different criteria. At St. Richard's School, all but the youngest students wear uniforms. At Park Tudor School, the dress code varies with grade level, becoming more relaxed as students advance.

"At each level, there's a progression in terms of freedom and choice of what they can wear, and I think that's kind of nice for the kids, that they're given those privileges as they move from one school to the next," said Sue Harrison, middle-school science teacher at Park Tudor.

In general, Park Tudor Middle School prohibits students from wearing blue jeans, flip-flops and athletic wear. They also cannot have any logos on their clothing except the school's.

Colin Fry, Reggie Nesbit, Katharine Kulka and Catherine "Cali" Estes, all 14, go to Park Tudor Middle School. They say they are comfortable with the dress code.

"I think it's fine. I mean, there might be different thoughts about what the girls wear, but I'm pretty much fine with what I wear," Reggie said.

"I like it," agreed Cali. "In lower school, we did have a uniform, so when we got into middle school, it was a big deal."

Park Tudor's restrictions are lenient compared to St. Richard's, which has students from early kindergarten to eighth grade. Boys in middle school are required to wear dark gray pants, either a white or blue collared shirt, a tie with the school's emblem, dress shoes and a green wool blazer with the school's crest sewn onto the pocket. Middle-school girls wear plaid skirts, white collared shirts or turtlenecks, dress shoes, stockings or knee-highs and the same blazer as the boys.

Cat Olson, 14, Catherine Johnson, 13, and Jackson Hammond, 12, attend St. Richard's School. Wearing a uniform is generally not a problem for them.

"For the most part, I like the policy because it keeps everybody on the same page, and people can't make fun of what other people are wearing," Catherine said.

However, the girls oppose St. Richard's jewelry policy, which restricts the size and number of necklaces and bracelets that can be worn, and limits the size of their earrings.

"Your earrings can't be longer than a half inch. That's pretty ridiculous, in my opinion: Nobody has earrings that are less than an inch," Cat said.

Abby Williams, St. Richard's academic dean, sympathizes with Cat. "It's kind of 'in' to have big earrings and jewelry, and our kids aren't allowed to do that," she said. "I know that frustrated them."

Harrison, too, has heard complaints from Park Tudor students who have had trouble finding clothing without logos. "It's very hard for the girls to find shirts that don't have any kind of logo on the front," she said.

Still, both adults agree that dress codes and uniforms benefit students by erasing social class distinctions.

"Everyone's viewed as equal. There's no way to say, 'Oh, you have the latest Prada shoes' or whatever it may be," Williams said. "I really like that because you hate to see feelings being hurt and people being left out and popularity contests based on what you're wearing. You want people to judge people for who they really are."

Students at both schools see other benefits to having restrictions on what they wear. All agree it's easier getting dressed in the morning.

"I think that having uniforms really just helps like on the days that you're just so tired and you really don't want to get out of bed, you don't have to like go into your closet and like A, find something that's clean, and B, something that actually looks good with the other half of your outfit," Catherine said.

Park Tudor's Katharine agreed. "It helps in the mornings 'cause you know what you can wear and what you can't wear."

Adults and students also believe that uniforms and dress codes result in high student performance. As Jackson explained, St. Richard's founder, Rev. G. Ernest Lynch, "wanted to have the wearing of the uniform like at some boarding schools, and he wanted to have the academic high standards."

"Having uniforms does make it easier to concentrate," agreed Catherine.

Colin questioned whether student behavior improves with more formal clothing, but he says it probably does limit distractions. "I don't think people would act differently, but I would think that there would be a lot of inappropriate clothes that would make the teachers upset and probably would distract other students," he said.

Regardless, Williams says uniforms have an impact on student conduct. "I came from a school that didn't have dress code policies, and I do see a big difference in the way that our kids conduct themselves like when they're in public and they're wearing their school uniforms because they know that they represent our school," she said.

But wearing a uniform in public has its drawbacks. "Every time we were on a field trip somewhere, we usually got laughed at by IPS kids," Jackson said.

Uniforms also can be uncomfortable. The St. Richard's students complained about the requirement that shirts be tucked in, and Jackson said ties cause their own set of problems. "Like after gym class and recess, our collar starts rubbing, and then they just attract heat," he said.

In addition, Cat complained that dress codes can restrict a student's form of personal expression. "It takes away a lot of your individuality, and you just can't express yourself in a uniform," she said.

Students at both schools do have opportunities to dress more freely. St. Richard's has occasional "free dress days," which allow students to wear street clothes, with some restrictions, and Park Tudor sometimes has "Blue Jeans Day."

Harrison was surprised to learn that the Park Tudor students interviewed had little issue with the dress policy. But for those who have difficulties, she tries to be understanding.

However, she and Williams stand by their schools' policies.

"It's tough being a teenager these days, and you want to stay up with the latest fashions. But we kind of took some of that pressure off," Williams said.

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Salena Lee, 17, and Lisa Callahan, 18.

REPORTERS: Ariana Gainer, 11; Julia Moeller 10; Taylor Sharp, 11; Reginetta White, 12.

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