ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — "Back to school" looks very different at Evans High School in Pine Hills where students are testing out new uniforms.
When students showed up for the first day of class, they were greeted by a new principal and new rules.
Evans is now the only high school in Orange County with a uniform dress code. It's been two years in the making, and administrators said they worked with parents over the summer to finalize the rules.
"We're trying to get accustomed to the uniforms," said parent Beatrice Cayo.
Students must wear Trojan colors: black, white or green shirts, and khakis or black, gray or blue jeans.
Administrators want to reduce gang activity and other behavior issues that can lead to poor performance in the classroom and low attendance.
"That's one of our biggest focuses, making sure that we are limiting the number of Level 3 referrals, which result in out-of-school suspensions," said Principal Jenny Gibson.
Administrators couldn't tell WFTV how many students were suspended from school last year, but records show the Orange County Sheriff's Office was called to campus 95 times in 2011.
High schools of similar size in Avalon Park and Apopka had triple the number of calls for police service.
Still, Gibson said she is focused on three things: student academics, achievement and behavior.
Some students and parents claim they didn't know about the policy. School officials said they won't penalize students for dress code violations this week.
WFTV
