Parents get jump on uniform sales

Clarke County parents are putting clothes at the top of their back-to-school shopping lists as six schools prepare to enforce new school uniform dress codes when children return this fall.

School administrators at , , , and elementary schools, and Clarke Middle School are recommending parents purchase at least three sets of school uniforms before school starts Aug. 8.

Students must wear collared shirts with either slacks, knee-length shorts or skirts. Closed-toed shoes are required, and boys are required to tuck in-their shirts with a belt if they wear pants with belt loops.

Each school has different color options for their shirts, which are loosely based around school colors. For example, at Clarke Middle School, students are required to wear either blue or white, while at Oglethorpe Elementary, students can wear Navy blue, yellow or white shirts. For a complete list of uniform color requirements by school, click here. 

Uniforms can be found at local department stores like , Wal-Mart, and . Administrators estimate three sets of uniforms, including shoes and a belt cost $135.

Some crafty parents, like Frankie Wylie, were able to find more than twice as many uniforms at half the estimated cost.

“Oh, I'm getting them for way less,” Wylie said. “For seven days of clothes for two of my kids, I've spent just about $50.”

Wylie, who has two children who will attend Timothy Road, and a son who will attend Clarke Middle, combed through the sale racks of local thrift stores and in lesser-known stores like Rainbow in the Georgia Square Mall to find deals on both new and lightly-used uniforms.

Wylie has nearly finished shopping since she started in March, but still needs to buy clothes for her older son, who has grown since last year. To find the last set of uniforms for him, Wylie is thinking of using Wal-Mart's online store, where she can order any size and color she wants, in children's and young adult sizes.

“There's just no finding his size in the actual store,” Wylie said.

While every elementary school will allow children to wear jackets and sweaters in winter that don't match their uniform, some middle schools will require students wear clothes that match the uniform. Some schools also reserve Friday as a casual day where students may wear regular clothes or jeans, while other schools require students to wear uniforms at all times.

The school board's decision on individual school dress codes in early May means nine out of the district's 14 elementary schools and all four middle schools now require students wear uniforms. Each school has adopted a uniform assistance plan to help families in instances when they can't afford to purchase a uniform.

School principals, teachers and counselors may recommend uniform donations on a case-by-case basis based on each family's size and income level.

Stores with uniforms:

3505 Atlanta Highway

706-354-5620

3190 Atlanta Highway

706-543-7032

Gap

3700 Atlanta Highway

706-543-3113

191 Alps Road

706-433-1908

10 Huntington Road

706-425-8750

3700 Atlanta Highway

706-546-0945

Jamboree Children's Place

3700 Atlanta Highway

706-548-4720

3660 Atlanta Hwy
706-354-8047

Rainbow

2301 College Station Road

706-546-6131

3700 Atlanta Highway

706-613-5288

3065 Atlanta Highway

706-208-9379

Wal-Mart

1911 Epps Bridge Parkway

706-549-1423

4375 Lexington Road

706-355-3966