The short skirts are a feature at all of these schools that require uniform skirts, as well as at schools with no dress code. Sadly, many of the girls think that dressing in a highly sexualized manner is evidence of empowerment, and the majority of parents seem to take the "pick a different battle" approach.

With that said, one assumes they will grow out of the exhibitionism by the time they get into the workplace, and teens have always wanted to experiment and shock and titillate and make a statement with appearance.

When my DH and I toured Holton, this was our take-away and our visit was years ago. Too short skirts, too tight sweaters. big busty girls who gave very poor presentations in the auditorium (Uh, um, you know, like, so). We never applied.

Anonymous wrote:Few friends have daughters that go and skirts were just so short. Don't really "get it". I would require my DD's skirt to be longer.

I'm sure many parents do. But I, like many of the current students, always rolled mine up when I got to school.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry PP here - I meant too short!!!

LOL I was thinking things sure have changed!

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this traditionally what ALL girls do with their uniforms? Frankly, I say go for it. When they're 40 they will look back and wish they still had those legs!!!

Yes it is. I remember doing the exact same thing with my uniform at an all girls school in NYC. We all shortened our skirts - every girl at every school did. We had one uniform that was a straight cut, so we of course, would pin it to be tighter.

You sound like a nun OP. Please send your child elsewhere. You sound like a real PIA. I wore short skirts in the 1970s...everyone did. At the girls schools now, they all wear shorts underneath so there is no flashing going on. I pity your poor child. Please stay public. Please.

Sorry PP here - I meant too short!!!

My DD is at Holton and they do have rules and the girls get points (which lead to detention) if the skirts are too long. And they do have shorts under. If your takeaway from the open house was this BS about the skirts, you are seeking a reason to nix the school. That's fine, it's not for everyone, but realize that your view is slanted.

Way back when I was at Holton, every girl wore shorts or tights or leggings under her skirt.

I wore a uniform over 20 years ago and it was probably as short as the ones you saw at Holton. I recall my first day agonizing over what length the others would have their skirts having not visited the school prior to the first day. My mom, who also wore a uniform, was kind enough to tell me that the skirts were likely to be much shorter than the dress code. She was right!

I love the uniform! None of the kids in middle school accessorize except shoes. Even on free top day on Fridays, most wear sweatshirts from sports or trips. Nothing fancy. They can wear Holton sweatshirts over their polo. Most do in winter.

My daughter is a tomboy and was fine with the lower school and upper school uniforms. No what to wear issues and saved us a ton on clothing costs.

Isn't this traditionally what ALL girls do with their uniforms? Frankly, I say go for it. When they're 40 they will look back and wish they still had those legs!!!

As a Holton Parent I appreciate the uniform. It saves us A LOT of time in the morning and it saves us money because we do not have to worry about shopping too much. The point of the uniform is to take the focus away from clothes and put more on education and it my opinion it is working out just fine, short skirts and all.

The holton uniform is a joke. The girls accessorize so much that all you can see of the uniform is the small strip of plaid skirt with the shorts sticking out underneath.

If you're going to add sweaters, scarves, leggings and uggs, what is the point in having a uniform at all?

They are supposed to be no more than 6" from the bottom of the knee. You can not buy them shorter but some of the girls roll them at top to make them shorter and roll them down if asked to measure. 100% of the girls wear either gym shorts or spandex shorts underneath them. In the winter they wear leggings and boots. So teachers/faculty don't really measure a lot. I mean it is an all girls school with shorts underneath. How much of a stink are you going to make. This is one way for girls to rebel I guess.