El Paso middle school bans all-black clothing, citing criminality, mental health risks

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School administrators at an El Paso middle school are saying all-black clothing is associated with mental health issues — and are stopping kids from wearing black.

Heading back to school at Charles Middle School in El Paso, Texas on Monday, students were expected to meet a new dress code policy. The policy, outlined in a letter from Principal Nick DeSantis, eliminates all-black clothing because such apparel is supposedly “associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality.”

Norma De La Rosa, the president of El Paso Teachers Association, explained in more detail why the policy is in place and what clothing is allowed.

She claims teachers see "sudden changes" in students going from wearing colors to all black when they're experiencing stress or depression.

“What they are not allowing is for students to wear clothing that is black from top to bottom,” she said.

“They can wear black shorts to go to PE. They can wear it on free dress day, but they just cannot wear it from top to bottom.”

De La Rosa clarified that one of the colors of Charles Middle School's uniforms is black.

Parents' and community responses have been mixed. Many disagree with the policy, saying that color doesn't define a child's mental state or whether they're going to commit a crime.

"All this does is teach kids that mental health issues are bad," said one user on X.

"The kids that have mental health issues will still have the same issues regardless of what they wear. So what is the point of this?"

Another noted, "That’s so embarrassing, color doesn’t mean anything. So, depressed children only wear black? Mental health doesn’t have a color."

De La Rosa noted that parents who are upset need to read the dress code policy “very, very carefully.”

“So, the colors are not so much to prevent or stop mental health issues. You can have the most colorful dress on and still be suffering through depression,” she said.

The El Paso Independent School District said in a statement that the middle school “is updating its uniform policy to enhance student’s well-being and sense of pride.”

Schools in the district are allowed to create their own dress code.

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