Monday marked not only the first day of school for Monroe County students, but also the first day of a new dress code for all three high schools.

Shorts and skirts may not be more than 6 inches above the knee, and all shirts must have sleeves or shoulder straps that are at least 3 inches wide, the new rules state, thereby prohibiting spaghetti-strap tank tops and strapless tube tops.

"We had fantastic buy-in from the students today," Key West High School Assistant Principal Christina McPherson said, estimating that about 30 students were addressed and asked to change their clothes.

Administrators visited classrooms early in the day and picked out students in violation of the new rules, which also prohibit Spandex, midriff-baring tops, baggy, low-riding pants that reveal underwear or boxer shorts and shirts bearing logos for alcohol, tobacco, drugs or any crude or suggestive language or symbols.

"It's much stricter this year, and kids are complaining about it," said Emily Hepworth, a Key West junior. "They're enforcing it avidly this year, and I'm not saying that's a terrible thing, just that it could be a little more lenient."

Hepworth arrived at school Monday wearing a shirt with only one shoulder strap. By second period she was reprimanded and given a double extra-large T-shirt to wear for the rest of the day, she said.

The office provides clothing to replace any items deemed inappropriate.

"I didn't really think they were going to enforce it the first day," Hepworth said. "But administrators were walking through classrooms during first period pulling people out of class if they were in violation."

Key West senior Drake Gonzales said he thinks the staunch enforcement likely will settle down in the coming weeks, but he purposely wore an inappropriate shirt on Monday and never was reprimanded.

"The dress code and enforcement is completely biased and sexist," he said. "They only target the girls and the way they dress. I intentionally wore a shirt with a band logo on the back that says, 'Leftover Crack,' and nobody said a word."

In addition to clothing guidelines, the new dress code also prohibits hats, bandanas, sunglasses, scarves and wallet chains.

At Coral Shores, enforcement on the first day was not as strict, said Assistant Principal Dave Murphy.

"I can tell you it was not bad today," he said.

Marathon Assistant Principal Wendy McPherson could not be reached for comment.

mbolen@keysnews.com