Dress code drama at CAPA high school in South Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- As temperatures are spiking, so are tensions at the Creative and Performing Arts High School in South Philadelphia about what students should be wearing to class.

On Thursday, as temperatures neared 90 degrees, several female students were pulled aside for dress code violations.

Some students arrived dressed in protest of the rules, and videos of the encounters circulated widely online.

"On social media, there was a large outburst about the situation," senior Rabiyyah Watsons said.

Senior Makayla Hicks said she witnessed inconsistent enforcement. "It was a lot of men that came with cheerleading outfits on who they let just walk through, but they were 'dress coding' girls," she said.

Watsons said she did not face any issues with her own outfit.

"I did not have any trouble today or yesterday, actually. I was wearing a cropped shirt and basketball shorts," she said.

The Philadelphia School District said CAPA has always had a dress code, and families were notified Wednesday that the rules would be enforced during the warm weather.

Hicks said she hopes the school will clarify expectations.

"I really hope CAPA gets a strict schedule and gets a strict handbook and sticks to what we came here for and not switch things up at the end of the school year," she said.

District officials said the female students who were stopped were not disciplined. Principal Alonzo Fulton is holding town halls with each grade to address concerns.

Some students believe the reaction has gone too far.

"I feel as though students are taking it a bit out of control and being disrespectful to teachers," senior Laila Moore said.

The district said it is reviewing and reiterating the dress code rules with students and parents.