A catalogue arrived the other day from Urban Outfitters, the ubiquitous clothing chain that dresses so many U.S. teenagers. Along with hipster uniforms of skinny jeans, chunky jewelry and platform sandals, I saw photographs of long-limbed girls wearing shorts so skimpy they might as well have been bathing suit bottoms.

With so little left to the imagination, I couldn't help asking the teenage boys who reside in my household if this was how girls dress at their New York City public high school.

"All the time,'' was their answer, and I should not have been surprised. Since middle school, I've repeatedly noticed girls coming to school wearing not much at all.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who has taken note. A lot of New York City public school officials aren't terribly happy about the scantily clad students whose desire to shed layers increases as the weather warms up.

This week, we got a lengthy reminder about what it's okay to wear to high school and what happens when you fail to cover up, all based on citywide standards. It's a lot more drastic for girls; boys clothing issues can sometimes be solved by removing hats and wearing belts to pull up low-slung jeans that reveal boxer shorts and butt cleavage.

"Since school is a place of business and learning, students are expected to dress appropriately, modestly, and in good taste,'' parents and students were told last week.

The memo went on to discuss what it is NOT okay to where in school.

"Proper school attire should not be revealing, lewd, or so extreme as to create a disturbance to the educational environment,'' the memo said. "Students who arrive to school dressed inappropriately will have their parents/guardians contacted. If the situation cannot be remedied, students may not be permitted to attend classes and may be sent home if the dress code cannot be adhered to. Hats will be confiscated.''

The memo then became explicit.

"Shorts must reach the tips of the fingers when arms are extended and placed at your sides (no short shorts). No excessive cleavage visible while standing or seated (on the top or bottom). Belly shirts, halter tops or tube tops, especially those that bare the midriff are not permitted. There should be no exposed underwear or bra straps. Clothing that is suggestive, lewd, or with pictures or slogans that are obscene, promote drug use or other illegal behavior, or that degrade religion or race or sexuality are banned. Head coverings, including bandannas are prohibited except for religious purposes."

I began to wonder how other high schools – and how families themselves – are handling dress code issues. I took the matter up at an extended family gathering with lots of teenagers. One mother described marching her teenage daughter right back into her room to change when she emerged with too much skin.

Another described how her daughter's school keeps enormous t-shirts on hand for when students show up in scanty clothing; they insist the student who violated the dress code cover up with the shirt.

The teenagers I asked agree that dress codes are needed.

"Trust me, people would show up wearing nothing," one offered.

Some city schools have dress codes just for athletes; others have severely restrictive dress codes. Last year, one city school insisted on a dress code for teachers.

Insideschools.org would like to know how your city high school is handling dress code issues as the weather warms up. Is anyone listening? How is it enforced? Does it make parents yearn for school uniforms?