Parents and students alike were surprised to find that this year at Carson Middle School, students are not permitted to wear costumes — which many found especially confusing since Eagle Valley Middle School students are dressing up.
However, according to the Carson City School District, this wasn’t an administrative decision — it was a student one.
“At Carson Middle School, the Student Leadership program selected a “Fall Color War” for this year’s spirit-day theme, which takes place the week before Nevada Day,” Dan Davis, CCSD Public Information Officer, said. “The school administration is supporting trying this out and encouraging participation in the alternative activity.”
He said that there is no real established tradition or rule for wearing Halloween costumes to school.
For many years, there have been limitations on what is appropriate to wear — costumes should conform with school dress code, and some schools throughout the state have banned masks for safety reasons — but there has never been a uniform district-wide policy.
“Our schools regularly try new ways of doing things, especially when holidays fall on different days each year,” Davis said. “This year, Carson High School, for the first time in years, is allowing students and teachers to dress up in Halloween costumes. Similarly, Eagle Valley Middle School and many of our elementary schools will also allow students to wear costumes.”
He added that, for CMS, there were additional factors that brought logistical concerns for costume-wearing, as eighth graders will be heading to the Nevada State Museum and the Nevada State Capitol for field trips on Wednesday and Thursday, which could add additional challenges for costume-wearers.
As a reminder, all kids and kids at heart get to wear their costumes on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 in Carson City for the official trick-or-treat night!
