A Texas school district, facing backlash after one of its middle schools banned black clothes, has said the dress code change was “prematurely communicated”.

Charles Middle School, part of the El Paso Independent School District, cited student mental health concerns when it announced its new dress code’s ban of black outfits.

But the school district said in a statement on Wednesday evening that Charles Middle School had adopted the “proposed modifications” without district sign off.

Local media reported that Charles Middle School Principal Nick DeSantis shared the policy with parents earlier this week, noting that students wearing “black tops and black bottoms” had “taken over”.

The “look”, he wrote, “has become more associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality than with happy and health kids ready to learn”.

Many parents and community members shared their scepticism about the connection between clothing colour and mental health.