Drawing upon a mix of qualitative and quantitative data, the 2024 Student Voice Report by Challenge Success, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Standford University’s Graduate School of Education, provides insight into a generation of high school students’ emotional and physical well-being, sense of belonging and engagement.
The survey results analyzed in the report, which span 2010–23, reflect the experiences of more than 270,000 young people of varying genders and racial/ethnic backgrounds who attended geographically diverse public, independent and charter high schools. Additional information gathered from focus groups, student shadowing and other methods was considered as well.
Some of the topics explored in the report, released in June, include sleep and stress, pressure to succeed, and school climate and culture.
“The report offers several recommendations to improve student engagement and well-being, including prioritizing both physical and mental health, providing students with relevant and meaningful academic experiences, and nurturing a positive, respectful and caring school culture,” according to Challenge Success. Resources to promote well-being, engagement and belonging are also featured.
Key findings
In the 14-year period studied, students in grades 9-12 consistently felt they had insufficient sleep and had high levels of stress. Those who got more sleep had an easier time dealing with stress.
The majority of students felt pressure to succeed, with female and gender diverse students experiencing more pressure to perform well academically compared to their male peers.
Across populations, Challenge Success found that most students aren’t fully engaged in school.
“Student engagement and belonging are closely correlated with academic performance and success. Challenge Success analyzed various factors contributing to student engagement and found that students identifying as girl/woman, gender diverse or Black show lower levels of engagement and belonging when compared to their peers.”
A school’s climate and culture are known to have significant impact on students’ overall experiences and engagement. A few key factors that contribute to these conditions highlighted in the report include fostering respectful and understanding relationships between staff and students, implementing policies that accommodate individual students’ needs and creating a general atmosphere that encourages mutual respect and encouragement.
Recommendations
“Schools, families and communities must collaborate to create environments that support all dimensions of student well-being and pave the way for more fulfilling and successful educational experiences,” the report states.
Prioritizing emotional wellness and physical health and supporting students’ sense of purpose and autonomy are recommended steps to increase well-being.
Offering relevant and meaningful experiences, shifting focus to student growth versus achievement and pressure and designing learning environments that demonstrate a climate of care are among tips to enhance students’ feelings of belonging and engagement.
Browse resources that can support these efforts on Challenge Successes’ website.
