This article appeared as "Are the Kids All Right?" in the Winter 2025 issue of Independent School.
Social trends, health issues, and community connections have often influenced how students feel—at home and in the classroom. And for years, schools have attempted to address student health and well-being issues by bringing programs and resources into schools. For example, in the 1990s, schools worked to reduce the stigma around seeking help for mental health issues with awareness campaigns. Schools added more comprehensive sex education and substance abuse prevention programs as teen pregnancy and drug use started to rise. As the internet became more mainstream, anti-cyberbullying programs were added along with emerging anti-bullying campaigns. Now students are engaging in a continually evolving digital space, with the expansion of social media platforms and the use of AI, and this evolution has brought continued concerns over student mental and social health that schools seek to address.
Schools know that student health and well-being is connected to how students perform academically, socially, and emotionally and, ultimately, how they grow into healthy adults. The programs and initiatives that schools pilot aim to better their students’ well-being across the board. And while some progress has been made with initiatives that have evolved—as technology enters the mainstream, rates of obesity increase, synthetic drugs become more available, and more diverse populations require inclusion—schools must continue to focus on physical, mental, and social factors that affect our students.
At NAIS, we’ve been tracking student health and well-being since before the pandemic. Several surveys conducted annually among member schools have revealed how kids are doing, how they feel about school, and which areas of their lives are most challenging today. With phone and social media use, gun violence, and polarization on the rise, students have been struggling—but there are glimmers of positivity as schools intentionally give them the space and resources they need.
Health Check
Every May, the Independent School Health Check asks high school students at NAIS member schools that opt to conduct the survey more than 100 questions about their emotional well-being, academic performance, relationships, high-risk behavior, and more. The 2023–2024 survey, which included more than 7,000 respondents, revealed that since the pandemic years, when there were high rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness, high school students’ mental health is improving. High-risk behavior is another measure for student health and well-being, and in the survey, a majority of students reported not smoking marijuana in the past 30 days, or drinking alcohol without parent permission within the same timeframe. However, 16% of students reported having binge-drank (five or more drinks in an hour) in the past 30 days.
More students reported that they are enjoying life, and fewer students are reporting that they’re lonely. Two-thirds of students reported that their primary guardians are interested in doing fun things with them, and three-quarters are satisfied with the quality of friends they have, demonstrating that these positive relationships are linked to their health and well-being.
Students’ perceptions of their classmates’ behaviors also indicate lower high-risk behavior: About a third of students said they think that very few of their classmates drank alcohol, and even more think that their classmates didn’t smoke marijuana. (Perceptions of other students’ high-risk behaviors tend to be higher than actual rates.)
Student Engagement
We’ve also been tracking engagement with schools that opt to administer the Middle Grades Survey of Student Engagement (MGSSE). The survey categorizes student engagement as “engagement of the mind,” which tracks student academic and classroom engagement; “engagement in the life of the school,” which encompasses student participation in social, extracurricular, and nonacademic school activities; and “engagement of the heart,” which highlights students’ sense of belonging in their school. The 2023 survey included more than 2,000 respondents in NAIS member schools across 10 U.S. states, revealing a complex picture of student engagement. While many students feel positive about their academic and social experiences, there are challenges related to enthusiasm for academic pursuits, social relationships, and perceived safety.
Overall, students care about their school, feel good about being there, and feel supported and respected by their peers. Some students expressed enthusiasm about attending classes and the freedom to voice concerns when necessary. Still, year-over-year results declined, and there are significant variations across different demographics.
Engagement by grade level and gender differed. For example, male students were more likely than their female peers to feel connected to an adult in school. While many students reported strong academic and social-emotional growth, others did not share such positive experiences, highlighting disparities in engagement and well-being.
Compared with 2022, students reported less interest across various academic areas. The most significant decrease: projects involving technology and class discussions. Group projects, however, remained the most engaging activity. These drops suggest potential challenges in maintaining academic enthusiasm, particularly in technology-enhanced and discussion-based learning.
Student-to-student relationships also worsened, exacerbated by lingering effects of the pandemic. Rising levels of depression, anxiety, and bullying were significant concerns. Reports of bullying increased by 14 percentage points from 2021, and students of color, especially Black and Pacific Islander students, felt less safe in school. These disparities in perceived safety reveal how race and ethnicity impact students’ experiences.
Nevertheless, there were improvements in students’ connection to school-sponsored activities, with more students spending four or more hours a week participating in extracurricular activities. This suggests a growing bond between students and their schools despite the challenges in other areas.
A Global Lens
Through research and discovery conversations with practitioners at member schools, NAIS is seeing an overall improvement in the health and well-being of international students. However, some highlight hurdles they experience, including more stress as a result of being in a new culture and community, being away from their families, living in dorms or in homestays with families they have never met before, and having to navigate education in a different language. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted the level of English proficiency for some students, which contributes to the stress these students report. All this, combined with images they have been viewing on TV and social media of gun violence in U.S. schools, polarization, and xenophobia in various communities, impacts their well-being and sense of belonging.
However, as with domestic students, not all international students are experiencing a heightened sense of anxiety, stress, depression, and loneliness. The good news is that independent schools are seeing improvement in the trajectory of health and well-being among international students, and schools have support systems in place to assist both students and their families as needed.
In Action
Using survey results to better understand their students, schools are continuing to address student health and well-being as the issues become more complex. Some schools have dedicated roles to support students’ health and well-being, while others have robust initiatives to offer students a variety of supports. Unique curricula that integrate topics such as mental health, nutrition, physical fitness, and healthy relationships give students the skills to manage stress, communication, and more. Other schools are focusing on digital well-being, expanding digital literacy programs to teach students how to manage their screen time and online behavior. Schools are also offering workshops and resources to parents on related topics of health and well-being.
As schools strive to teach the leaders of tomorrow, they must help them build the skills that include, but go beyond, academic performance. Students need emotional resilience to cope with challenges and celebrate the small wins. Promoting long-term health in the school years through positive peer and adult relationships, engagement with their school communities, healthy digital habits, and mental well-being will ensure that students have a holistic educational experience and the foundational skills necessary to thrive.
Read More
If the adults aren’t healthy, the kids won’t be. Check out these articles on adult health and well-being.
- “Research Insights: Connecting Belongingness and Faculty Retention,” by Jill Bergeron, Meghan Bollens, and Liz Davis, Independent School magazine, Spring 2024
- “Health & Well-Being: Supporting the Adults on Campus,” by Deborah Offner, Independent Ideas blog, January 2023
- “Affirming the Well-Being of Black Teachers,” by Bartley Jeannoute, Independent Ideas blog, January 2022