NASSP's Survey of America’s School Leaders and High School Students

Designed by school leaders and students, this nationally representative survey explores the opinions of principals, assistant principals, and high school students on the challenges of leading and learning at school as well as their thoughts on mental health, school safety, and how to better meet the needs of all learners.

How much help do you feel like you needed when it came to your own emotional or mental health last year?

For many, the last year has been the start of a return to normalcy. But the overwhelming challenges facing school communities continue to shift and escalate, driven by pandemic fallout, a politically fraught landscape and years of burning the candle at both ends.

The key findings include:

One out of two school leaders claim their stress level is so high they are considering a career change or retirement.
The majority of students (73%) report they are generally satisfied at their school, but there is an opportunity to involve them more in school planning and policies.
Three-quarters of school leaders (73%) and students (74%) report they needed help with their mental or emotional health last year.

The majority of school leaders (70%) and students (51%) report they have personally been threatened or attacked, physically or verbally during the past year.
School leaders and students agree that more work needs to be done when it comes to meeting the needs of underserved students.
School leaders and students believe there are some benefits to pandemic practices that help meet students’ unique needs.

School Leader Experience

1 out of 2 school leaders say their stress level is so high they are considering a career change or retirement.

When are you most likely to leave your current role?

Which would most likely keep you in your profession?

Do you agree or disagree you have the following in your role?

Staffing shortages are a problem at my school.

As a school leader, do you feel your opinion is represented “a great deal” in major decisions and policy considerations?

How do you currently spend more than six hours a week?

How do you want to spend more than six hours a week?

In which of the following areas are students involved at your school?

“Principals in every state are facing enormous challenges resulting in significant stress with no end in sight. The survey results make clear that while we love working with students and teachers, our conditions are unsustainable and if left unaddressed, could result in principal shortages that will be difficult to overcome.”

—Ryan Merriwether Principal of North Junior High School in Evansville, IN

Ryan Merriwether

Student Experience

73% of students report they are generally satisfied at their school, but there is an opportunity to involve them more in school planning and policies.

Do you agree or disagree you have the following as a student?

As a student, do you feel your opinion is represented “a great deal” in major decisions and policy considerations?

In which of the following areas are students involved at your school?

“As students, we often feel like we don’t have a voice. I try my best to be involved in the school community, yet my voice only goes so far. We want more opportunities to share what students need and how we learn best.”

—Corinthian Querimit 11th-grade student at BASIS Oro Valley in Oro Valley, AZ

Corinthian Querimit

Mental Health & Wellness

3 out of 4 of school leaders (73%) and students (74%) report they needed help with their mental or emotional health last year.

How much help do you feel like you needed when it came to your own emotional or mental health last year?

Of those that needed help over the last year with their emotional or mental health, did they seek or receive help?

As a student, do you feel mental health and self-care are valued at your school?

It is "critically important" that federal funding to be used for each of the following:

“We have basic mental health supports at the school level. But when students need more targeted assistance, they often must wait more than six months for an appointment with an outside provider. Our students deserve a system that cares for them beyond the school building.”

—Lora-lea Grando Principal of Lahainaluna High School in Lahaina, HI

Lora-lea Grando

School Safety

70% of school leaders and 51% of students report they have personally been threatened or attacked, physically or verbally during the past year.

In the past year, I have personally experienced:

How have student behavior issues in your school changed since students returned from the pandemic?

I am very or somewhat concerned about the following in my school:

Overall, how safe would you rate your school?

"The last few school years have been incredibly difficult for students like me. These survey findings show how important it is for policymakers to prioritize the mental health, well-being, and safety of our kids and educators.”

—Khadija Ali 11th-grade student at Metro Early College High School in Columbus, OH

Khadija Ali

Student Equity

School leaders and students agree that more work needs to be done when it comes to meeting the needs of underserved students.

I strongly agree that my school meets the needs of students who are:

As a student, the people who work at my school look like the students who attend my school.

Do you agree or disagree you have the following as a student?

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to meeting the needs of every student. It’s essential that resources target our most vulnerable kids to ensure they don’t fall through the cracks.”

—Latrese Younger Assistant Principal of Patrick Henry High School in Ashland, VA

Latrese Younger

Pandemic Impact

School leaders and students believe there are some benefits to pandemic practices that help meet students’ unique needs.

Which setting do you prefer for school?

Which pandemic practices do you want your school to permanently adopt?

“Although the pandemic has been hard for all of us, some positive innovations, like virtual classes and more ways to connect with peers online, have actually come out of it. We have an incredible opportunity to reimagine how schools can work best for both students and educators.”

—Anish Basappa 12th-grade student at Bridgeland High School in Cypress, TX

Anish Basappa

Methodology

The development of the NASSP Survey of America’s School Leaders and High School Students was assisted by nine current school leaders and NASSP members and nine National Honor Society students from across the United States. Gotham Research Group, an independent research firm, developed and administered the survey. It was conducted online from June 5 through June 23, 2022, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 principals and assistant/vice principals in middle and high school and 1,000 8–12th grade students enrolled in school for the 2021–22 school year. The margin of error for each sample is ±3.1 percentage points.