NAIS Report on the 2018 High School Survey of Student Engagement

Overview

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) partnered with the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy (CEEP) at Indiana University to offer the High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE). HSSSE, targeting grades 9 through 12, is a student-focused survey that investigates the attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs of students about their schoolwork, the learning environment, and their interactions with the school community.

(Click here to register for the current survey.)

In the spring of 2018, 8,285 students in 39 NAIS schools located in all regions of the United States and in one international school completed the HSSSE. Participating schools ranged in size from 39 to 1,370 students. This report includes the aggregated results for all NAIS students participating in the HSSSE. The information is broken down by three demographic categories: Student engagement is increasingly viewed as one of the keys to building a safe, positive, and creative school climate and culture that increase student achievement and decrease student boredom, alienation, and dropout rates. HSSSE data can be invaluable to schools in this effort. Unlike knowledge-based assessment instruments, the HSSSE provides student engagement data that showcase how schools instill 21st century skills in their students while providing a caring and safe environment that nurtures the whole child.

Executive Summary

On the basis of the results of the 2018 High School Survey of Student Engagement, NAIS has identified several differences in students’ engagement between genders and among different grade levels and racial/ethnic groups. According to the level of effort reported both in and outside of the classroom, girls believe that they work harder at NAIS school than their male classmates. Boys report higher levels of belonging and emotional engagement with school than girls and they also report witnessing and experiencing lower levels of bullying. Seniors in NAIS schools are more challenge-driven than their younger peers but report lower levels of effort in school than students in lower grades.
 
NAIS students in all grades are highly motivated by their desire to succeed in the world beyond high school. Older students report practicing the skills that colleges and employers seek, such as communicating, problem-solving, and empathy.


 
The 2018 HSSSE results also indicate that students of color report spending less free time engaged in school activities, such as participating in school-sponsored extracurriculars or completing homework. Students of color also report slightly less trust in the fairness and consistent application of disciplinary practices at their school.

Downloadable Content