School Connectedness | Healthy Schools | CDC

The time, attention, and emotional support school staff give to students can engage them in school and learning.

School connectedness reflects students’ belief that peers and adults in the school support, value, and care about their individual well-being as well as their academic progress. It is an important protective factor that promotes the health and well-being of students. Students who feel more connected to school are:

• Less likely to engage in risky behaviors (violence, sexual health, and substance use).1,2
• More likely to engage in positive health behaviors (physical activity and healthy eating).2,3
• More likely to have higher grades and test scores, have better school attendance, and graduate high school.4,5
• Less likely to have emotional distress and thoughts of suicide among adolescents.1,6-8

A recent study showed that school connectedness during adolescence may have long-lasting protective effects across a range of adult health outcomes including emotional distress, suicidal ideation, physical violence victimization and perpetration, multiple sex partners, STI diagnosis, prescription drug misuse, and other illicit drug use.1