America's education system is facing significant challenges. One primary area of concern is the increasing rate of student dropouts. Nationwide, nearly one out of three U.S. high school students fail to graduate or receive a diploma. Just as there are many issues that contribute to the dropout crisis, there is no one single answer that can bring the needed change. However, in the national dialogue of education and student success, one critical voice is often missing -- the students. For over 40 years, Gallup's Education Practice has provided its expertise and tools to school districts across the United States. The Gallup Student Poll provides students the opportunity to convey their daily experiences and aspirations for the future.
Gallup's research has shown that hope, engagement, and wellbeing are key factors that drive students' grades, achievement scores, retention, and future employment. Students who are engaged or passionately committed to the mission of their school will uplift others, express more creativity, and be more receptive in class. In addition, engaged students are more concerned with success than with bullying, missing class, or other counterproductive activities.
By measuring the hope, engagement, and wellbeing of America's students, the Gallup Student Poll will help create a more hopeful story about American education in which students and teachers get to do what they do best every day, where students' wellbeing and success matter to the community, and their personal flourishing leads to school success.
There is no fee to students, schools, or districts to participate in the Gallup Student Poll, which is administered once each year during the the fall semester. It consists of a Web-based survey administered to students in grades 5 through 12. The survey is conducted in school classrooms or computer labs over a two-week period.
The survey itself takes less than 10 minutes to complete. In addition to several demographic questions (age, grade, gender, etc.), students are asked 20 core questions about what they do, how they think, and how they feel about their home, school, and community life. The following questions are examples that the survey intends to answer about America's students.
• Do your teachers make you feel your schoolwork is important?
• Did you learn or do something interesting yesterday?
• Can you find lots of ways around any problem?
• Do you energetically pursue your goals?
All data collected by the Gallup Student Poll is stored, aggregated, and analyzed by Gallup. Under no circumstances will Gallup reveal a student's individual responses to anyone.
After the two-week survey period, a school's results are shared with the principal and superintendent. District superintendents and city leaders will also have access to district-wide or city-wide data. Furthermore, data will be shared with all participating schools on a yet to be determined national reporting day.
This research effort will continue for at least 10 years, tracking the hope, engagement, and wellbeing of America's students. Armed with this new and ongoing research, parents, school districts, communities, states, and the nation can pursue student success goals with proven and actionable data that can lead to significant improvements.
