Summary of 2019-20 School Climate Connectedness Survey Results

  • Strong Diversity and Inclusion Highlights an Engaged Community’s Perspectives on School Climate in New Haven

     

    NEW HAVEN, CT - New Haven Public Schools has released the results of the 2020-21 administration of its School Climate and Wellbeing Survey. The survey, which is administered annually, provides valuable feedback from educators, families, and students on the successes and areas of growth of the recent school year.

     

    This year’s data is particularly valuable as it offers insights on how the shift to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted perceptions of school. In total, this year’s survey captured the feedback of 4,325 students, 1,024 staff, and 1,633 family members.

     

    The results of the 2020-21 survey reveal a strong narrative of inclusivity, support, and advocacy for student well-being across our community in response to the unprecedented challenges of this school year, while also identifying key areas for growth including sense of belonging and professional learning opportunities for staff.

     

    Summary of Spring 2021 School Climate and Wellbeing Survey

    • Both staff and family participation increased from the last time the survey was administered in 2019.
    • 78% of students as well as 78% of families had favorable perceptions around how diverse, integrated, and fair school is for students of different backgrounds.
    • Nearly 3 in 4 staff had favorable perceptions of how valued they are by their school communities.
    • Ten schools reported favorable student perceptions across at least half of the school climate and well-being topics including:
      - How well students manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in challenging situations
      - How well students consider the perspectives of and empathize with others
      - How often students learn about, discuss, and confront issues of race, ethnicity, and culture in school

     

    Participation

    Nearly 7,000 individuals participated in the 2020-21 School Climate and Well-Being Survey. In spite of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, staff participation increased by over 20% and family participation increased by nearly 3% from the last survey administration. Approximately 62% of respondents were students, 23% were family members, and 15% were staff.

     

    School and Student Highlights

    Students at Bishop Woods, Davis Street, Elm City Montessori, Engineering and Science University, Fair Haven, High School in the Community, John S. Martinez, Metropolitan Business Academy, New Haven Academy Magnet, and Worthington Hooker reported favorable perceptions across at least 3 out of the 6 surveyed topics around student social-emotional skills and well-being, as well as supports for students and equity.

     

    Student Perceptions of School Climate and Social-Emotional Learning
    Student responses presented a range of narratives about the student experience during the pandemic.

    • Bright spots included strong favorable perceptions on how fairly both staff (88% favorable) and fellow students (79% favorable) treat people from different backgrounds at school, as well as how frequently students think about the experiences of individuals of different races, ethnicities, or cultures (78% favorable).
    • While over 80% of students responded favorably when asked about their ability to follow directions in class, just over half, or 53% of students had favorable perceptions about their ability to pay attention and resist distractions.
    • Additionally, while 76% of students expressed that they listened quite or extremely carefully to others’ points of view in the 30 days prior to being surveyed, only 37% had favorable perceptions of their ability to describe their feelings during the same timeframe.

     

    Student Areas of Growth
    Areas of growth exist in improving how much students feel they are valued members of their school community as well as how well students regulate their emotions.

    • 39% of students responded favorably when asked how connected they feel to adults at their school
    • 44% responded favorably when asked how well do people at their school understand them

     

    To view your school’s full results and to learn more, visit the results site.

    For more information, please contact Dr. Michelle Kelly-Baker, (203)859-2009