School Climate Notes

Data in this report are weighted, self-reported estimates from the 2016–17 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

All data are reliable and significant at p≤0.05 unless otherwise noted.

†Data have a relative standard error ≥ 30%, a confidence interval half-width ≥10%, or an unweighted denominator <50. Interpret data with caution.

*Data have a p-value>0,05. Interpret data with caution.

Data are pooled when more than five states asked the same question. If fewer than five states asked a question, data for just one site is shown.

1.0    Measuring Perceptions of School Climate Among Homeless Students

The three pillars of school climate are from the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments.

1.1           Engagement

Academic Grades of High School Students During the Past Year

Homeless grades n=359,324

Housed grades n=4,428,864

During the past 12 months, how would you describe your grades in school?

  • Mostly A’s
  • Mostly B’s
  • Mostly C’s
  • Mostly D’s
  • Mostly F’s
  • None of these grades
  • Not sure

Note: For analysis purposes, “None of these grades” and “Not sure” were counted as missing.

Percent of Students Who Participated in Sports or Extracurricular Activities

Homeless sports/extracurriculars n=299,536

Housed sports/extracurriculars n=3,640,731

During the past 12 months, on how many sports teams did you play?

  • 0 teams 
  • 1 team
  • 2 teams 
  • 3 or more teams 

Sites included in analysis: AK, AR, CA, Cleveland, CO, DE, DeKalb County, HI, ID, IL, KS, KY, MT, NH, Palm Beach, PA, Philadelphia

During the past 7 days, on how many days did you take part in organized after school, evening, or weekend activities (other than sports teams) such as school clubs, community center groups, music/art/dance lessons, drama, church, or other supervised activity?

  • 0 days 
  • 1 day 
  • 2 days 
  • 3 days 
  • 4 days 
  • 5 days 
  • 6 days 
  • 7 days

Sites included in analysis: Cleveland

On how many of the past 7 days did you take part in organized after school, evening, or weekend activities (such as school clubs; sports; community center groups; music, art, or dance lessons; drama; church; or other supervised activities)?

  • 0 days 
  • 1 day 
  • 2 days 
  • 3 days 
  • 4 days 
  • 5 days 
  • 6 days 
  • 7 days

Sites included in analysis: CT

During an average week when you are in school, how many total

hours do you participate in after-school activities such as sports,

band, drama, or clubs?

  • 0 hours
  • 1 to 4 hours 
  • 5 to 9 hours 
  • 10 to 19 hours 
  • 20 or more hours 

Sites included in analysis: DeKalb County

At school I am involved in sports, clubs, or other extra-curricular activities (such as band, cheerleading, or student council).

  • Not true at all 
  • A little true 
  • Pretty much true
  • Very much true

Sites included in analysis: NM

In an average week when you are in school, how many total hours do you participate in afterschool activities such as sports, band, drama, or clubs run by your school or community groups?

  • 0 hours 
  • 1 to 4 hours 
  • 5 to 9 hours
  • 10 to 19 hours 
  • 20 or more hours

Sites included in analysis: VT

During an average week when you are in school, how many total hours do you participate in after school activities such as sports, band, drama, or clubs?

  • 0 hours 
  • 1 to 4 hours 
  • 5 to 9 hours 
  • 10 to 19 hours 
  • 20 or more hours

Sites included in analysis: VA

Note: These questions were combined to create one variable measuring participation in extracurriculars and/or sports.

Percent of Students Who Have a Positive Connection with a Teacher or Other Adult at School

Homeless positive connection n=151,406

Housed positive connection n=1,839,844

Do you agree or disagree that your teachers really care about you and give you a lot of encouragement?

  • Strongly agree 
  • Agree 
  • Not sure 
  • Disagree 
  • Strongly disagree

Sites included in analysis: AK, NC

Is there at least one teacher or other adult in your school that you can talk to if you have a problem?

  • Yes
  • No 
  • Not sure

Sites included in analysis: AR, CT, HI, ID, IL, MA, VT, WI

Do you agree or disagree that at least one of your teachers really cares and gives you help and support when you need it?

  • Strongly agree 
  • Agree 
  • Not sure 
  • Disagree 
  • Strongly disagree

Site included in analysis: ME

At my school, there is a teacher or some other adult who listens to me when I have something to say.

  • Not true at all 
  • A little true 
  • Pretty much true 
  • Very much true

Site included in analysis: NM

Note: These questions were combined to create one variable measuring how connected students felt to teachers and other school staff.

State Spotlight on Wisconsin: Student Responses to Whether Students Feel a Sense of Belonging at School

Homeless belonging n=10,367

Housed belonging n=224,173

Do you agree or disagree that you feel like you belong at your school?

  • Strongly agree 
  • Agree 
  • Not sure 
  • Disagree 
  • Strongly disagree

State Spotlight on Maine: Student Responses to Belief That Adults Address Conflict, Negative Language, and Bullying in Positive Ways

Homeless adults address conflict n=1,989

Housed adults address conflict n=49,959

How often do adults in your school address conflict, negative language, and bullying in positive ways to help students?

  • Never 
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes 
  • Most of the time 
  • Always

1.2           Safety

Percent of Students Who Were Bullied at School or Electronically in the Past Year

Homeless bullying n=405,251

Housed bullying n=4,824,918

Note: Both bullying questions were combined into one bullying indicator.

Percent of Students Who Were Bullied for Sexual Orientation, Appearance, Race, or Gender

Homeless LGBQ (pooled) n=139,123

Housed LGBQ (pooled) n=1,579,223

Homeless physical appearance (Palm Beach) n=5,366

Housed physical appearance (Palm Beach) n=41,373

Homeless race/ethnicity (ID) n=2,806

Housed race/ethnicity (ID) n=71,918

Homeless gender (WI) n=10,054

Housed gender (WI) n=223,318

During the past 12 months, have you ever been the victim of teasing or name calling because someone thought you were gay, lesbian, or bisexual?

  • Yes
  • No

Sites included in analysis: AR, DeKalb County, ID, IL, KS, Los Angeles, MT, NC, Oakland, Palm Beach, WI

During the past 12 months, have you ever been the victim of teasing or name calling because of your weight, size, or physical appearance?

  • Yes
  • No

Site included in analysis: Palm Beach

During the past 12 months, have you ever been the victim of teasing or name calling because of your race or ethnic background?

  • Yes
  • No

Site included in analysis: ID

During the past 12 months, have you ever been the victim of teasing or name calling because of your gender?

  • Yes
  • No

Site included in analysis: WI

State Spotlight on Arkansas: Do Students in Arkansas Think Harassment and Bullying Are Problems at Their Schools?

Homeless bullying problem n=30,992

Housed bullying problem n=95,102

Do you agree or disagree that harassment and bullying by other students in a problem at your school?

  • Strongly agree
  • Agree
  • Not sure
  • Disagree
  • Strongly disagree

State Spotlight on Arkansas: How Often Do Students in Arkansas Feel Safe and Secure at School?

Homeless safe at school n=31,537

Housed safe at school n=95,585

How often do you feel safe and secure at school?

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Most of the time
  • Always

Percent of Students Who Missed School During the Past Month Due to Feeling Unsafe

Homeless missed school n=414,050

Housed missed school n=4,660,448

During the past 30 days, on how many days did you not go to school because you felt you would be unsafe at school or on your way to or from school?

  • 0 days
  • 1 day
  • 2 or 3 days
  • 4 or 5 days
  • 6 or more days

Sites included in analysis: AK, AR, CA, Cleveland, CO, CT, DeKalb County, DE, HI, ID, IL, KS, Los Angeles, ME, MA, MT, NH, NM, New York City, NC, Oakland, Palm Beach, PA, Philadelphia, VT, VA, WI

Percent of Students Who Were Threatened, Got in a Fight, or Carried a Weapon at School

Homeless threatened n= 416,503

Housed threatened n= 4,669,390

Homeless fight n= 325,494

Housed fight n= 4,087,045

Homeless weapon n= 385,817

Housed weapon n= 4,557,305

During the past 12 months, how many times has someone threatened or injured you with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club on school property?

  • 0 times
  • 1 time
  • 2 or 3 times
  • 4 or 5 times
  • 6 or 7 times
  • 8 or 9 times
  • 10 or 11 times
  • 12 or more times

Sites included in analysis: AR, CA, Cleveland, CO, CT, DeKalb County, DE, ID, IL, KS, KY, Los Angeles, ME, MA, MT, NH, New York City, NC, Oakland, Palm Beach, PA, Philadelphia, VT, VA, WI

During the past 12 months, how many times were you in a physical fight on school property?

  • 0 times
  • 1 time
  • 2 or 3 times
  • 4 or 5 times
  • 6 or 7 times
  • 8 or 9 times
  • 10 or 11 times
  • 12 or more times

Sites included in analysis: AK, AR, CA, DE, ID, IL, KS, KY, ME, MA, MT, NM, NC, Oakland, Palm Beach, PA, Philadelphia, VT, VA, WI

During the past 30 days, on how many days did you carry a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club on school property?

  • 0 days
  • 1 day
  • 2 or 3 days
  • 4 or 5 days
  • 6 or more days

Sites included in analysis: AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, DeKalb County, DE, ID, IL, KY, ME, MA, MT, NH, NM, New York City, NC, Oakland, Palm Beach, PA, Philadelphia, VT, VA, WI

State Spotlight on North Carolina: Percent of Students in North Carolina Who Said There Is Gang Activity in Their School

Homeless gang activity n=45,781

Housed gang activity n=364,765

Is there gang activity in your school?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Not sure

State Spotlight on Wisconsin: Student Responses to Perception that VIolence Is a Problem in Their Schools

Homeless violence problem n=10,570

Housed violence problem n=224,558

Do you agree or disagree that violence is a problem at your school?

  • Strongly agree
  • Agree
  • Not sure
  • Disagree
  • Strongly disagree

1.3           Environment

Percent of Students Who Said They Had Been Offered, Sold, or Given Drugs on School Property in the Past Year

Homeless drugs at school n=369,011

Housed drugs at school n=4,583,146

During the past 12 months, has anyone offered, sold, or given you an illegal drug on school property?

  • Yes
  • No

Sites included in analysis: AR, CA, Cleveland, CO, CT, Dekalb County, DE, ID, IL, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MT, NH, NM, NC, Oakland, Palm Beach, PA, Philadelphia, VT, VA, WI

Percent of Students Who Drank, Smoked Cigarettes, or Used Marijuana at School in the Past Month

Homeless alcohol (NM) n=6,532

Housed alcohol (NM) n=84,417

Homeless cigarettes (KY) n=10,945

Housed cigarettes (KY) n=169,525

Homeless marijuana (ID) n=2,869

Housed marijuana (ID) n=71,879

During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have at least one drink of alcohol on school property?

  • 0 days 
  • 1 or 2 days 
  • 3 to 5 days
  • 6 to 9 days 
  • 10 to 19 days 
  • 20 to 29 days 
  • All 30 days

    Sites included in analysis: NM

During the past 30 days, on how many days did you smoke cigarettes on school property?

  • 0 days 
  • 1 or 2 days 
  • 3 to 5 days
  • 6 to 9 days 
  • 10 to 19 days 
  • 20 to 29 days 
  • All 30 days

Sites included in analysis: KY

During the past 30 days, how many times did you use marijuana on school property?

  • 0 times
  • 1 or 2 times
  • 3 to 9 times
  • 10 to 19 times
  • 20 to 39 times
  • 40 or more times

    Sites included in analysis: ID

State Spotlight on New Mexico: Student Responses to Existence of Clear School Rules

Homeless clear rules n=6,665

Housed clear rules n=82,191

In my school, there are clear rules about what students can and cannot do.

  • Not true at all
  • A little true
  • Pretty much true
  • Very much true

State Spotlight on Maine: Student Responses to Whether Schools Are Enforcing Rules Fairly

Homeless fair rules n=1,975

Housed fair rules n=49,872

How often does your school enforce rules fairly?

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Most of the time
  • Always

City Spotlight on NYC: Percent of Students Who Got Help from a Counselor, Social Worker, or Therapist at School in the Past Year

Homeless school-based counselor n=26,823

Housed school-based counselor n=156,991

During the past 12 months, did you get help from a counselor, social worker or therapist at school for an emotional or personal issue that you could not face alone?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Not sure

City Spotlight on NYC: Percent of Students Who Have Ever Gone to the Nurse or Clinic at School 

Homeless school nurse n=23,972

Housed school nurse n=159,657

    Have you ever gone to the nurse or clinic at this school?

  • Yes
  • No

2.0    The Cumulative Impact of Negative School Climate Among Homeless High School Students

Part 2 only includes data for AR, CT, ID, IL, ME, MA, NM, NC, VT, and WI, as these are the only geographies that ask all 4 indicators on school climate in this section (bullying, missing school due to feeling unsafe, lacking positive relationships with teachers or adults at school, and being offered, sold, or given illicit drugs on school property). As this section analyzes results from fewer geographies, some overall numbers might differ from the previous section or other ICPH reports.

2.1       Homeless Students Disproportionately Experience Negative School Climates

Number of Negative School Climate Indicators Experienced by Housing Status

Homeless negative school climate indicators n=121,692

Housed negative school climate indicators n=1,752,894

Percent of Homeless and Housed Students by Number of Negative School Climate Indicators Experienced

Zero negative indicators n=799,101

One negative indicator n=683,542

Two negative indicators n=296,153

Three negative indicators n=80,580

Four negative indicators n=15,211

2.2       The Impact of School Climate on Homeless Students’ Academic Outcomes and Mental Health

Percent of Homeless Students Who Got Mostly A’s or B’s, by Number of Negative School Climate Indicators

    Zero negative indicators n=23,490

One negative indicator n=37,206

Two negative indicators n=32,862

Three negative indicators n=14,123

Four negative indicators n=3,025

During the past 12 months, how would you describe your grades in school?

  • Mostly A’s
  • Mostly B’s
  • Mostly C’s
  • Mostly D’s
  • Mostly F’s
  • None of these grades
  • Not sure

Note: For analysis purposes, “None of these grades” and “Not sure” were counted as missing.

Percent of Homeless Students Who Plan to Attend College, by Number of Negative School Climate Indicators

Zero negative indicators n=4,545

One negative indicator n=8,045

Two negative indicators n=5,899

Three negative indicators n=3,629

Four negative indicators n=925

How likely is it that you will complete a post high school program such as a vocational training program, military service, community college, or 4-year college?

  • Definitely will not
  • Probably will not
  • Probably will
  • Definitely will
  • Not sure

Note: This analysis includes only CT, ID, MA, and VT, as these are the only sites that asked this question.

Percent of Homeless Students Who Were Depressed, by Number of Negative School Climate Indicators

Zero negative indicators n=25,093

One negative indicator n=40,166

Two negative indicators n=33,942

Three negative indicators n=14,719

Four negative indicators n=3,733

During the past 12 months, did you ever feel so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row that you stopped doing some usual activities?

  • Yes
  • No

Percent of Homeless Students Who Attempted Suicide, by Number of Negative School Climate Indicators

Zero negative indicators n=20,883

One negative indicator n=31,194

Two negative indicators n=27,188

Three negative indicators n=13,138

Four negative indicators n=3,478

During the past 12 months, how many times did you actually attempt suicide?

  • 0 times
  • 1 time
  • 2 or 3 times
  • 4 or 5 times
  • 6 or more times