By: Danish Kurani
Here’s an alarming statistic: in a 2019 survey of 47,000 high school students, just 40% of students said they felt like “a real part of this school.” That means 60% of students show up to school each day feeling, to some degree, like outsiders. Given the intense isolation many students have felt during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s hard to imagine this lack of belonging has gotten any better. In fact, it’s likely gotten worse.
What will happen to them? Researchers have found that students disengage when they feel as though they do not belong in school. Their performance is affected. And they come to believe that certain futures aren’t available to them.
We’ve seen cultural movements around diversity, equity, and inclusion that are meant to help people feel included. Is being included for a child enough, or must she feel valued and like she belongs to her community?
Feeling like you belong can improve almost any school experience. A 2022 review found that students are more confident, motivated and engaged. That means they’ll speak up more confidently in class, ask more questions, work better with their classmates, and…
