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Abstract

Denise Pope, Sarah Miles, Megan Pacheco, and Caitlin Ciannella explore three major concerns affecting high school students’ well-being: stress, sleep deprivation, and lack of belonging. Drawing from research by Challenge Success involving over 270,000 high school students across more than 10 years, they highlight how academic pressure, family expectations, and modern societal challenges contribute to unhealthy stress levels. Their research reveals that students are chronically sleep-deprived, averaging only 6.6 hours of sleep per night. Additionally, many students, particularly those from marginalized groups, report feeling isolated and unsupported at school. They offer practical suggestions for families, educators, and schools to address these issues.

Keywords

High school students Adolescent well-being Student stress Challenge Success Sleep deprivation Student belonging School climate

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