School Climate

Create a positive school climate where students feel safe, supported, and welcome.

School climate describes the school conditions that influence student learning and comprises issues such as the school environment, student and school safety, and engagement among members of the school community. A positive school climate characterizes a school that effectively attends to the academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs of its students.

A positive school climate can have profound impacts on student success, safety, and well-being. Research shows that when schools and districts focus on promoting a positive school climate, students are more likely to develop trusting relationships with their peers, teachers, and others in the school community; demonstrate positive behaviors; and achieve better outcomes. In the absence of a positive school climate, a student may feel disconnected and engage in destructive or violent behaviors.

School climate improvement is the strategic effort undertaken by a school to achieve a positive climate by considering its practices, systems, and structure. The measurement of school climate provides educators with necessary data to identify school needs, set goals, and track progress toward improvement.

Strategies to Consider

There are several strategies schools and districts can consider to create and sustain a positive school climate. Some of these measures include:

Collect and analyze school data to assess current climate and apply interventions that improve student engagement, school safety, and the learning environment.
Foster a safe school community by establishing bullying and youth substance use prevention programs and implementing physical safety measures to deter or reduce violence.
Enable a supportive academic, disciplinary, and physical environment by encouraging achievement-oriented behavior, eliminating discrimination in the administration of student discipline, and keeping school facilities in good condition.
Build strong school connections and relationships by showing students they are valued and respected and implementing positive behavior management strategies in the classroom.

Featured Resources

These resources are a starting point for learning more about school climate. Use these resources to support and improve school climate.

Tool

School Climate Improvement Resource Package

Department of Education, 2018

This resource package includes a variety of items to meet a range of needs among public schools and districts interested in improving school climate, including a reference manual, action guides, data resources, and online modules.

Webpage

School Connectedness Helps Students Thrive

Department of Health and Human Services

This webpage describes school connectedness, the benefits of school connectedness, and the ways schools can take action to promote school connectedness.

Filter Resources

All School Climate Resources

Access additional resources below to learn more about school climate and related best practices. Use the filters to sort resources based on preparedness action.

Assessment

School Health Index

Department of Health and Human Services, 2017

This online self-evaluation and planning tool enables schools to identify strengths and weaknesses of health and safety policies and programs, develop an action plan for improving student health, and engage teachers, parents, students, and the community in promoting health-enhancing behaviors and better health.

Guidance

Managing Mental Wellness: Tools for Yourself, Your Students, and Your Classroom

Third Party

This toolkit, designed for teachers, offers strategies to manage their mental wellness in the context of school and personally; gives methods to support students' social-emotional learning and well-being; and provides step-by-step tools to respond to students in times of crisis.

Webpage

Classroom Management Approaches to Support School Connectedness

Department of Health and Human Services

This webpage outlines example strategies, tools, and templates that school staff can use to apply classroom management approaches to strengthen school connectedness in their face-to-face, virtual, or blended learning modes.