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, implementing physical safety measures to deter or reduce violence, and promoting inclusive classrooms.
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.

Additionally, SchoolSafety.gov regularly publishes issue briefs that provide a high-level overview of a specific school safety topic as well as a sampling of aligned strategies, resources, programs, and tools. Download and explore the school climate-related issue brief below.

School Climate

Guidance

Guiding Principles for Creating Safe, Inclusive, Supportive, and Fair School Climates

Department of Education, 2023

This resource provides guidance on how to maintain safe, inclusive, supportive, and fair learning environments for students and school staff and includes specific recommendations for evidence-based practices to give students what they need to learn and grow. It identifies five guiding principles, suggests actions schools and school districts can take to create inclusive, safe, supportive, and fair learning environments, and lists federal resources to support these efforts.

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.

Training Program

Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package

Department of Education

This resource package offers school and district administrators and staff a framework and roadmap for adopting a trauma-sensitive approach school- or district wide. It includes a variety of resources for educating school staff about trauma and trauma-sensitive practices and for providing school leaders with a step-by-step process for implementing a universal, trauma-informed approach using package materials.

Tool

LGBTQ Inclusivity in Schools: A Self-Assessment Tool

Department of Health and Human Services, October 2020

This self-assessment tool was created to assist school and district staff in addressing the health and academic needs of LGBTQ students, and to understand current policies, programs, and practices that may contribute to safe, inclusive environments where all youth can be successful.

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.

Case Study

The Safe Communities Safe Schools Model: An Assessment of Model Implementation and Outcomes

Department of Justice, 2022

This article shares findings from a study conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence who partnered with educators in Colorado middle schools to implement and evaluate the Safe Communities Safe Schools model. Researchers examined the ability of schools to implement the model as designed, as well as whether the model affects school climate and student behavior at school.

Podcast

The Science of School Safety

Department of Justice, 2022

This podcast episode discusses bullying, school climate, mental health, and other important school safety issues. The episode also covers the National Institute of Justice's research portfolio on school safety.

Guidance

Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Oriented Schools Toolkit

Department of Justice, 2021

This toolkit outlines a framework for implementing trauma-informed, resilience-oriented approaches in any school or school district. It utilizes tools, videos, professional development slide decks, and concise instruction to explain the concepts of trauma and toxic stress; offers individual and school-wide strategies for addressing trauma and fostering resilience for students, staff, and families; and offers strategies to assess the impact of these adaptations throughout the school community.