Well-being among local high school students is improving across several measures, according to new data from the California Healthy Kids Survey, though significant mental health concerns remain, Mountain View Los Altos High School District officials said.
The findings, presented at a March 23 Board of Trustees meeting by MVLA wellness coordinator William Blair, show improvement, but officials said challenges persist, particularly in mental health and disparities among student groups.
“Across the board, we are seeing things heading in the right direction,” Blair said. The California Healthy Kids Survey, an annual statewide anonymous survey of student risk and protective factors, is used to guide district planning, including safety plans and long-term goals. The 2025 survey had a response rate of about 81%, with more than 3,500 students participating.
The survey, administered locally to all students each year, showed increases in school connectedness, academic motivation and caring adult relationships.
Mental health data showed mixed results. While some indicators improved – including a drop in students who seriously considered suicide from 17% in 2021 to 8% – other measures raised concern.
“That’s about a 332 student drop,” Blair said, “but there’s still some work to do.”
Blair also noted that reported attempted suicides increased based on the district’s custom survey module, a trend he said “tracks with what we’re hearing on the ground anecdotally about the acuity of our cases being a lot higher than what we’ve seen in the past.”
About 21% of students reported chronic sadness or hopelessness, representing roughly 700 students. Blair said the district continues to focus on providing support, including short-term counseling and crisis intervention.
Substance use continues to decline, with current alcohol or drug use dropping from 15% in 2021 to 9%. Vaping has also decreased from 9% in 2019 to 4% in 2025.
School safety remains relatively strong, with 84% of students reporting they feel safe or very safe. Reports of harassment, cyberbullying and fear of physical harm have declined overall, though disparities remain.
According to the data, 19% of students reported experiencing harassment or bullying, with American Indian, Alaska Native, Black and gender-diverse students reporting higher rates than their peers.
Some board members raised concerns about student engagement, noting that one indicator – meaningful participation – remained low. Students and staff said structured coursework may limit student autonomy, making it harder to feel engaged.
Board members also discussed screen use, which is not currently measured in the survey, raising questions about its impact on student well-being. Blair said the district is exploring adding questions on screen use in future surveys and continues to work with community partners to support students.