ParentsTogether Unveils National Student Survey, Finds Safety, Mental Health, and Inclusion are Top Priorities

Survey of 1,000 students finds families united on school priorities, even as national debates focus on divisive issues.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ParentsTogether unveiled findings from a groundbreaking national survey of more than 1,000 U.S. students in grades 6–12, released following a panel with student leaders at the National Press Club. The survey centers student voices, often absent from education coverage and research, and finds that students share clear priorities around mental health, bullying prevention, and safe, supportive schools, aligning with what they and their parents value most.

The findings reveal a disconnect between what dominates the headlines and what matters most to students:

• Students value their school. Nearly 8 in 10 rate their school as "good" or "excellent," citing friendships, supportive teachers, sports, and welcoming environments. When asked what could improve, they pointed to better meals, stronger bullying prevention, expanded mental health support, and less stress.
• Students care deeply about safety and belonging. A broad consensus (86% of students) says every student should feel safe and included at school, regardless of gender identity.
• Students want improvements for their everyday experience. Nearly half of students say schools should improve bullying prevention (45%) and reduce stress from exams and homework (43%), while far fewer point to culture (20%) or curriculum (24%).
• Bullying and mental health top the list. Almost half of students say schools aren't doing enough to stop bullying, and many report inadequate access to mental health resources.
• Students are talking with their parents about the issues they care about most. More than two-thirds (68%) discuss anti-bullying policies at home, and 63% talk about mental health support.

"ParentsTogether believes the most powerful way parents can support public education is by listening to the students who live it every day," said Ailen Arreaza, Executive Director of ParentsTogether. "Our survey found that students and families largely agree on what matters most: protecting kids from bullying, expanding mental health support, and ensuring every child feels a sense of belonging. When we center these priorities, we can move beyond political distractions and focus on solutions that truly strengthen schools."

The National Press Club panel featured youth leaders from Kentucky Student Voices (KSVT), Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), andSeek Common Ground who stressed the need to put young people at the center of the conversation.

"Students are the primary stakeholders in education and should hold influence in the decisions affecting us," said Cameron Samuels, Executive Director of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT). "This report reveals what we have heard among the student body for years: students crave effective solutions for advancing youth mental health and bullying prevention in schools. Our long-overdue investment in public schools could be a game-changer for a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and empowering education system."

The full research report, including detailed findings, is available at https://parents-together.org/student-perspectives-report-2025/

About Parents Together
ParentsTogether  is a national, parent-led organization with over 2 million community members from coast to coast working together to build a world where every child and family can thrive. Our membership is socio-economically and racially diverse, and includes parents from every state.

About Kentucky Student Voices
The Kentucky Student Voice Team (KSVT)  is an independent, statewide, 501(c)(3) nonprofit co-founded in 2012 by a group of Kentucky high school students. As a youth-led, intergenerationally sustained organization, KSVT is on a mission to co-create more just, democratic Kentucky schools and communities as research, policy-advocacy & storytelling partners.

About Seek Common Ground
Seek Common Ground (SCG), a project of the New Venture Fund, provides forums for state- and community-facing education advocates to promote local, authentic agenda setting to drive sustainable educational excellence and equity. Through the Action Accelerator, SCG provides an ecosystem for experimentation, connecting impacted communities to address vexing societal issues. SCG serves as an intermediary between national organizations and funders seeking to reach and empower state- and community-facing organizations and the state-and community facing coalitions with whom we partner. Learn more at seekcommonground.org.

About Students Engaged in Advancing Texas
SEAT  is a movement of young people developing transferable skills and demonstrating youth visibility in policymaking. Through storytelling and intergenerational partnerships, SEAT cultivates cultural shifts to center student narratives, promote student rights, and shape a future where students hold agency in education.

SOURCE ParentsTogether