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More local high school students are feeling academically motivated and connected to their school, while fewer are experiencing chronic sadness and emotional distress.
That’s according to the results of the California Healthy Kids Survey in the Mountain View Los Altos High School District. The annual questionnaire is administered to students across the state, assessing their health, overall well-being and school experiences.
MVLA Wellness Coordinator William Blair presented the survey results to the school board at a March 23 meeting, telling trustees that the data indicates the district is moving in the right direction. In an interview with the Voice, Blair attributed the improvements to the district’s focus on fostering meaningful adult relationships and uplifting the idea of school connectedness.
“We are in such an academically intense area,” Blair said. “If we really do support the whole child, then the students will be more successful.”
In 2025, 74% of MVLA students who took the survey reported feeling connected to their school, up from 66% in 2021. Similarly, 72% of students said they were academically motivated, compared to 67% in 2021.
When asked about their mental health, 21% of students reported experiencing chronic sadness or hopelessness. While this is down from 35% in 2021, Blair pointed out that more than 700 students still report that they are struggling.
School districts typically only administer the survey every two years to ninth and 11th graders. However, MVLA began giving the survey annually, to all grade levels, in 2023. All students also took the survey in 2021.
“It’s a very different school experience for 11th graders than for ninth graders, and so we wanted to be able to see the trends in a more minute way,” Blair said.
Last school year, 3,531 MVLA students filled out the questionnaire, equating to an 81% response rate.
At the March 23 meeting, trustees asked Blair questions about the supports that the district offers students, as well as potential areas to make changes. Blair responded that MVLA could expand on its current initiatives, including offering mental health services on campus.
“It’s really awesome to see all the improvements,” board member Alex Levich said. “It’s amazing and very encouraging.”
Mountain View High senior Claire Schwarzhoff, who serves as a student representative to the board, praised the California Healthy Kids Survey for giving high schoolers a chance to anonymously share their experiences.
“When it comes to those more serious questions about maybe mental health or substance use, I think there can always be that dishonesty,” Schwarzhoff said. “But, I think in general, the trends that we’re seeing are reflecting what I myself am seeing on campus.”
Despite improvements, concerns remain
While much of MVLA’s data reflected positive trends, there were still areas of concern. Last year, 19% of students districtwide reported experiencing harassment or bullying. However, there were large disparities by race. Among Black students, 58% reported experiencing harassment or bullying, compared to 15% of Asian students, 19% of white students and 21% of Latino students.
When asked what stood out to him the most from last year’s student responses, Blair pointed to the fact that 3% of students, or roughly 100 kids, reported having attempted suicide in the last 12 months, a figure that has stayed relatively consistent in recent years.
“These are real people, not just numbers,” Blair said. “It’s startling data.”
Blair said that MVLA’s statistics mirror what’s being seen across the county. Mountain View’s neighbor, Palo Alto, is currently in the midst of its third “suicide cluster” – a short period of time when multiple deaths by suicide happen.
In February, California Assembly member Marc Berman, whose district includes Mountain View, Palo Alto and Menlo Park, put forth a bill that aims to offer free suicide prevention training to all K-12 students, teachers, administrators and parents in California.
At MVLA, there are school-based therapists available to students. Having skilled professionals on campus who can intervene when needed is critically important, Blair said.
The schools host events and put up posters to help ensure that students know about these campus resources. Last year, 79% of district students reported that they knew where to go when they felt lonely, depressed, stressed or sad.
“When the students are struggling, we have support for them,” Blair said.
Help is available:
Any person who is feeling depressed, troubled or suicidal can call 988, the mental health crisis hotline, to speak with a crisis counselor. In Santa Clara County, interpretation is available in 200 languages. Spanish speakers can also call 888-628-9454. People can reach trained counselors at Crisis Text Line by texting RENEW to 741741.
