Do you ever wonder what students are thinking? You’re not alone. So in early December, SLM sent out a 25-question online survey—asking about topics including academics, policies, socializing, and pop culture—to more than 100 public and private high schools across the St. Louis region. Nearly 150 students responded, with a good mix of grade levels and genders. Eighty percent of respondents attend private high schools, 68 percent are enrolled at single-sex schools, and 86 percent plan to go to a four-year college. Here are just a handful of the findings.
Study Preference
5% 3–5 partners 32% 1–2 partners 63% Alone None prefer large groups
Class Length Preference
4% 120 minutes 17% 30 minutes 26% 90 minutes 53% 60 minutes
School Start Time
74% of students prefer that classes start between 8 and 10 a.m.
Social Media
61% of students use social media at school.
Phones at School
67% of respondents’ schools allow students to use their cellphones.
Zero-Tolerance Policies
66% of students think such policies are effective.
Teaching Methods
The majority of students think class discussion is the most effective teaching technique.
Apps
Beyond the obvious online resources, the most popular app was Quizlet (quizlet.com), a free tool for students and teachers, conceived by a high-school sophomore in 2005.
Testing
Which testing method is most effective? A. Multiple choice: 68% B. Essay: 12% C. Presentation: 7% D. Report: 1% E. True/false: 1% F. None of the above: 11% (written-in preferences included “Not testing, period.”)
Friends
84% of students meet the majority of their friends through classes or extracurricular activities.
Bullying
73% of students believe bullying is not as widespread as parents and the media make it out to be.
Alcohol
70% of students believe that less than half of their classmates drink alcohol on a regular basis.
Drugs
80% of students believe that less than a quarter of their classmates regularly use drugs besides alcohol.
Pop Culture
What’s News
News habits are definitely changing. Not a single respondent regularly reads the newspaper, though many still turn to TV and radio. Social media and news-aggregation sites like Buzzfeed(buzzfeed.com) and Reddit (reddit.com) are quickly growing in popularity. A few students, however, still admit to relying on closer sources: their parents.
Musical Artist
Students’ favorite musical artists were far-ranging, from country/folk group the Zac Brown Band to Japanese band The Gazette, rapper Kendrick Lamar to New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. The most popular answers: Eminem, One Direction, Taylor Swift, and… “I don’t have one.”
TV Shows
When it comes to students’ favorite TV shows, the answers mostly mirror adults’: Breaking Bad, Person of Interest, SportsCenter, The Vampire Diaries, The Walking Dead… The most popular? One Tree Hill, NCIS, and Modern Family. (It’s worth noting, though, that more students left this question blank than any other—perhaps a sign of changing media habits.)
Websites
Beyond the usual suspects (Google, YouTube, Twitter), students revealed some addictive gems.
The site highlights “everything cool,” like tactical flashlights and the green-and-red Bonobos slacks dubbed Panta Claus.
FanFiction
This is where readers and writers of fanfic can post and find stories based on their favorite series. fanfiction.net.
Free Rice
This game site donates 10 grains of rice to the World Food Programme for every correct answer. freerice.com.
Homestuck
The webcomic has included interactive games. mspaintadventures.com.
imgur
The image-hosting service is known for playing April Fool’s jokes on users. imgur.com.
Smitten Kitchen
This home-cooking site helps simplify and teach readers complex recipes. smittenkitchen.com.
Favorite Social Media
32% Twitter 27% Other or No Reply 21% Instagram 20% Facebook
Teens' Advice to New Students
“Find something you’re passionate about.”
“Putting yourself out there may be scary at first, but it’s what high school is all about and really helps make new friends.”
“Sleep before exams : )”
“You are more than your grades. It’s not about the grade; it’s about the knowledge.”
“Pick what you want to do, not what your friends want you to do.”
“Don’t procrastinate, and keep calm. You’ll get through it.”
"Value your time in high school. The four years seem to fly by, and it’s over before you know it.”
“Don’t start a blog while you’re in school. That’s the best way to get distracted.”
