What is a student perception survey?
These surveys are questionnaires that get student feedback on their experience as students in your school and/or school district. They have emerged as a key tool to help schools improve learning outcomes, school safety, student-teacher relationships, attendance, and more.
These surveys are not:
• Questionnaires to determine which teachers are most popular
• Exams to test a student’s knowledge
• A place for students to engage in endless rants
What is the purpose of a student survey?
Getting anonymous feedback can improve your school and/or district. Understanding student perceptions about their teachers, learning environment, academic rigor, school safety (bullying), educational opportunities, and sense of belonging can help your school and school district take meaningful actions.
What key areas are measured in a student perception survey?
Well-being and Belonging:
How do your students feel in their classrooms? Do they feel like their voice matters? Dr. Kelly-Ann Allen writes, in Psychology Today, that “A sense of school belonging is an important component of a successful school experience.” Belonging refers to how welcome, valued, and connected a student feels in their classroom and school. This well-being is essential for higher learning outcomes.
School Safety and Respect (Climate & Culture):
A safe school environment is fundamental for students’ emotional well-being, sense of belonging, academic success, and social development. When students don’t feel respected by their peers, their teachers, and/or the administration, they will struggle to succeed. School safety refers to physical and emotional safety, a culture of inclusion, and accessible health and wellness facilities.
Teaching Effectiveness:
A perception survey will address teacher clarity and organization of instruction, teacher methods, evaluation methods, and fairness. How do your students feel about their classes and what they are learning, how they are learning?
Student-Teacher Relationships:
Think about your favorite teacher growing up. Most of us have a story about that teacher who just made the school day better. Teachers have the most direct, meaningful impact on students – and it can be positive or negative. A student perception survey measures the quality of the interactions and communication between teachers and students, as a positive rapport between teachers and students leads to better learning outcomes.
Academic Rigor and Engagement
Academic rigor is when students are pushed from basic comprehension to higher-order levels of thinking. It’s hard and challenging and absolutely rewarding because it creates a deeper, more meaningful educational experience. When students aren’t challenged, they’re bored.
The most exciting thing about student perception surveys is that they provide your school and school district with actionable data. This can shift decision-making from institutional to data-driven, and, in turn, improve your school climate and culture, learning outcomes, student-teacher relationships, and community engagement with the school.
