Healthy Youth Survey

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Contact Information

Accessing your data and general questions
Doua Kha | 608-320-9140
Student Behavior Support Program Specialist

HYS Administration and AskHYS website
Susan Richardson
(Looking Glass Analytics)

The Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) is a statewide, collaborative effort of OSPI, the State Department of Health (DOH), Health Care Authority (HCA), and the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB). The survey asks students their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors pertaining to a variety of health and safety topics, including school climate and community safety, anxiety and depression, substance use and abuse, and healthy eating habits and physical activity. Results from the survey are located on the Healthy Youth Survey website.

Results from the 2021 Healthy Youth Survey can be found on the Healthy Youth Survey website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who takes the Healthy Youth Survey?

Students in 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade take the survey. In smaller districts, where there are 150 students or less in a grade, the survey can be administered to students in 7th, 9th and 11th grades. To participate, schools need to have at least 15 students in a grade.

How is the survey taken?

The survey takes about 50 minutes to complete and should be completed during a class period.

To participate, principals must agree to the following survey administration procedures:

Administer the survey during the allocated administration time.
Notify parents and students about the survey using the approved survey notification letter and methods. Schools must also verify that they followed the proper notification.
Offer an alternative activity for those students that choose not to participate in the survey.

**Correctional facilities are not eligible to participate based on Human Research Review rules.

What questions are asked?

The survey covers a wide variety of topics, including:

Abuse
Attendance
Activities and Clubs
Alcohol
Asthma
Bullying/Harassment
Children’s Hope Scale
Community Connectedness
Demographics (age, gender, ethnicity)
Drug use and abuse
Gambling
Gangs
Honesty
Marijuana
Mental Health (depression, anxiety, suicide)
Nutrition
Physical Activity
Safety-Related Behaviors/Violence
School Climate
School Support
Screen Time (including video games)
Sexual Health
Sexual Orientation
Support from Friends, Family & Adults
Texting and Driving
Vaping/Electronic Cigarettes

Survey questions are primarily derived from 4 established surveys that have been used throughout the United States.

Communities that Care: Social Development Research Group, University of Washington
Monitoring the Future: Institute of Social Research, University of Michigan
Youth Risk and Behavior Surveillance System: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Global Youth Tobacco Survey: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

How are the results used?

Data from the survey can help raise awareness of youth thoughts, feelings and behaviors and provide insight on current health trends and concerns.

The results can help schools make evidence-based decisions that lead not only to positive academic outcomes but also provides information that allows schools to identify conditions that impact student learning and the overall school climate.

The data can also be used by schools and communities to apply for grants, and inform programming and planning.