Healthy Youth Survey

Healthy Youth Survey gathers information on student behaviors and risks

Results of the Healthy Youth Survey are used to support our youth and reduce their risks. Every two years, school districts around the state survey students in grades six, eight, ten, and twelve on a wide variety of health topics. The survey is sponsored by the Department of Health, the Family Policy Council, and other state agencies. It asks questions that are related to students' risk of injury, health and alcohol and drug use.

Because the same survey has been administered over time, changes in attitudes and/or patterns of behavior can be observed. Any differences between school or district results and state results may also emerge.

Survey results are used by schools, the district, communities and the state and local health departments to plan and to evaluate programs to support our youth and to reduce their risks.

King County school district health profiles.

Survey questions

The Healthy Youth Survey questions come from several well-established surveys from across the nation and in Washington.

Question topics include:

Background information (age, gender, grade, race/ethnicity)
Feelings about school and community
Relationships with parents, friends, and neighbors
Nutrition, eating habits, and physical activity
Health education
Knowledge, attitudes about, and use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs
Behavior related to safety and feelings about safety
Violence-related behavior

Taking the survey

The survey is voluntary and anonymous; students may opt out of taking it. Students can skip questions and stop taking the survey at any time. Students can also excuse themselves by telling their teacher they do not want to take the survey. If students do not want to take the survey, they will be provided with an alternative activity, such as reading or working in the library.

There is no penalty for not taking part in the survey. A student's grades will not be affected.

Privacy and identity protection

Survey Results

2023 Healthy Youth Survey results

2021 Healthy Youth Survey results

About the 2021 Healthy Youth Survey

About the 2021 Healthy Youth Survey

Our district participated in the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) during fall 2021. The survey was given to students in Grades 6, 8, 10 and 12.

The Healthy Youth Survey included questions related to physical activity and diet, unintentional and intentional injury, substance use, sexual behaviors, abuse, risk and protective factors, and access to school-based services. Survey results are used by schools, communities and state agencies to plan programs to support our youth and reduce their risks.

Participation in the survey is voluntary and the students’ answers are anonymous.

Most schools administered the survey online this year. No privacy issues were identified in the E-survey pilot conducted in 2019. This year districts were instructed to disable any recording, keystroke tracking and video capture software on school-issued devices used to take the survey. They instructed students to do the same on personal devices used to take the survey before they begin.

Please read the parent & student information letter for more information about the Healthy Youth Survey.

Parent & student information letter in more languages

Lake Washington School District results

2016 Healthy Youth Survey results

Lake Washington School District results
School results

Lake Washington School District results

School results

2014 Healthy Youth Survey results

2012 Healthy Youth Survey results

2010 Healthy Youth Survey results

Questions?

If you have any questions about the purpose of the survey or survey procedures, please call the HYS toll-free number: 1-877-HYS-7111, or email healthy.youth@doh.wa.gov. Additional contact information can be found at Contact Us.

Additional information about the Healthy Youth Survey can be found at About HYS.