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Percent of Students Who Feel Valued by the Community
Current Value
57%
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
The percentage of students who feel valued by the community climbed steadily from 2003 to 2017. However, more recent surveys indicate that a lower percentage of youth feel like they matter. This indicator measures the percentage of students in grades 9-12 in Chittenden County who answered “agree” or “strongly agree” to the survey question “Do you agree or disagree that in your community you feel like you matter to people?”
Why Is This Important?
Students’ perception that they matter to people in their community is an indicator of civic engagement among youth. Community design can impact feelings of inclusion among youth by creating welcoming public spaces and fostering opportunities for neighbors of all ages to interact. Additionally, youth who feel like they matter to people are less likely to binge drink or misuse prescription drugs.