Gen Z Students More Engaged in School, Ready for the Future

Gen Z Future Readiness and School Engagement Report

• Study Overview: Conducted by the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup (May 16–27, 2025) surveying 1,687 students aged 13–18 (grades 6–12).
• Future Preparedness:
  • Nearly 6 in 10 students (58%) feel prepared for the future, an 11-percentage-point increase over 2024.
  • Black students report the highest confidence (67%), followed by Hispanic (61%), Asian (58%), and White (54%) students.
  • Middle schoolers (60%) remain slightly more confident than high schoolers (57%), though both groups saw double-digit growth.
  • 43% of students still do not feel prepared for the future.
• Life Evaluation ("Thriving"):
  • 56% of students are considered "thriving," a modest increase from 53% in 2023.
  • Middle schoolers (60%) are more likely to be thriving than high schoolers (54%).
  • Asian (63%) and Black (61%) students report higher thriving rates than White (55%) and Hispanic (49%) peers.
• Classroom Engagement:
  • All eight measured aspects of school engagement reached record highs in 2025.
  • Significant gains were noted in students feeling they can use their strengths (50%) and having teachers who make them excited about the future (78%).
  • High school students drove the majority of these engagement improvements, now matching or exceeding middle schoolers in engagement metrics.
• Key Takeaways:
  • There is a strong correlation between classroom engagement and student wellbeing/future readiness.
  • Despite progress, roughly one-third of students report having fewer than five of the eight positive engagement experiences.
  • Many students still find coursework lacking in interest, challenge, or alignment with their personal talents.