Today, students face unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety – from struggling with mental health to feeling behind in school following the pandemic. At Soliant Health, we believe that providing additional support to students extends far beyond enhancing academic performance. It’s about nurturing well-rounded individuals who can thrive both in and out of the classroom, recognizing that a healthy student is a successful student.
The Happiest & Healthiest States Report was commissioned to celebrate the education systems that foster happy and healthy environments for students. By identifying how states compare in supporting the physical and mental health of student populations, Soliant aims to better understand the disparities in education systems. Encouraging schools, communities, and educators to adopt initiatives will ensure that every student has access to the resources they need to succeed.
Utilizing a range of reputable public data sources, the report’s findings were based on ten factors that contribute to student health, including bullying rates, participation in extracurricular and physical activities, student engagement and graduation rates, pupil-to-teacher classroom ratios, and the level of difficulty students experience when making friends.
Explore the report’s findings below and learn more about the significant impact of the physical and mental wellbeing of students in the educational setting and their ability to grow into successful learners.
The Findings
The report found that New Jersey (1), the state with the overall happiest and healthiest schools, had significantly low rates of bullying in public schools. In New Jersey, the percentage of students who bullied others was the second lowest in the nation, and the state had third-highest rate of students who said they have never been bullied.
At roughly 11.8 students per classroom, New Jersey had the fifth-best K-12 pupil per teacher ratio in the nation. With teachers able to give each student the appropriate amount of one-on-one time and attention, New Jersey had higher engagement rates and positive outcomes for students. This is echoed when we look at graduation rates, with New Jersey landing the fifth-highest graduation rate prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, at 90.6%.
Illinois (2) ranked second for happy and healthy schools with the seventh-best access to school mental health professionals and the highest percentage of students who are always interested in learning new things, at 57.1%. Maryland (3) follows closely behind Illinois, with the second highest percentage of students who are always interested in learning, at 56.4%.
Colorado (50) ranked last for happy and healthy schools. Bullying was significantly higher in Colorado schools than in other states, as the state had the sixth-highest percentage of students who experienced bullying. Similarly, Colorado had the fourth-highest percentage of students who admitted to bullying others – which likely contributed to the state’s outcomes in other categories. The state has the ninth-highest percentage of students who reported difficulty making and keeping friends, and Colorado has a significantly lower school engagement and graduation rate.
The Full Breakdown
The Happiest & Healthiest Schools Report highlights New Jersey, Illinois, and Maryland as the top three states with the happiest and healthiest student populations in the nation. Explore how every U.S. state compares below:
| Rank | State | Score (100 total possible points) |
| 1 | New Jersey | 79.14 |
| 2 | Illinois | 78.80 |
| 3 | Maryland | 76.61 |
| 4 | Nebraska | 71.74 |
| 5 | New York | 70.53 |
| 6 | Delaware | 67.50 |
| 7 | Georgia | 67.18 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 67.10 |
| 9 | Iowa | 66.65 |
| 10 | Connecticut | 66.61 |
| 11 | West Virginia | 66.23 |
| 12 | Alabama | 66.17 |
| 13 | Kentucky | 64.95 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 64.94 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 64.59 |
| 16 | North Dakota | 64.00 |
| 17 | California | 63.82 |
| 18 | Virginia | 63.31 |
| 19 | Florida | 62.42 |
| 20 | Ohio | 62.36 |
| 21 | Tennessee | 62.35 |
| 22 | Kansas | 61.18 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 61.12 |
| 24 | Texas | 60.49 |
| 25 | Vermont | 59.86 |
| 26 | South Dakota | 58.95 |
| 27 | North Carolina | 58.54 |
| 28 | South Carolina | 58.43 |
| 29 | Missouri | 58.20 |
| 30 | Mississippi | 56.02 |
| 31 | Maine | 55.99 |
| 32 | Indiana | 55.37 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 54.26 |
| 34 | Hawaii | 53.60 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | 53.08 |
| 36 | Idaho | 52.02 |
| 37 | Michigan | 51.81 |
| 38 | Minnesota | 50.33 |
| 39 | Arkansas | 49.73 |
| 40 | Wyoming | 48.34 |
| 41 | New Mexico | 48.07 |
| 42 | Utah | 46.50 |
| 43 | Oregon | 46.39 |
| 44 | Montana | 46.10 |
| 45 | Washington | 45.89 |
| 46 | Alaska | 45.57 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | 44.97 |
| 48 | Nevada | 43.37 |
| 49 | Arizona | 41.99 |
| 50 | Colorado | 41.92 |
The Importance of Happy & Healthy Schools
Supporting the physical and mental health of students is essential when fostering an environment where all students can thrive. While schools with robust support systems see lower incidences of bullying, substance abuse, and violence, students who receive consistent support for their physical and mental health also develop greater resilience and self-esteem—the foundation to a more confident and capable future generation.
Ensuring that every student has access to the resources they need to succeed both academically and personally is not just beneficial—it’s imperative. School health professionals are at the forefront of this mission, playing a pivotal role in nurturing the physical and mental well-being of the future generation.
School health professionals, including school nurses, counselors, psychologists, and social workers, are integral in addressing the diverse health needs of the student population, ensuring that each student has the necessary resources and support to excel. These professionals provide essential services, from health education and preventative care to emotional support and crisis intervention. When schools provide students with access to these professionals, the classroom becomes a nurturing environment that promotes the well-being and success of every student.
To make an immediate impact in schools and contribute to the development of well-rounded, resilient students, we encourage you to explore the school job opportunities available with Soliant. Browse our school job listings here and take the first step towards making a difference in students’ lives today!
Methodology
To most accurately calculate the final ranking, a range of values for each category was established and used to create a scale which each state was distributed on, receiving a value. Each state’s weighed value for all ten categories was added to determine the final ranking. Each category had an equal weight of 10%. The ten categories and data sources utilized in the Happiest & Healthiest Schools Report include:
- High School Graduation Rate: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for the pre-Covid 2018-19 school year. Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2021.
- Pupil/Teacher Ratio: Average number of enrolled students for every full-time teacher in public elementary and secondary schools in fall 2021. Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), “State Nonfiscal Survey of Public Elementary/Secondary Education.”
- Bullied Others: Percentage of children aged 6-17 years who never bullied, picked on, or excluded others (not including siblings or dating partners) during the past 12 months. Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
- Was Bullied: Percentage of children aged 6-17 years who were never bullied, picked on, or excluded by others (not including siblings or dating partners) during the past 12 months. Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
- Love for Learning: Percentage of children aged 6-17 years who always show interest and curiosity in learning new things. Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
- Friendships: Percentage of children aged 6-17 years who, compared to other children their age, have no difficulty making or keeping friends. Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
- School Engagement: Percentage of children aged 6-17 years who always engage in school: care about doing well in school and does required homework. Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
- Physical Activity: Percentage of children aged 6-17 years who exercised, played a sport, or participated in physical activity for at least 60 minutes for at least four days during the past week. Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
- Access to School Mental Health Professionals: Average number of enrolled students in public elementary and secondary schools in fall 2023 for every employed school psychologist in May 2023. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), “State Nonfiscal Survey of Public Elementary/Secondary Education,” 1990-91 through 2022-23.
- Involvement in Extracurricular Activities: Percentage of children aged 6-17 who participated in one or more extracurricular activities during the past 12 months, including organized activities or lessons. Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.