Students are increasingly confident in their readiness for life after graduation, according to the 2025 Voices of Gen Z study from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation. The survey of nearly 3,800 Gen Zers ages 13 to 28 updates previous years’ findings on life evaluation, engagement, reading, absenteeism and preparedness for the future.
Overall, 56% of Gen Z middle and high school students said they are “thriving” in their lives, compared with 39% of Gen Z adults. Moreover, 77% believe they have a great future ahead and 56% say they feel prepared for that future—a 12-point increase since 2023.
Engagement improves, but unevenly
The survey found 2025 marked the highest levels yet for school engagement, with the most growth among high schoolers. Half of students said school gives them the chance to do what they do best, up from 40% in 2023.
Some 78% said they had a teacher who made them feel excited about the future, up from 70% in 2023. Still, many students appear to be missing out on key experiences:
- About four in 10 said their coursework does not challenge them in a positive way.
- More than one in three students said they had not learned anything interesting in the past week.
- Only 21% reported that “all” or “most” of their teachers make content engaging, relevant and aligned to their learning needs.
Teacher enthusiasm plays a critical role, and as the report notes, “student engagement starts with teachers.” Yet only half of students said most of their teachers seemed excited about what they were teaching, and just 42% felt their teachers regularly made material interesting.
Reading habits, absenteeism raise red flags
Reading enjoyment correlates with academic performance, but 36% said they dislike reading, and 43% rarely or never read for fun. Compounding the challenges, just over half of students reported being assigned reading no more than once a week.
Attendance remains another pressing issue: 57% of students say they missed at least one day of school in the past month, and 18% missed three days or more. Mental health plays a significant role with 29% citing stress, anxiety or other issues as reasons for missing class.
What leaders can do to improve engagement
Leaders should focus on equipping teachers to create engaging classrooms, fostering a culture that connects coursework to the real world, the report advises. Other specific actions include:
- Expanding professional development on student-centered teaching strategies
- Assigning regular, meaningful reading across subjects
- Reviewing cellphone policies to minimize distractions
- Supporting programs that connect career pathways and post-secondary readiness
“Ensuring more students have these engaging experiences—and understanding the conditions that create a truly engaging classroom experience—will not only prepare students for their first job or college course after graduation but also give them the greatest opportunity to pursue purposeful and thriving lives,” the report notes.
The survey offers both optimism and urgency. Engagement gains among high schoolers suggest further progress is possible, but many students still lack core experiences—engagement, strong reading habits and teacher enthusiasm—that drive long-term success.
For district leaders, the challenge is to build on the momentum of 2025 by ensuring every student has access to an enlightening, purposeful education.
