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Culture Fall
High · Southeast · 900 students

Student Leadership Council: Student Voice in School Climate

Climate Survey
3.1/5 4.2/5
+35%
Student Participation
8% 34%
+325%
Incident Rate
38/mo 24/mo
-37%

The Problem

School climate survey scores were the lowest in the district. Students reported feeling unheard. "The adults make all the decisions and we just have to follow them" was a common response. When climate issues arose (dress code conflicts, lunch policies, phone rules), there was no mechanism for student input. This bred resentment and passive resistance.

The Plan

  1. 1
    Elect 4 students per grade — peers choose, not staff
    Emphasis on representing the student body, not resume-building.
  2. 2
    Give real authority on 3 policy areas
    Dress code enforcement, lunch/break policies, phone policies. Council recommendations are implemented unless they violate safety.
    Groups See example
  3. 3
    Monthly town halls + climate survey tracking
    Any student can raise concerns. Council documents themes. Climate survey as a factor, measured in September and February.
    Factors Events Data Wall See example

The Team

Dr. Michelle Adams, the principal, created the council with faculty advisor support.

Dr. Michelle Adams — Principal, executive sponsor
Faculty advisor — Meeting facilitation, student coaching
16 student representatives — 4 per grade level, elected by peers

Resources

Materials from this strategy.

Student Council Charter Template Get Access

Related Strategies

Staff morale
2.8/5 3.9/5
Staff burnout is spiking student incidents
Monthly 1-question pulse, 10 min to tally
Mid-Year Turnover
12% 4%
Teachers don't feel valued and mid-year turnover is 12%
Weekly board updates, 10 min
Teacher Data Confidence
2.4/5 4.0/5
New teachers start the year blind
30-day summer onboarding sequence

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