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Student participation in the HYS is voluntary and anonymous, and the data provides insight into a variety of health-related behaviors among Washington’s youth, including mental health, physical health, tobacco and marijuana use, and engagement in school, among others. At the state level, these data inform legislative priorities, policymaking, and resource allocation.
Similarly, at the local level, these data inform policymaking and resource allocation.

Information collected through the survey provides crucial information about the prevalence of major adolescent health risk behaviors to parents, the public, school officials, public health professionals, human service agencies, and policymakers. This information is used to create target prevention, safety, and health promotion initiatives and to guide state and local policies and prevention programs.

The survey provides data to researchers and various community stakeholders for use in federal, state, local, or private agency grant applications. 91Ô­´´ School District has used HYS data to secure grant funding for additional social and emotional support staff and services for our students. 
 

The HYS is voluntary and anonymous. Survey procedures are designed to protect student privacy and anonymity. Students are not asked for their names or identification numbers. When they finish the survey, students directly submit their survey anonymously. 

The survey includes questions related to unintentional and intentional injuries; physical activity and dietary behaviors; alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; and related risk and protective factors. Unless questions in these topic areas are asked honestly and straightforwardly, it cannot be know the degree to which Washington’s youth engage in these health risk behaviors. 

For grades 8, 10 and 12, surveys include questions about sexual behavior and abuse. The survey administered to 6th graders does not include sexual behavior and abuse-related questions or questions on gender or sexual orientation.
 

Parents can preview the survey questions for elementary and secondary students using the links below.
(grade 6)
(grades 8, 10, and 12) 

The survey administered to 6th graders does not include sexual behavior and abuse-related questions or questions on gender or sexual orientation.
 

Participation in the HYS is optional. 

Parents can choose to opt their students out of participation in the HYS by completing an opt-out form using the button below by September 29.

Students may also choose to opt out of participation by notifying their teacher.