Surveys: Healthy Youth Survey
Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) – Grades 6-12
The HYS is a survey that CVSD participates in every other year in the odd years. It focuses on health risk behaviors, such as violence and alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use that can result in injury and impact positive development among youth. The survey also includes questions about risk and protective factors, which are attitudes and opinions that research has shown to be correlated with these health risk behaviors. It provides important information to guide policy and programs that serve our youth.
Students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 take the survey. Student participation is completely voluntary and anonymous. The administration procedures are designed to protect student privacy and anonymity. Students are not asked for their names or identification numbers.
All of our secondary schools will participate in the Healthy Youth Survey in fall of 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Parents & Students
Please share this information with your student. Then talk about the survey and decide if your student will participate.
Q: Who will be asked to take the survey?
A: Students in Grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 across Washington State and students in Grades 7, 9 and 11 in small school districts.
Q: Is the survey voluntary?
A: Yes! Students taking the survey can skip questions and stop taking the survey at any time. If you do not want your student to participate in the survey, you can call the school to excuse your student. Students can also tell their teacher that they do not want to take the survey. Students not taking the survey will take part in a different activity, such as studying or reading in the library. There is no penalty for not taking part in the survey. Your student’s grades will not be affected.
Q: What questions are on the survey?
A: Please see below. Some topics include:
- Information, such as age, sex, race and ethnicity
- Feelings about school and community
- Relationships with parents, friends, and neighbors
- Eating habits, physical activity
- Health education
- Attitudes about and the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs
- Behaviors and feelings related to safety
- Behaviors related to violence
Q: How is student identity protected?
A: The HYS is always voluntary, and students will not put their names on the survey. There are no codes or information to match a survey to a student. No one from the school will look at their answers. Students will submit their completed surveys confidentially when they are done.
A: The HYS is always voluntary, and students will not put their names on the survey. There are no codes or information to match a survey to a student. No one from the school will look at their answers. Students will submit their completed surveys confidentially when they are done.
If there were unauthorized access to students’ answers, someone might try to identify a particular student using information like school, grade, and race/ethnicity. However, we take confidentiality very seriously and there are several steps we use to prevent unauthorized access to students’ answers and to ensure that the sensitive information collected on the survey remains anonymous. You can learn more at: https://www.AskHYS.net/HYS/HYSInformation
Q: How are the survey results used?
A: Schools, school districts, counties and state agencies use the results to understand our students and to provide them with the services they need. Results are used for planning, evaluating, and improving programs, and getting the money to support them. Anonymous data are also shared with local health departments, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, and approved researchers.
Need More Information?
If you have any questions about the purpose of the survey or survey procedures:
- Call toll-free 1-877-HYS-7111
- Email [email protected]
The Washington State Institutional Review Board has approved the procedures for the Healthy Youth Survey that are described in this letter. If you believe these procedures have not been followed, please call 1-800-583-8488. You do not have to leave your name. All messages will be returned.
Students have been taking the Healthy Youth Survey since 2002. The number of students has grown from only a few thousand students to over 230,000 a year!
Thank you for reviewing this information and talking with your student!
Notification Letters:
OPT OUT Information:
You may opt out from taking this survey by filling out the opt out form. You will need your student's CVSD identification number.
For additional information, go to Washington State Department of Health or the Healthy Youth Survey.