Mercer Island High School

Assets Survey Longitudinal Results

2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010

The Assets survey is administered by the Search Institute, a national research organization which provides the survey and analyses to schools and communities.

The survey contains 156 questions which can be clustered into 40 “developmental assets” which the Institute’s research show are highly correlated with student success. The survey results are reported in percent of students whose responses show that they have or do not have each developmental asset. MIHS students have taken the Assets survey in grades 9 and 11 in the fall of 1997, 2002, 2004 and 2006. In 2008 and 2010 students in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 were surveyed.

(Students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 take the state Healthy Youth Survey in the fall.)

Who was surveyed in April 2010

• Gender: 594 Females 535 Males

• Grades: 9th Graders = 34310th Graders = 289 11th Graders = 273 12th Graders = 233

External Assets

Support

Empowerment

Boundaries and Expectations

Constructive Use of Time

SUPPORTAsset Definition

1. Family support

2. Positive family

communication

3. Other adult

relationships

4. Caring neighborhood

5. Caring school climate

6. Parent involvement in schooling

Family life provides high levels of love

and support.

Young person and her or his parent(s)

communicate positively, and young

person is willing to seek advice and

counsel from parents(s)

Young person receives support from three or more nonparent adults.

Young person experiences caring

neighbors.

School provides a caring, encouraging environment.

Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

69% 70% 68% 67% 72%

27% 25% 25% 40% 30%

43% 48% 46% 43% 55%

34% 26% 29% 35% 32%

24% 26% 31% 35% 35%

35% 23% 19% 16% 18%

Empowerment

Asset Name Definition

7. Community values youth

8. Youth as resources

9. Service to others

10. Safety

Young person perceives that

adults in the community value youth

Young people are given useful

roles in the community.

Young person serves in the

community one or more hours

per week

Young person feels safe at home,

at school, and in the neighborhood.

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

16% 14% 15% 20% 21%

30% 24% 30% 20% 38%

53% 55% 52% 48% 58%

69% 69% 71% 72% 74%

Boundaries and ExpectationsAsset Name Definition11. Family

boundaries

12. School boundaries

13. Neighborhood boundaries

14. Adult role models

15. Positive peer influence

16. High expectations

Family has clear rules and consequences and monitor the young person’s whereabouts.

School provides clear rules and

consequences.

Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young peoples behavior.

Parent(s) and other adults model positive, behavior.

Young person’s best friends model

responsible behavior.

Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well.

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

45% 45% 42% 39% 46%

46% 35% 31% 33% 29%

43% 38% 34% 38% 39%

35% 38% 35% 33% 32%

66% 63% 59% 67% 66%

44% 44% 44% 47% 47%

Constructive Use of Time

Asset Name Definition17. Creative

activities

18. Youth programs

19. Religious community

20. Time at home

Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts.

Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in the community.

Young person spends one or more hours per week in activities in a religious institution.

Young person is out with friends “with nothing special to do” two or fewer nights per week.

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

28% 31% 30% 21% 26%

76% 77% 79% 74% 78%

47% 47% 44% 46% 41%

60% 57% 56% 67% 82%

Internal Assets

Commitment to Learning

Positive Values

Social Competencies

Positive Identity

Commitment to LearningAsset Name Definition 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

21. Achievement motivation

22. School engagement

23. Homework

24. Bonding to school

25. Reading for pleasure

Young person is motivated

to do well in school.

Young person is actively

engaged in learning.

Young person reports doing

at least one hour of homework

each day.

Young person cares about

her or his school.

Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.

76% 75% 70% 73% 73%

64% 59% 57% 52% 56%

89% 87% 82% 79% 81%

62% 61% 65% 73% 71%

31% 32% 30% 25% 25%

Positive ValuesAsset Name Definition 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

26. Caring

27. Equality and social

justice

28. Integrity

29. Honesty

30. Responsibility

31. Restraint

Young person places high value

on helping other people.

Young person places high value

On promoting equality and

reducing hunger and poverty.

Young person acts on convictions

and stands up for her or his beliefs.

Young person “tells the truth even

when it is not easy.”

Young person accepts and takes

personal responsibility.

Young person believes it is important

to not be sexually active or to use

alcohol or other drugs.

44% 55% __ 49% 58%

42% 47% 47% 45% 53%

69% 73% 72% 66% 73%

62% 65% 61% 60% 66%

56% 58% 57% 57% 65%

38% 32% 26% 28% 33%

Social CompetenciesAsset Name Definition 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

32. Planning and decision making

33. Interpersonal competence

34. Cultural competence

35. Resistance skills

36. Peaceful conflict resolution

Young person knows how to

plan ahead and make choices.

Young person has empathy,

sensitivity, and friendship skills.

Young person has knowledge

of and comfort with people of

different cultural/racial/ethnic

backgrounds.

Young person can resist

negative Peer pressure

and dangerous situations

Young person seeks to

resolve conflict nonviolently.

32% 32% 32% 35% 39%

44% 47% 45% 48% 46%

49% 49% 47% 50% 45%

42% 40% 36% 49% 45%

54% 53% 57% 54% 57%

Positive Identity

Asset Name Definition 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

37. Personal power

38. Self-esteem

39. Sense of purpose

40. Positive view of personal future

Young person feels he or she

has control over “things that

happen to me.”

Young person reports having

a high self-esteem.

Young person reports that

“my life has a purpose.”

Young person is optimistic

about his or her personal future.

48% 50% 49% 42% 50%

49% 50% 48% 47% 51%

59% 60% 59% 59% 66%

73% 72% 75% 73% 73%