Considering all of the challenges students face today, fostering a positive school culture is more critical than ever. Yet not nearly enough schools work toward this goal.
Many students feel uninspired during their school experience, and many graduate without a clear vision for taking the next steps in their lives.
However, when a school’s culture is thriving, everything changes: students achieve more, teachers feel energized, and communities rally behind their schools. This is why a positive school culture not only enhances academic achievement,1 but also contributes to student well-being, staff morale, and community engagement.
What Does “Positive School Culture” Mean?
Positive school culture is more than a trendy phrase—it is the heartbeat of a successful school. It’s the shared values, norms, relationships, and everyday practices that shape how a school feels and functions.
In schools that embrace positive environments, students feel seen and supported, teachers feel trusted and motivated, and parents feel welcomed and valued.
Moreover, a healthy culture fuels academic motivation, improves behavior, and builds a sense of belonging. When it’s missing, schools can struggle with low morale in both staff and students, discipline issues, and high staff turnover.
Research consistently supports this connection and validates the significance of school culture in driving systemic change. According to the National Education Association, a positive school climate is associated with improved attendance, heightened engagement, reduced disciplinary incidents, and elevated student achievement.2 In short: culture matters. A lot.
Key Characteristics of a Positive School Culture
School culture can feel like a vague concept, yet it profoundly influences student behavior, academic outcomes, and staff retention. When culture is positive, students arrive eager to learn, teachers collaborate effectively, and families trust the institution. Conversely, toxic cultures can undermine progress, fuel disengagement, and diminish school reputation.
A positive school culture is the heart and soul of a successful educational environment. Schools that fosters a nurturing and growth-oriented environment share several characteristics:
1. Clearly Communicated (and Shared) Values, Vision, and Mission
At the foundation of every positive school culture is a strong, clearly articulated vision. This includes a shared mission statement and a core set of values that guide behavior, decision-making, and daily practices.
Schools that bring stakeholders—administrators, educators, students, families—under a unified vision, often experience stronger engagement and a sense of purpose.
Creating this unified mission is a collaborative endeavor. It requires inclusive dialogue, open forums, and surveys to gather feedback from all voices within the school community. When developed transparently, the mission resonates deeply and serves as a daily compass.
2. Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership
Leadership that is inclusive and participatory empowers all members of the school community. Principals and school leaders must foster collaboration by involving teachers, students, and parents in key decisions. This not only builds trust but also creates a sense of ownership and accountability across all stakeholder groups.
Inclusive leadership also means distributing leadership roles. Department heads, administrative leaders and student councils should play meaningful roles in shaping school culture. This flattens traditional hierarchies and fosters a more democratic culture.
3. Strong, Respectful Relationships
Positive school cultures thrive on healthy relationships—between teachers and students, among peers, and between families and school staff. Respect, empathy, and open communication are foundational. Research shows that students are more likely to succeed when they have meaningful connections with at least one caring adult at school.3
Building relationships begins with visibility. School leaders and teachers should be present in hallways, at drop-off zones, and during lunch periods. Regular interactions build familiarity and lay the groundwork for trust and mutual respect.
4. Equitable Representation and Inclusion
A positive culture is one where every student feels valued and self-empowered, regardless of their background, ability, or identity.
Representation for each student matters. When students see their identities reflected in classroom materials, school leadership, and extracurricular offerings, it reinforces their sense of belonging—and allows them to thrive.
This includes things like:
- Offering diverse literature that includes authors of color, LGBTQ+ voices,4 and stories from various cultural backgrounds.
- Ensuring bulletin boards and murals celebrate a wide range of holidays and heritages.
- Hiring practices that bring in diverse faculty and staff to reflect the school community.
Schools should also be prepared to have uncomfortable but necessary conversations around privilege, equity, and historical bias.5 A culture that avoids these topics may unintentionally reinforce exclusion. A culture that leans into them with care and curiosity builds real strength.
Equity also involves representation. Classroom materials, library books, and lesson plans should reflect the diversity of the student body. Schools must be vigilant in reviewing policies to ensure fairness and consistency in discipline, grading, and access to advanced coursework.
5. High Expectations, Support, and Focusing on Strengths of Each Student
Setting high academic and behavioral standards communicates belief in every student’s potential. But expectations must be paired with personalized support to be effective. In a supportive environment, mistakes become learning opportunities.
One size clearly does not fit all when it comes to learning styles and needs. Support can take the form of individualized instruction, tutoring, mentorship, and individualized education plans (IEPs). Teachers should be trained in formative assessment and growth mindset principles to help all students reach their potential.
6. Safe, Caring, and Innovative Environments
The physical, emotional, and psychological safety of each student is paramount.
Schools with positive cultures implement proactive discipline, conflict resolution strategies, mental health support, and anti-bullying initiatives. Creating safety also involves consistent routines, well-maintained facilities that incorporate calming, innovative atmospheres, and at the core, the presence of trusted adults.
Mental health supports such as school counselors, wellness centers, and trauma-informed practices help students manage stress and build resilience.
7. Celebration of Success and Effort
Celebrating both large milestones and daily acts of kindness or effort helps reinforce positive behaviors and builds momentum. Recognition boosts morale, especially when it’s authentic and consistent.
Celebrations can be formal (award ceremonies, honor rolls) or informal (a compliment, a shout-out over the intercom). By reinforcing desired behaviors, schools create a culture where effort is normalized and valued.
How to Build and Implement a Positive School Culture
Creating a strong school culture doesn’t happen by chance. It’s a continuous process that requires commitment, consistency, and care.
Empower Student Voice
Giving students a voice in their educational journey and even in how their school operates, cultivates ownership and relevance. Student-led initiatives, peer mentoring, advisory groups, and democratic classroom models all encourage agency and engagement.
Student voice initiatives should extend beyond symbolic participation. Include students on hiring panels, curriculum review teams, and disciplinary committees. These roles deepen engagement and foster authentic empowerment.
Prioritize Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL programs teach students to manage emotions, set goals, build relationships, and make responsible decisions. Schools that embed SEL into their curriculum report higher academic performance and lower behavioral issues.6
Implementation requires a whole-school approach. Daily check-ins, SEL-aligned lesson plans, and staff training are critical. Integrating SEL into every subject helps normalize emotional intelligence.
Professional Development for Staff
Creating a positive culture for students begins with adults. Schools must invest in ongoing professional development on trauma-informed practices, cultural instruction, restorative justice, and collaborative teaching models.
Professional development should be incorporated into the entire arc of the teaching career and be tailored to individual school goals.
Overall, creating programs for continuous teacher learning and development encourages a collective, shared responsibility—which improves student outcomes.
Build Community Partnerships through Project Based Learning
In positive school cultures, families and community partners are not just invited—they are integral. Engaging families through student-led projects, workshops, events, and committees strengthens the support network and improves student outcomes.
Project Based Learning (PBL) is a perfect example of the intersection of teaching methods and the community. In PBL, students work on real-life projects, either connected to their school, community or greater society, centering around a real-world problem. Students then take the lead to organize, research and develop a plan to bring solutions to the problem. Examples include creating a recycling program in the school or community, organizing a tutoring program for students, or planning and implementing a school garden.
PBL fosters community partnerships—and even mentorships—between students and the greater community. Partnerships can include local businesses, health clinics, libraries, and nonprofit organizations. Schools can host cultural nights, volunteer days, and parent-teacher cafes to increase connection and collaboration.
Model Positivity and Respect
Leaders and educators set the tone. Simple behaviors—greeting students by name, offering praise, showing empathy—can transform the climate. Modeling these habits encourages others to follow suit.
Teachers can build positive rituals into the school day—morning affirmations, gratitude journals, or appreciation circles. Consistency in tone and action makes positivity contagious.
Implementation of Restorative Practices
Instead of traditional punishment as discipline, schools can adopt restorative approaches7 to resolve conflicts, build accountability, and strengthen community. These methods focus on healing rather than punishment, which fosters a sense of fairness—and also helps to build a positive promote a positive school culture.
Restorative justice includes practices like peer review programs, peace circles, mediation, and re-entry plans for returning students. Staff must be trained in these methods and supported through implementation.
Examples of Public Schools Leading in Positive School Culture
Valor Collegiate Academies (Nashville, Tennessee)
Valor’s unique “Compass” program8 focuses equally on character development, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and academic growth. Students engage in regular “Circle” discussions to build emotional intelligence and social responsibility. This model is an example of how a school-wide culture of wellness and respect can foster student achievement and elevate student wellbeing.
Glenwood Leadership Academy (Evansville, Indiana)
Once labeled a failing school, the leadership and parent community at Glenwood, a K-8 primary school, transformed its school through community involvement, SEL integration, and restorative practices.9 Test scores and attendance have since increased dramatically, and students now report feeling more connected and supported.
Boston Latin School (Boston, Massachusetts)
As one of the oldest public schools in the United States, Boston Latin School maintains a tradition of both academic excellence and community service and outreach.10 As part of this tradition, Boston Latin students are required to complete service hours prior to graduation. Boston Latin’s emphasis on both academics and community service reflects a positive school culture that has endured for more than four centuries.
Measuring the Impact of a Positive School Culture
Understanding the effectiveness of efforts to build a positive school culture is crucial for continuous improvement. While some aspects of culture can feel abstract, there are several tangible ways to assess its impact on students, staff, and the broader community.
Climate and Satisfaction Surveys
One of the most direct methods is through anonymous surveys administered to students, staff, and families. These surveys can assess perceptions of safety, respect, connectedness, fairness, and school pride.
Regularly reviewing these data points over time allows administrators to identify trends and areas needing attention. When schools act on feedback, it reinforces trust and shows a genuine commitment to cultural improvement.
Academic and Behavioral Data
A positive school culture correlates strongly with improved academic performance. Schools can track GPA trends, standardized test scores, and graduation rates to measure progress. Additionally, behavioral data—including rates of absenteeism, suspensions, detentions, and office referrals—offer critical insight into how students are experiencing the school environment.
Student Engagement Metrics
Engagement is a powerful indicator of school culture. Schools can track participation in extracurricular activities, student leadership roles, classroom discussions, and project-based learning. Higher engagement often reflects a stronger sense of belonging and motivation, both hallmarks of a healthy culture. Schools may also conduct focus groups or “student panels” to dive deeper into engagement drivers.
Teacher Retention
Teacher retention is a valuable lens into school climate. High turnover rates can signal poor communication, lack of support, or low morale.
Conversely, consistent staffing, coupled with high participation in school committees or leadership roles, indicates a thriving professional culture. Staff surveys that assess job satisfaction, collaboration, and respect among peers can supplement this data.
Family and Community Involvement
Positive school cultures are not confined to the school building, they also extend to families and the local community. Schools can evaluate the frequency and quality of parent-teacher interactions, volunteer participation, and attendance at school events.
An increase in a school’s community partnerships and positive media attention can also serve as indirect indicators of cultural success.
Together, these metrics form a comprehensive picture of the school’s cultural health and provide essential insights for sustaining momentum or initiating course corrections.
Overcoming Barriers to Positive School Culture
Despite good intentions, many schools struggle to build or maintain a positive culture due to systemic challenges. Recognizing these obstacles is essential for creating sustainable solutions:
Resistance to Change
Cultural transformation requires shifting deeply held norms and mindsets. Teachers, staff, or even families may be reluctant to adopt new practices, teaching methods or values. Overcoming resistance involves transparent communication, collaborative planning, and displaying early successes.
Resource Constraints
Underfunded schools often lack the resources to implement SEL programs, hire counselors, or offer meaningful professional development. Partnerships with local organizations, grants, and creative budgeting can bridge these gaps.
Inadequate Training
Without sufficient training, staff may implement progressive teaching methods, restorative practices or equity initiatives inconsistently—or not at all. Ongoing coaching and follow-up support are critical to ensure alignment with best practices and effective execution.
Not aligned with Traditional Assessment Systems
Traditional assessments—such as the year-long focus on “teaching to the test”—do not reflect progress in areas such as relationship-building, emotional growth, or student engagement. Schools can create alternative metrics—such as climate surveys, behavior tracking, and reflective portfolios—to capture culture-related improvements.
Sustaining Positive School Culture Over Time
Creating a positive school culture is only the beginning. Sustaining it requires vigilance and the ability to adapt. Some long-term strategies for both school administrators and teachers include:
- Shared Traditions: Establish and maintain traditions that reflect the school’s values, such as morning meetings, community service days, or student showcases.
- Gather Feedback: Request continuous input from students, staff, and families—and respond in a timely, detailed manner. Responding to feedback strengthens relationships, ensures ongoing communication, and enhances positivity in schools.
- Celebrating Growth: Acknowledge progress, not just perfection. Celebrate both individual and collective academic and cultural wins.
- Equity Reviews: Periodically evaluate inclusivity practices to ensure all students are experiencing the benefits of a positive culture equally.
Conclusion: Transforming School Culture Transforms Students
Establishing a positive school culture is one of the most powerful steps a school can take to support student success, teacher satisfaction, and long-term community impact.
As the data increasingly reflects the struggles of students in today’s schools, both academically and personally, the work of organizations like the Education Revolution Association (ERA) becomes even more important. ERA’s commitment to student-centered learning, holistic development, and inclusive reform is directly aligned with the pillars of positive school culture.
By advocating for environments where every student feels seen, heard, and empowered, ERA is on the forefront of moving away from traditional teaching and testing methods, and moving toward helping schools transform from outdated, test-driven models to dynamic cultures of belonging and growth. When schools achieve these crucial elements, students become confident in themselves and in their journey and are ready for their next steps after high school.
As more schools join this movement, the vision of every child learning in a supportive, joyful, and purpose-driven environment becomes not only possible, but inevitable.
References
- Shafer, L. (2018). What makes a good school culture? Harvard Graduate School of Education. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/18/07/what-makes-good-school-culture ↩︎
- Walker, T. (2016). The evidence is in: ‘Happy’ schools boost student achievement. National Education Association. https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/evidence-happy-schools-boost-student-achievement ↩︎
- Schwartz, S. E., Lowe, S. R., & Rhodes, J. E. (2012). Mentoring relationships and adolescent self-esteem. The prevention researcher, 19(2), 17–20. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3873158/ ↩︎
- National Parent Teacher Association. (2016; amended in 2023). Resolution on the protection of and support for LGBTQ+ individuals. https://www.pta.org/home/advocacy/ptas-positions/Individual-PTA-Resolutions/protection-of-and-support-for-LGBTQ-individuals ↩︎
- National Association of School Psychologists. (2020). The importance of discussing equity, diversity, and inclusion in schools. https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/diversity-and-social-justice/social-justice/the-importance-of-addressing-equity-diversity-and-inclusion-in-schools-dispelling-myths-about-critical-race-theory ↩︎
- Greenberg, M. T. (2023). Evidence for social and emotional learning in schools. The Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/evidence-social-emotional-learning-schools-brief ↩︎
- NextGenLearning.org. (2025). Restorative practices in schools: Designing for equity. https://www.nextgenlearning.org/equity-toolkit/school-culture ↩︎
- Haber, R. (Director). (2018). Going beyond academics to develop our students in mind, heart, body and spirit [Film]. https://poweredbycompass.org/ ↩︎
- Oliver, A. (2025) Principal’s message. Glenwood Leadership Academy. https://glenwood.evscschools.com/about_us/principal_s_message ↩︎
- Boston Latin School. (2025). Community service. https://www.bls.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=203696&type=d ↩︎
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