Question:
My NAF teacher(s) teach in a way that relates to students' cultures and experiences.
Culturally responsive teaching uses students' customs, experiences, and perspectives to enhance instruction. Teaching through a culturally responsive lens “helps students of color see themselves and their communities as belonging in schools and other academic spaces, leading to more engagement and success.” We observed a decrease from first-year students (58%) to second-year students (55%) who felt that their teachers taught in a way that relates to their cultures and experiences. However, as students progressed from their first year to their fourth year, this sentiment increased, with 72% of fourth-year students reporting that their teachers taught in ways that connected to their cultures and experiences.
Total Responses: 551
Inclusive Environment
Question:
All people are treated fairly in my NAF academy no matter their background or what they believe.
Although there was some fluctuation in this data as students progressed from their first-year to fourth-year, there was an overall decrease in the number of students who felt that all people are treated fairly in the NAF academy, regardless of their background or beliefs. While 90% of first-year students responded positively to this question, that number decreased to 86% by their fourth year. This data suggests that students may have become more aware of inequities or challenges, highlighting an area for improvement for educators to foster a more equitable and supportive atmosphere for students.
Total Responses: 551
Preparation for College
Question:
My academy has fully prepared me to attend a college or university should I decide to do so.
College readiness is something every student at NAF should experience regardless of whether or not they choose to pursue a post-secondary degree. By the end of 12th grade, 3 out of 4 students who took the student survey every year indicated they felt prepared for college. This is a notable increase from where these same students began four years previously, when less than 1 in 2 felt prepared for college. The largest jump in feelings of preparedness occurred between 9th and 10th grade, with the next largest increase occurring between 11th and 12th grade.
Total Responses: 551
Preparation for Workforce
Question:
My academy has fully prepared me to enter the world of work.
Similar to feelings of college readiness, workforce readiness increased every year from 9th to 12th grade. Just as NAF wants every student to feel ready for college, students should also feel like they have gained valuable career-ready skills and been exposed to real-work environments. Students’ largest increase in feeling prepared for the workforce came between the 9th and 10th grades, and then again between 11th and 12th. These are important milestones related to when students often first explore different careers paths (9th- 10th grade) and often participate in intensive work-based learning experiences like internships (11th – 12th grade). It is great to see that roughly 3 out of 4 of these NAF students indicated they feel prepared for the workforce by the time they graduate high school.
Total Responses: 551
Internship Preparedness
Question:
I feel that my academy fully prepared me for my internship experience.
While internships are not the only work-based learning event NAF students experience, they are often the most rigorous given that they are extended learning experiences that take place outside the classroom. As such, it’s important that students be prepared for this experience in order to maximize their learning. We are pleased to see that students indicated increasing levels of preparedness over their four years of high school, with roughly 3 out of every 4 students indicating that their academy prepared them for this experience by the time they reached their fourth year of high school.
Total Responses: 551
Teacher Support
Question:
I feel supported by my NAF Teachers and others I have met through my NAF Academy.
There was a steady increase in the number of students who felt supported by their NAF teachers and others they encountered through their academy from 9th to 12th grade. The largest increase in feelings of support occurred between 11th and 12th grade, with feelings of support rising from 68% to 78%. This data suggests that as students advanced through their NAF academy, they developed stronger relationships with teachers, mentors, and peers, reflecting the academy’s efforts to foster a strong sense of community.
Total Responses: 551
Work-Based Learning
Question:
Did you complete any work-based learning events at school this year (2023-2024)? Select the activities you did this year from the list below, even if they were virtual.
