School Health Profiles | Data | Adolescent and School Health | CDC

School Health Profiles | Data | Adolescent and School Health | CDC







2018 School Health Profiles Now Available

CDC’s 2018 School Health Profiles Report (Profiles) is now available online along with 2018 state-specific results illustrated on US maps. Conducted biennially since 1996, Profiles measures progress in the implementation of school policies and practices to help improve the health of school-aged youth. Education and health officials can use Profiles data to support health-related policies and legislation. States and school districts can use the data to plan and monitor school programs and identify professional development needs.

The 2018 Profiles indicate the following:



• There are some positive changes in policies that support the school nutrition environment. For instance, across states, there was an increase in the median percentage of schools (from 36.6% in 2008 to 53.7% in 2018) that do not sell unhealthy snacks and beverages in vending machines and other places. However, the median percentage of schools across states that allowed less nutritious foods and beverages to be sold for fundraisers was 38.8%.

• There is more work to do for schools to offer and require physical activity to students. For example, the median percentage of schools that taught a required physical education course in grades 6 through 10 was greater than 70%, but the median percentage for grades 11 and 12 was approximately 43%. The median percentage of schools that offered opportunities for students to participate in classroom physical activity breaks was approximately 50%.

• Schools are much more likely to have agreements that allow students, families, and community members to use school physical activity facilities than agreements for shared use of school or community kitchens. The median percentage of schools across states with a joint-use agreement for school or community physical activity facilities was 66.9%, but the median percentage of schools across states that had an agreement for shared use of school or community kitchen facilities and equipment was only 20.4%.

• There is room for more education and school practices that support medical management for students with chronic health conditions. Although a majority of schools (median percentage across states: 85.8%) provided daily health services for students with chronic illnesses, the median percentage of schools that provided referrals for students with chronic health conditions was 53.7% across states.

Learn more about the 2018 Profiles. Get answers to common questions, request data files, and download the Profiles questionnaires.