State of the Georgia Girl Report

School Engagement Many of the key outcomes students need from school to be successful in life are not academic in nature. In a pivotal longitudinal study, school performance emerged as the least important indicator of life-satisfaction (Layard, 2014). Utilizing 40 years of cohort data, the study identified key variables to being life-ready, defined with attributes across economic, social, and personal domains. Evaluating family background (economic and psycho-social family dynamics), child characteristics (including intellectual performance and emotional health), and adult outcomes (such as income, employment, and physical health), research found that emotional wellbeing such as self-discipline and social behavior were the most reliable indicators of life-satisfaction - attributes present in how students show up at school, not perform at school. Student engagement includes measures that indicate how young people are developing attributes such as goal-setting, grit, and personal motivation. As Layard identified, these non-cognitive skills are much more reliable predictors for achieving success later in life. As young people spend a significant portion of their development in a school setting, these critical life-skills are often developed within the context of school. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, parents of girls in Georgia report higher rates of school engagement than parents of boys, and Georgia rates exceed the national average for both sexes. 52% of Georgia girls are described by their parent as “always engaged in school,” compared to 40% of Georgia boys and 50% of girls nationally. A higher portion of girls in Georgia are described by parents as always engaged in school, exceeding the rate for boys, national average for girls. U.S. Census Bureau, National Survey of Children’s Health, 2022-2023, Indicator 5.2

ACADEMIC WELLNESS OF GEORGIA GIRLS

Engagement in School, According to Parent.

52%

50%

40%

35%

Georgia

United States

Female

Male

56

THE 2026 STATE OF THE GEORGIA GIRL REPORT