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2026–27 NATIONAL BENCHMARK REPORT

The State of Student Mental Health 2026–27

A free benchmark report for district and school leaders — where students stand entering the year, and what it means for the work ahead.

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58%

of schools report more students seeking mental health support this year NCES School Pulse Panel, 2024

372:1

national student-to-counselor ratio, against a recommended 250:1 American School Counselor Association / NCES, 2024–25

40%

of high school students report persistent sadness or hopelessness CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2023

tier 3 triangle icon
58%
tier 2
372:1
tier 1
40%

What's inside the report

Where student mental health actually stands entering the year — and the first genuinely good news in a decade of data
How mental health shows up first as attendance and behavior — before anyone calls it mental health
The staffing math no district can hire its way out of
What to do now that the emergency funding is gone for good
Independently validated evidence for what actually works — and what it changes
Five priorities you can act on this school year, starting this fall

Built for the people making these decisions

  • Benchmark your district against national data before you walk into budget season.
  • Get the staffing and outcomes data to make the case for the support your students need.
  • Understand the connection between attendance, behavior, and mental health in your own building.
  • See the evidence behind what a mental health investment is actually meant to change.

Get your copy of the report

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Independently validated. Already trusted in 120+ districts.

Effective School Solutions embeds licensed clinicians directly in schools across 120+ districts in 12 states. Program outcomes are independently validated through a research partnership with the Yale Child Study Center.

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Join Insights & Solutions, our monthly newsletter, for practical takes on the same issues — screening, attendance, staffing, and funding — without the full report.

Let's Discuss the Mental Health Needs of Your Students

Fill out the form to request a meeting with one of our clinical experts to explore ways we can partner to strengthen your mental health programs.

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Learn more about Funding Sustainable School-Based Mental Health Programs

Complete this form to schedule a free mental health planning session where we will discuss available financial sources you can leverage to fund school-based mental health programs in your district.

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For California school districts

In-school mental health services and simplified CYBHI reimbursement.

We help districts build clinical programming, manage the CYBHI reimbursement process, and capture more eligible reimbursement without adding administrative burden.

  • Implement an in-school clinical program
  • Navigate CYBHI reimbursement from setup through claims
  • Maximize eligible reimbursement with less admin lift 
See How CYBHI Support Works

Our Unwavering Focus on Data Collection

At ESS, we have an unrelenting focus on data, measuring results, and communicating to our partners the proven impact our programming has on mental health, school outcomes and financial sustainability.

With every ESS partner, we will:

• Set data driven goals at the beginning of every implementation

• Have regular “Report Card” meetings in which we share the impact of ESS services

• Monitor data along the way to look for potential risk areas so that these can be proactively addressed

Learn more about our Will to Wellness 6 Step Framework

Complete this form to discuss best practices for districts, states, and federal policymakers that will reinvent mental health in schools over the next five years.

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Speak with our experts to learn how your district can improve outcomes and reduce costs

Complete this form to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your needs and challenges and to provide insights on where you may be able to improve mental health support.

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