Why student belonging matters — and how schools can foster it
When students believe they’re valued and connected to their school community, they thrive. Student belonging means feeling welcomed, respected, and like a vital part of their environment—socially and academically. Today, a student’s sense of belonging on campus is more important than ever. It's more than fitting into a peer group. It’s believing deep down that their contributions are important and that they’re seen and heard.
With student mental health concerns increasing every year, chronic absenteeism rising, and kids dealing with the pressure of social media and academics, we must learn how to make students feel like they belong at school. It’s essential for overall well-being. Even though research confirms that the rate of adolescent loneliness has steadily increased for decades, schools have the opportunity to change things. They can build inclusive environments where all students feel a sense of belonging. We’re offering actionable strategies that can help make it happen. Read on to learn more about the importance of maintaining a student’s sense of belonging in your school.
The importance of student belonging
On some level, belonging matters to almost every student. You can see it when their face lights up when they’re acknowledged, or in the pride they have about their role in the school community. You can also see their pain when they’re excluded or feel invisible.
Research indicates that increasing student belonging improves academic performance and health outcomes. There are also other social advantages, including fewer disciplinary issues and an enhanced school climate and culture.
Academic outcomes (attendance, achievement, motivation)
When students feel valued by their teachers and connected to their peers, academic performance is likely to improve. Large bodies of evidence suggest that improving the student experience leads to better academic outcomes. A large-scale study found that when classrooms foster a sense of belonging, there is a 12% increase in students earning As and Bs and a 26% decrease in Ds, Fs, or withdrawals.
Mental health and well-being
Feeling anxious or isolated at school makes it difficult to focus and perform. A sense of belonging does more than just comfort a student; it helps them feel connected to others. It protects them from other mental health stressors like anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Studies show that school engagement supports mental well-being, and a lack of belonging can be a predictor of depression.
EXPERT INSIGHTS
“When a student feels like they belong they are more likely to make friends and feel comfortable asking for help. This belonging contributes to psychological safety which can help protect students from emotional challenges.”
- Laura Magnuson, MA, MS, LAMFT, VP of Clinical Engagement
Reduced disciplinary incidents
Students who feel disconnected from their educational environment are more likely to struggle in areas beyond academics. According to some research, disconnection increases the risk of disciplinary incidents. A sense of belonging at school can contribute to overall success and reduce the likelihood of lifelong struggles. It’s well-documented that students who face suspension or expulsion are more likely to drop out and be incarcerated in the future.
Positive effects on school climate and culture
Schools are not just buildings, learning, and curriculum. They’re communities where students should feel secure and supported. Student belonging ripples through all aspects of a school’s climate. It can deepen trust between students and adults. It helps everyone, from staff to faculty to students, feel safe and able to admit mistakes or work through conflicts. Positive school climates affect everything from student retention to academic success and healthy collaboration.
How schools can foster a sense of belonging
With the right information, tools, and support, your school can become an institution that encourages a sense of belonging in students. Here are proven strategies you can start implementing right away at any part of the school year.
Create culturally responsive classrooms
Students who see themselves in the curriculum and environment are more likely to feel valued and respected. Culturally responsive education highlights why belonging matters. It connects learning to kids’ lives and validates their backgrounds and beliefs. It also teaches students to respect each other and value other cultures and realities.
You don’t have to completely overhaul everything you do to establish a culturally responsive environment and inclusive classroom. Start by celebrating the holidays of different cultures, inviting students and families to share their traditions, or using local history and examples that resonate with kids. The key is to make learning inclusive and relevant.
Build strong student-teacher relationships
Teachers who take the time to learn about their students understand the importance of social connection. Strong student-teacher relationships lay the foundation for a sense of belonging. Students who trust their teachers will be more confident, resilient, and willing to take more academic risks. Research shows that healthy student-teacher relationships build student confidence and enhance learning.
Building a rapport with students can start with simple acts. Greet them at the door in the mornings, ask them about their day and home life, or use their ideas in classroom discussions.
Encourage peer connection and collaboration
Connecting and collaborating with peers sets the tone for success. Group work, discussions, and collaborative problem-solving help students thrive. Even brief structured teamwork activities can help build a supportive culture.
Design lesson plans that involve collaborative pairings and check in on students who seem left out. Model how to disagree and resolve conflict. Let students learn from each other by creating an environment where everyone feels included and supported.
EXPERT INSIGHTS
“When students feel connected to their peers they are more likely to be open about challenges they may face academically and emotionally. When they feel supported by their peers, students also engage more socially and academically. They are less likely to give up or withdraw when facing challenges.”
- Laura Magnuson, MA, MS, LAMFT, VP of Clinical Engagement
Design inclusive spaces and routines
A sense of belonging isn’t something abstract that just happens. It’s built into routines and spaces that you create throughout the school and classroom. Making small changes, like displaying student work and using flexible seating, sends a message that all students matter.
To ensure students feel like they truly belong, create inclusive routines like community circles, check-ins, and opportunities for ownership.
Elevate student voices
Students need to be heard, but they also want to believe they are valued and taken seriously. Inviting them to share their ideas, opinions, and feedback shows them that they’re part of what shapes the learning environment.
Have meetings with students so they can reflect on their feelings. Collect anonymous feedback and put ideas into practice. Create leadership teams so students have opportunities to develop a sense of agency.
Leverage digital tools to support mental health
Technology plays a huge role in every part of a student’s environment. Thoughtfully selected digital tools can support students in ways that weren’t possible before. Digital check-ins, virtual counseling sessions, and anonymous reporting tools ensure students have access to resources when, where, and how they need them.
Platforms like Talkspace provide confidential and safe ways for students to access support. They can be especially beneficial for students who are hesitant to seek help in person. Adopting a tool like Talkspace for student mental health support can make a big difference in how students feel at school.
Model inclusive behavior at every level
As an educator, your interactions with students and colleagues are an opportunity to model healthy, constructive behavior. Modeling inclusivity teaches students how to resolve conflicts, address microaggressions, and stand up for their beliefs. It can also be a lesson in social awareness, accountability, and acceptance.
Show students the importance of belonging. Lessons in empathy and respect should extend beyond the classroom and help students understand why we need inclusivity in our world. Explain why you’re making inclusive choices. Share that students’ experiences and perspectives matter. Acknowledge cultural holidays and demonstrate how to mediate disagreements with respect and fairness.
Invest in staff training and support
Staff training and support are essential for an institution to enhance a sense of student belonging across schools. Prioritize time and space for professional development beyond one-off training.
Offer regular training on culturally responsive classroom practices. Faculty and staff should also clearly understand the importance of trauma-informed care practices.
Prioritize strategies within MTSS and SEL frameworks
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) practices are crucial in schools. They provide a comprehensive range of support and frameworks so all students can thrive.
You can integrate SEL into daily routines by using morning and afternoon check-ins and reflective circles. Identify students in need and apply Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions to support them further.
Building belonging requires ongoing support
Student belonging isn’t something that can happen overnight. It must be cultivated through school-wide action, not just one-off programs and events. To be successful, it should be woven into everyday routines and school culture. Promote it at multiple touchpoints throughout a student’s environment. Whole-school support and systems that benefit both students and staff ensure that belonging is the norm, not the exception.
Belonging is closely linked to emotional well-being, so it should be an integral part of the school solution. The internal efforts you commit to are important, but schools can’t do it alone. Outside partnerships and school-based mental health programs can help fill the gaps and connect students to vital resources. Talkspace is an online mental health platform that provides affordable, confidential, and convenient support to students and school staff. With counseling, messaging, and other evidence-based resources and tools, Talkspace ensures every member of a school community feels heard and connected to others, with access to the help they need.
Discover how therapy for students can play a valuable role in supporting them beyond the classroom. Request a demo today to learn more.
Sources:
- Twenge, Jean M., Jonathan Haidt, Andrew B. Blake, Cooper McAllister, Hannah Lemon, and Astrid Le Roy. 2021. “Worldwide Increases in Adolescent Loneliness.” Journal of Adolescence 93 (1): 257–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.06.006. Accessed July 22, 2025.
- Walton, Gregory M., and Geoffrey L. Cohen. 2011. “A Brief Social-Belonging Intervention Improves Academic and Health Outcomes of Minority Students.” Science 331 (6023): 1447–51. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1198364. Accessed July 22, 2025.
- The Student Experience Project, Bottlerocket Design Group, and Raikes Foundation. n.d. “Increasing Equity in College Student Experience: Findings From a National Collaborative.” The Student Experience Project. https://studentexperienceproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Increasing-Equity-in-Student-Experience-Findings-from-a-National-Collaborative.pdf. Accessed July 22, 2025.
- Romeo, Isabella, Harold Stanislaw, Jamie McCreary, and Marcus Hawley. 2024. “The Importance of Belonging for Well-being in College Students.” PLOS Mental Health. 1 (1): e0000057. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000057. Accessed July 22, 2025.
- Dutcher, Janine M., James Lederman, Megha Jain, Stephen Price, Agam Kumar, Daniella K. Villalba, Michael J. Tumminia, et al. 2022. “Lack of Belonging Predicts Depressive Symptomatology in College Students.” Psychological Science 33 (7): 1048–67. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976211073135. Accessed July 22, 2025.
- Brooks, Shayna M. n.d. “Fostering a Sense of Belonging in Students Who Are At-Risk for Suspension or Expulsion: A Small-Group Intervention for Middle School Students.” ScholarWorks@GVSU. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/35/. Accessed July 22, 2025.
- Okonofua, Jason A., David Paunesku, and Gregory M. Walton. 2016. “Brief Intervention to Encourage Empathic Discipline Cuts Suspension Rates in Half Among Adolescents.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113 (19): 5221–26. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1523698113. Accessed July 22, 2025.
- Vanner, Catherine, Zoe Quenneville, Victoria Baerstoen, Vagia Tsangari, Tristan Arsenault-Carter, Tenyce Doan, Selena De Rose, et al. 2022. “The Importance of Student-Teacher Relationships.” Classroom Practice in 2022. April 1, 2022. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/educ5202/chapter/the-importance-of-student-teacher-relationships/. Accessed July 22, 2025.
