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Last updated: November 7, 2002

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State of Our Nation's Youth 2000-2001 Survey
Horatio Alger Association Facts and Figures

www.horatioalger.com

Personal Attitudes

  • American youth (66%) believe that the amount of work they do is very important to their later success in life.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • 72% of youth agree that it is personally important to them that they do their best in all of their classes.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Males and females in this survey said that the following factors were important to their personal success:
Work and career 99%
Personal development and satisfaction 97%
Friendships 95%
Iimmediate family 92%
Extended family 80%
Make a contribution to society 77%
Religious/spiritual activities 74%
The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Youth identified having a job/career (24%), a home/apartment (12%), and living comfortably (18%) as part of their American Dream.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Youth identified issues about "universal welfare" as a small part of their idea of the American Dream
Better religious ties 3%
Equality 3%
Happiness, peace and harmony 4%
Less crime and violence 3%
More tolerance/less discrimination 2%
Reaching out to others/improving quality of life 2%

The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.

  • When asked what would be their "idea of the American Dream", males and females identified these factors most often as providing personal enrichment:
Emotional needs/desires 39%
Family 16%
Happiness/enjoyment 13%
Success/achievement 12%

The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.

 

Family and Social Relationships

  • In this 2000 survey, youth reported on their social relationships:
    65% of youth "hang out with a group of friends"
    28% of youth "have only one or two close friends"
    7% of youth "spend most of their time alone."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Mothers were rated highly by females and males (85%) as a person "I can talk to about day-to-day issues."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Fathers were rated differently by males (70%) and females (58%) as a person "I can talk to about day-to-day issues."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • The males in this survey reported that they liked both their mother (89%) and father (86%).
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • The females in this survey reported that they liked both their mother (90%) and father (83%).
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Both mothers and fathers were identified equally (88%) by male teens as "a person I can respect."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Females identified mothers (93%) and fathers (84%) as "a person I can respect."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Males reported that their mothers (97%) and fathers (91%) "really care about me."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Females reported that their mothers (96%) and fathers (92%) "really care about me."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • In this survey, males identified their mother (69%) rather than their father (48%) as "a person I can confide in about my personal problems."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • In this survey, females identified their mother (75%) rather than their father (34%) as "as person I can confide in about my personal problems."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • This group of youth said that their ideal age for marriage was 25.5 years and those who planned to have children wanted 2.3 children!
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.

Future Plans

  • 78% of youth (ages 14-18) in this survey said that they planned to continue their education.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • 62% of youth said that they planned to attend a four-year college or university.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Males and females chose computer software development, medicine, and teaching as their top three careers.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • 38% of youth said that the top reason they are seeking further education after high school is to get a good job.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Only 20% of youth said that their top reason for seeking further education is to have the ability to make a difference/change things for the better.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.

Opportunities for Success

  • More females (76%) than males (70%) believe that "the harder I work, the more opportunities will be available to me."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • More females (80%) than males (72%) believe that "I will have many opportunities available to me after I graduate."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • 73% of American youth believe that the harder they work the more opportunities will be available to them.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • 76% of American youth believe that they will have many opportunities available to them after they graduate.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • In this survey, American youth (58%) believe there is the same amount of opportunity for students of all races and social classes.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • When asked which academic problem was their greatest challenge during the next year, males and females identified achieving and maintaining good grades and a good grade point average.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Males and females identified the following issues as personal challenges during the next year: adjusting to college, getting along with peers, and time management.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.

Role Models

  • 41% of youth surveyed identified a family member as their primary role model.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.

Safety

  • 40% of youth in this survey always feel safe in their school.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • American youth (43%) in America believe that teachers and administrators have taken all necessary steps for their safety and security.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Of American youth, 86% of females and 78% of males agree that they can talk about their problems with at least one teacher or administrator. The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • In this survey, 69% of females and 71% of males agreed that it is important to most of their teachers that they youth do their best.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • The youth in this survey differed on the amount of work required by their teachers:
    Not enough work 7%
    About right amount of work 53%
    Too much work 40%.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • The American youth in this survey differed on the amount of work required by parents:
Not enough work 16%
About right amount of work 57%
Too much work 28%

The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.

 

Schools

  • 46% of males and 36% of females try to take the most difficult and challenging courses in school.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • In this survey, 72% of youth report that "it is important to me that I do my best in all my classes."
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • More males (53%) than females (39%) are involved in athletics or clubs. The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • More females (27%) than males (18%) are involved in service or volunteer groups.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • 12% of youth said that the behavior of other students in their school was a positive influence on their own performance.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • More females (45%) than males (38%) believe that half or most students cheat.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • American youth (65%) believe that it is important to most of their teachers that they do their best.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • 43% of youth agree that homework is a priority which they complete before other activities.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.

Work

  • Over the past three years, 40% of the youth reported having a job in the past school year.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association.
  • When asked to identify the greatest problems facing our nation, youth surveyed identified these issues:
Crime/violence 33%
Decline of family, moral and social values 27%
Drugs 18%
AIDS 12%
Environmental pollution/deterioration 8%
Racial tension/discrimination 7%
Poverty/unemployment 6%.
The State of the Nation's Youth, 2000-2001, Horatio Alger Association

 

Students' Reactions to September 11 and the War on Terrorism Update to the Horatio Alger 2001 State of Our National's Youth survery of 308 youth ages 14-18.

  • 75% of youth identified the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as themost significant event in their lifetime.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2001 Update, Horatio Alger Association.
  • 54% of youth reported that the attacks had affected their lives a fair or great amount.
    The State of the Nation's Youth, 2001 Update, Horatio Alger Association.
  • Students were asked to report the emotions they felt in response to the terrorist attacks:
Determination 30%
Anger 25%
Sadness 18%
Fear 13%
Disbelief 11%

The State of the Nation's Youth, 2001 Update, Horatio Alger Association.

  • If the war continues, students (61%) would serve their county in the following ways:
Join the military 25%
Become a public safety officer 10%
Take a government job 9%
Join a service program 9%
Would find a way to serve 8%

The State of the Nation's Youth, 2001 Update, Horatio Alger Association.


  • Students reported how the September 11 attacks had affected their attitudes/ behavior:
    More time attending to news and world events 86%
    Felt more patriotism 80%
    Flew an American flag 73%
    Felt closer to family 68%
    Looked for a way to help the rescue and recovery effort 66%
    Spent time in prayer, mediation, spiritual reflection 64%
    Believe that a college degree is more important 62%
    Sought help from older family members to understand the attacks 59%

The State of the Nation's Youth, 2001 Update, Horatio Alger Association.

  • Following the September 11 attacks, students identified characteristics they respected and admired in others:
Willingness to work hard and overcome obstacles 84%
Integrity, being true to themselves and their beliefs 81%
Compassion for others 78%

The State of the Nation's Youth, 2001 Update, Horatio Alger Association.

 

  • The May 2001 survey revealed that youth tended to look to their families as role models more than entertainers or sports stars. The followup survey found that students had expanded their list of people to admire:
    • 89% looked up to the work of public safety officials, firefighters and police
      Of that 89%, 64% viewed these officials as heroes and role models.

     

    • 30% of students agreed that entertainers or athletes who were
      contributing their talents to raise funds were worthy role models

     

    • While they did not always agree with the policies of government
      leaders, 59% of students agreed that those leaders deserved respect
      for their contributions.

The State of the Nation's Youth, 2001 Update, Horatio Alger Association.

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