New Gallup research reinforces what Gen Z students are seeking in —and beyond—the classroom

The fourth annual Walton Family Foundation and Gallup Voices of Gen Z Study finds that students are more likely to enjoy school when learning feels meaningful, they have strong relationships with adults and they feel a sense of belonging. For students Ruiee and Jonathan, meaningful learning means having the freedom to follow their interests and imagine what's possible.

Engaged students are thriving and looking ahead with confidence, but too many Gen Z youth are missing the support, belonging and connection that make them feel engaged at school

Students are more likely to enjoy school when learning feels meaningful, they have strong relationships with adults, and they feel a sense of belonging. The fourth annual Walton Family Foundation and Gallup Voices of Gen Z Study finds that students with the strongest experiences of engagement, support and belonging are far more likely to feel prepared for the future than those with the fewest, 81% compared with 27%.

A new report from Gallup and Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, finds that Gen Z wants work that makes a positive difference in the world. Eight in 10 young people hope their future job will focus on helping others, and 72% say helping others outside of work is important.

The Walton Family Foundation announced more than $220 million in active grants to improve K-8 literacy and math outcomes for students across the United States. Aligned with the foundation’s new five-year strategy, these investments seek to strengthen student achievement, targeting the classroom, school, and system levels.

Walton-GSV-Gallup survey finds young people are feeling angrier about AI, cautious about integrating AI in the classroom

The 2025 Voices of Gen Z study from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation finds student engagement at a three-year high. Half of high schoolers now say school lets them do what they do best, up from 40 percent in 2023.

As Gen Z students thrive, their older peers signal rising challenges with purpose, motivation and day-to-day well-being

More Gen Zers say they feel ready for the future—but fewer say they’re thriving.

How AI Helps Teachers Build Capacity and Reinvest in Students

According to a new report from the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility, a strong alignment between educators and employers can help rural communities unlock new opportunities for youth.

How the education innovators at Magpie Literacy are helping America’s youngest learners build foundational reading skills

At a Little Rock school, Magpie Literacy's virtual tools are helping young students master reading fundamentals. Meet the educators using sound, structure and smiles to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Gallup-Walton Family Foundation report highlights uneven school performance

The Gallup-Walton Family Foundation Student Report Card grades are in, and students gave their school the highest grades in three years. Students rated their schools a B this year, up from a B- in 2024. Scores rose from 2.75 to 2.92 on a 4.0 scale. Black and Hispanic students showed the largest improvements in school ratings.