How Trauma Affects School Performance

Experiencing trauma can really affect how kids do in school. It influences how they think, feel, and interact with others. Here’s what some studies have found about this important issue:

1. How Common is Trauma?

   • About 1 in 4 kids in the U.S. go through some kind of trauma before they turn 18.
   • For kids in school, facing tough experiences can greatly impact how well they do in class. In some urban schools, up to 66% of kids say they’ve been through traumatic events.

2. Effects on Thinking:

   • Trauma can lower how well kids think and learn. In one study, students who had faced trauma scored about 15-20% lower on tests compared to their classmates who hadn’t gone through similar experiences.
   • Trauma can make it hard for kids to remember things and pay attention, which can create problems in learning and understanding complex ideas.

3. Emotional and Behavior Issues:

   • When kids face trauma, they often deal with more anxiety, sadness, and behavior problems. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, around 33% of kids who have experienced trauma may develop PTSD, affecting how they act in class and their relationships with other students and teachers.
   • Kids with trauma histories are 2-3 times more likely to act out in ways that disrupt class, which can lead to punishments and make them feel even more isolated from their school environment.

4. Long-term Effects:

   • Research shows that kids who haven’t dealt with their trauma are more likely to drop out of school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that students with 4 or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are 32 times more likely to get kicked out of school.
   • The impact on school performance doesn't just happen right after trauma. It can also affect future job opportunities. Studies suggest that school dropout rates can jump by as much as 75% for kids who have gone through high levels of trauma.

In short, it’s clear that trauma affects school performance. Kids may struggle with thinking, emotions, and behavior, which can lead to long-term challenges in their education. This shows the importance of having supportive approaches in schools that understand and address the effects of trauma.