Healthy Schools

High-quality education creates pathways to better health.

The likelihood of having diabetes is over 1 in 7 for people with a high school degree or less versus about 1 in 11 for people with more than a high school degree.¹

Educational attainment is a key factor in determining lifelong health. Differences in access to education begin early in life. Pre-school is often expensive or unavailable for children from many low-income families, making them less prepared for starting school. 

By third grade, 43% of San Mateo County children do not meet reading proficiency standards, which are a predictor of high school graduation. Research has found that students who read at grade-level are more likely to be healthy throughout their lives. 

Most schools in San Mateo County have wellness policies to create healthy school environments but there is still a lot of work to be done to help schools implement their policies effectively.

The Health Connection

Education is one of the top three determinants of health outcomes.

• The more education someone has, the healthier they are.²
• Students who eat a healthy breakfast are better prepared to learn.³
• Children who get regular physical activity perform better.⁴

Objectives

• All students have access to high-quality education that equips them for career success in environments that promote health.
• Children’s education is continuous, consistent, and not disrupted by unstable housing conditions (see Healthy Housing for more).

#HealthySchoolsSMC