Youth Risk Behavior Survey

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), is a student survey connected to health behaviors of students. The
YRBS is constructed in connection with the Centers for Disease Control, the Massachusetts Department of
Public Health, and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

This anonymous survey is administered every two years to students in grades 7-12 in Canton Public Schools,
and it focuses on the major risk behaviors that impact the health and safety of our community’s young people. The questions on the survey given to students focus on student behaviors concerning tobacco/vaping use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behavior that may lead to unintended consequences, physical activity and recreational activities, mental health, and behaviors that correspond to intentional and unintentional injury. Parents/guardians may choose to “Opt Out” their child from this survey and have the opportunity to review the survey questions in advance of the survey being administered.

The YRBS survey that is used in Canton Public Schools is vetted locally through the collaborative effort of the CPS Wellness staff, the CPS School Wellness Advisory Committee (SWAC), and CPS administration to ensure that the questions included are representative of what is deemed appropriate for each age group and focuses on the overall health and wellness of students in Canton Public Schools. The data from this YRBS survey is compiled and reviewed through the Canton Public Schools to help identify specific student trends and areas of concern to better help drive Wellness curriculum and programming to teach and to address problematic student behaviors.

If you have any questions about YRBS, please contact preK-12 Wellness Coordinator Adam Hughes at
hughesa@cantonma.org.

• Canton Public Schools YRBS 2023

• 2023 CHS YRBS Report

• 2023 GMS YRBS Report