Persistent sadness and hopelessness among Fairfax County teens fell to 18% in the latest youth survey, a 20-point drop from 2021 levels.

The 2025-26 Fairfax County Youth Survey collected anonymous responses from more than 39,000 students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12, according to Fairfax County Public Schools. The results, published Oct. 19, show broad improvements in mental health, low substance use and rising physical activity across the district that includes McLean and Great Falls schools.

Among 8th, 10th and 12th graders, students reported lower levels of stress, sadness, hopelessness and suicidal thoughts and attempts compared with 2021. Sixth graders also showed gains: 26% reported persistent sadness and hopelessness, a seven-point decrease from 2021.

Substance use stayed well below national averages.

Ninety percent of 8th, 10th and 12th graders and 96% of 6th graders reported no substance use in the past month. FCPS said county rates were lower than national rates in most cases, including for alcohol, cannabis, cigarettes, hookah and vaping.

Physical activity hit its highest level since 2018. About 45% of 8th, 10th and 12th graders and 51% of 6th graders said they were physically active for at least one hour a day on five or more days in the week before the survey. More than 40% of older students and 60% of 6th graders reported doing something active with family or friends at least three times during the same period.

Screen time remained a concern. Over a third of 8th, 10th and 12th graders (37%) reported spending three or more hours on social media on an average school day. Among 6th graders, 25% reported the same. One-fifth of 6th graders and 14% of older students said they played video or computer games for three or more hours daily.

Students reported strong networks of trusted adults. Among 8th, 10th and 12th graders, 89% said they could ask parents or caregivers for help, 85% had adults in the community they could talk to and 80% had a trusted adult at school. The survey found that students with three or more of these protective factors were more likely to manage stress and develop healthy habits.

The Fairfax County School Board and the Board of Supervisors jointly administer the survey each fall. The next round runs Nov. 9 through Nov. 20 at a time set by each school. Parents and caregivers can review a copy of the survey on the FCPS website.