Approximately one-third worry that they might not get a good job when they finish high school and about getting along with parents at home. Females were considerably more worried than males about being too fat or too thin and about the loss of a friend or relative because of death. Fifty-six percent of all students have used alcohol at some time, and 27 percent have used alcohol excessively at least once in the past month. One in four students have ridden at least once in the past month with a driver who has been drinking. Sixty-one percent of students enjoy going to school, and feel their school enforces rules fairly.
Older students perceive school a little less positively than younger students.
Over one-half of 7th graders think their communities have fun things for kids to do. Older teens are less likely to feel this way. Most parents know where their teen is after school and where their teen is going. Teens who are closely monitored by their parents are almost four times less likely to have gotten drunk in the past month than teens who are not closely monitored. Over three quarters of all teens believe other adults would tell their parents if they saw them doing something wrong or drinking alcohol.