Matt Horne, Middle School Counselor
The Connection Between Self-Esteem and Academic Success (And How We Boost Both)
It’s no surprise that a student’s self-esteem is directly related to their educational success: the better you feel about yourself as a person and student, the more likely you are to do well in school, grade-wise and otherwise. As a Middle School Counselor, I see this play out with children and young teens every day, and I am proud to be part of a school that believes in its students and helps them believe in themselves in and beyond the classroom.
The early elementary school years are a time of wonder and discovery, but as academic expectations increase, so do insecurities about identity, ability, and performance. Grades, good and bad, become part of a child’s narrative about themselves. Students—and especially those dealing with dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and math challenges—begin to recognize and resent their differences, and anxious feelings creep in: “I don’t know if I can do that, I don’t even know if I understand what the teacher is saying, and do they know I don’t know?”
Even if academic challenges don’t rise to a clinical level, students inevitably (and developmentally) compare themselves to one another and become more self-conscious in the classroom. Too often, by the time students get to high school, and usually much sooner, they have embedded negative beliefs about themselves based on experiences at school and elsewhere. Perhaps even some levels of anxiety. At McLean, in all we do, we work hard to preserve, increase, and, if necessary, repair a student’s self-esteem so that they don’t just survive school but thrive here.
McLean’s approach isn’t particularly avant-garde or alternative; we believe it’s simply a better way to do school that sets us apart from other educational options and safeguards against the self-esteem spiral. We are dedicated to providing a supportive, encouraging environment, emphasizing effort over outcome, providing adapted, appropriate instruction that allows students to be successful, and building a trusted, caring relationship with each student and family that comes through our door.
One way we work to offset negative beliefs that lead to low self-esteem is to celebrate strengths and demystify differences. Our Abilities Model®, the backbone of our program, emphasizes “can” over “cannot.” In the Middle School (grades 5-8), our popular “Identity Wall” is a visual representation of our individual and collective parts, each person’s contribution a reminder that we are not defined by one detail alone, but rather: oldest of three kids, soccer player, long hair, dyslexic, dog lover, good friend, and so much more. Research and experience show us that the more open students can be about who they are, including what’s hard for them, the more available they are to learn.
We also ensure our students understand and appreciate that learning is a process—they aren’t expected to know everything (that’s why they’re in school!). McLean School encourages healthy risk-taking and stepping outside one’s comfort zone as necessary for academic growth. We tell our students: you’re here to learn how to make safe and positive connections with peers, teachers, and yourself; to tolerate the not-knowing and still show up. It’s about perseverance, resilience, and a growth mindset—these things, not the grade you got on that test, are what will make you successful. And when you feel good as a student, the rest, including the grades, will follow.
All school experiences challenge and shape our beliefs about who we are and what we’re capable of. Students are hard enough on themselves without the added insecurities of academic struggle. Even students who appear to excel academically are riddled with doubts, questions, and overwhelm—it comes with the territory! However, a setting that emphasizes and embraces open and compassionate communication, strengths over challenges, and diversity and difference is a setting in which positive self-esteem and, in turn, academic success can be the norm.
Since 1954, McLean School, located in Potomac, Maryland, has helped students realize their full potential with a comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum that is traditional without being rigid, challenging without being intimidating, and designed with the real world in mind. At McLean, we believe in our students. Sign up for an Open House, Request Information, or schedule a visit today.