The survey, conducted in 2023 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provides the first nationally representative data about trans students.
A 2023 national survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that approximately 3.3% of U.S. high school students identify as transgender, and another 2.2% have questioned their gender identity at some point. This survey, which is part of the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, represents the first nationally representative data on transgender students in public and private high schools across the U.S.
The findings reveal that transgender and questioning students face significant challenges compared to their cisgender peers. These challenges include higher rates of violence, poor mental health, suicidal thoughts, unstable housing, and lower levels of school connectedness. Approximately 26% of trans and questioning students attempted suicide in the past year, a much higher rate than the 11% of cisgender female students and 5% of cisgender male students.
Moreover, 10.3% of trans students had a suicide attempt treated by a doctor or nurse within the past 12 months, compared to just 3.7% of questioning students, 2.6% of cisgender female students, and 1% of cisgender male students. Kathleen Ethier, director of the CDC’s division of adolescent and school health, expressed concern over the distress and stigma faced by transgender students, calling it “heartbreaking” and underscoring the importance of addressing these issues.
The survey also highlighted that 40% of trans and questioning students reported being bullied at school, a significantly higher rate than the 20.3% of cisgender female students and 14.8% of cisgender male students. In addition, transgender students were the most likely to report experiencing persistent sadness or hopelessness, which is a key marker for depressive symptoms. The survey found that 71.9% of transgender students reported such feelings, followed by 68.9% of questioning students, 50.5% of cisgender female students, and 26% of cisgender male students.
These findings point to the critical need for support and interventions aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of transgender and questioning youth, as well as efforts to combat bullying and violence in schools.
