Are the Panorama Student Survey questions scientifically validated?

Yes. We developed Panorama Student Survey in partnership with researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The instrument has been psychometrically validated to ensure that the questions reliably measure complex topics like student belonging, engagement, and school climate without introducing bias.

How long does Panorama Student Survey take to complete?

We know instructional time is precious. Panorama Student Survey is designed to be highly focused. Depending on the number of topics a district chooses to measure, the survey typically takes students only 10 to 15 minutes to complete. You can easily administer the survey during a standard homeroom or advisory period.

Is the survey accessible for younger students and English language learners (ELLs)?

Yes. When administered through Panorama Surveys and Engagement, Panorama Student Survey features Read Aloud functionality and is available in over 30 languages. Additionally, certain questions are tiered by grade level (e.g., Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-12) to ensure the vocabulary is developmentally appropriate for the students taking it.

Can our district customize the student survey or add our own questions?

Absolutely. While Panorama Student Survey has questions on 19 research-backed topics, our student survey software, Panorama Surveys and Engagement, allows administrators to build custom surveys. You can mix and match Panorama's validated questions with your district's own custom questions to meet specific state reporting requirements or local board goals.

What happens after the students complete the survey?

Collecting the data is just the beginning. When you use Panorama Surveys and Engagement to administer Panorama Student Survey, you can evaluate trends, use demographic filters, compare results against peer benchmarks, and monitor change over time data to support strategic planning. Then, you can act on survey results using Panorama Playbook, Panorama’s library of over 1,000 research-backed and evidence-based intervention strategies across academics, school climate, behavior, and more.

Panorama Student Survey to Elevate Student Voices

About Panorama Student Survey

In August 2014, researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Panorama Education launched a groundbreaking collaboration to develop a valid and reliable survey tool to measure student perceptions of teaching and learning. Our goal was to develop a survey instrument grounded in the most advanced survey methodology and make it accessible for classroom teachers.

Screenshot of the Panorama Student Survey guide

Capture student voice

Panorama Student Survey gathers student feedback and perceptions about their classroom experience. Decades of research have shown that student perceptions strongly correlate with learning outcomes and can be an important improvement tool for school systems.

We designed the Panorama Student Survey as a series of scales—groups of student survey questions that capture different aspects of the same underlying theme—to allow educators to customize the survey with the topics they value most.

The comprehensive survey covers 19 key topics: from pedagogical effectiveness and school climate, to student engagement and growth mindset. Thousands of teachers have used the survey as a formative tool, educators have used it to assess the effectiveness of their interventions, and districts have used it as part of educator evaluation systems.

Survey translations are available in 12 languages, and our team can work closely with your school or district to support additional translations. For school and district leaders interested in advanced data analysis and survey reporting programs, learn more about Panorama Surveys and Engagement.

Select from 19 Topics

About the Classroom & Teaching

Pedagogical Effectiveness
Perceptions of the quality of teaching and amount of learning students experience from a particular teacher.
Classroom Climate
Perceptions of the overall social and learning climate of the classroom.
Classroom Rigorous Expectations
How much students feel that a specific teacher holds them to high expectations around effort, understanding, persistence, and performance in class.
Classroom Engagement
How attentive and invested students are in class.
Classroom Teacher-Student Relationships
How strong the social connection is between teachers and students within and beyond the classroom.
Classroom Belonging
How much students feel that they are valued members of the classroom community.
Valuing of Subject
How much students feel that an academic subject is interesting, important, and useful.
Classroom Learning Strategies
How well students deliberately use strategies to manage their own learning processes in class.
Classroom Mindset
Student perceptions of whether they have the potential to change those factors that are central to their performance in class.

About the School

School Climate
Perceptions of the overall social and learning climate of the school.
School Rigorous Expectations
How much students feel that their teachers hold them to high expectations around effort, understanding, persistence, and performance in class.
School Engagement
How attentive and invested students are at school.
School Teacher-Student Relationships
How strong the social connection is between teachers and students within and beyond the school.
School Belonging
How much students feel that they are valued members of the school community.
Valuing of School
How much students feel that school is interesting, important, and useful.
School Learning Strategies
How well students deliberately use strategies to manage their own learning processes generally.
School Mindset
Student perceptions of whether they have the potential to change those factors that are central to their performance in school.
Perseverance
Perceptions of how well students are able to persevere through setbacks to achieve important long-term goals.
School Safety
Students' perceptions of their physical and psychological safety while at school.

Explore teachers' perspectives on using Panorama Student Survey

Teachers from Maine and Arizona describe their experiences using the Panorama Student Survey to get feedback and learn from their students. The teachers discuss how they engage students in the student survey process and how they use the results to guide self-reflection and improvement.

Read Our Guide to Student Surveys About Teaching

Check out how districts are using Panorama Student Survey to improve student outcomes

Brandywine School District Fairfax County Public Schools Farmington Municipal Schools

“Panorama data allows us to have conversations with students we otherwise wouldn’t have, because we simply wouldn’t know. It’s been transformative, to the point where student voice is now embedded in our strategic plan.”

Adrienne Stansbury
Coordinator of Equity, Brandywine School District (DE)

Learn More About Our Work with the Brandywine School District

Our student survey research methodology

Panorama Student Survey was developed under the leadership of Dr. Hunter Gehlbach, Professor and Vice Dean at the Johns Hopkins School of Education and Senior Research Advisor at Panorama Education. Dr. Gehlbach is a leading survey methodologist and education researcher, and a former high school social studies teacher.

The research team followed a rigorous survey development process that involved multiple rounds of piloting and refinement, following cognitive interviews with students, an extensive review of survey literature, and feedback from experts around the country.

Read the Validity Brief Document