A Policy & Innovation Center Report

Youth Wellbeing in San Diego

Youth wellbeing is essential to our region’s long-term prosperity. Our children’s early education, health, stability, and safety shapes their ability to thrive and reach their full potential for the rest of their lives. This report tracks these important dimensions of wellbeing from 2005 to 2023, for San Diegans aged 0 to 24. We identify encouraging signs of progress but also rising challenges and persistent disparities by race, sex, disability, immigration status, age, and sexual orientation. We use this data to identify promising opportunities for public investment and policy change.

We wish to thank the San Diego Foundation, the Prebys Foundation, and the City of San Diego for their generous support in producing this report.

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Photo courtesy of the Prebys Foundation.

Progress is being made 97% of San Diego County kids are covered by health insurance, up from 88% in 2008. Read more → We face new challenges 28% of San Diego high-school students reported poor mental health in 2023. Read more → Affordability out of reach 9% of 18- to 24-year-olds earn a self-sufficient wage — down from 20% in 2008. Read more → Disparities persist 6× Black students (24%) attend high-poverty schools at nearly six times the rate of White students (4%) in San Diego County. Read more →

Wondering why a number looks the way it does?

Nearly every figure here has a story behind it: how it’s measured, what’s driving the trend, and what it means for San Diego’s young people. The full report lays it all out.

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The Good, the Bad & the Unequal

Three lenses on the same data: where San Diego youth have made gains, where they are losing ground, and where outcomes still differ sharply by race, gender, immigration status, disability, or sexual orientation.

The Good

Health insurance coverage rose from 88% in 2008 to 97% in 2023.
High school completion climbed from 84% to 95% in San Diego County.
School economic diversity improved sharply: the share of Black students attending high-poverty schools fell from 55% in 2014 to 24% in 2022.
Cigarette smoking in SDUSD fell from 15% in 2005 to 2% in 2021.
Residential stability rose to 90% of County youth in 2023 (from 83% in 2005).
Immigrant young adults now graduate high school at 94% — up from 61% in 2005, closing the gap with non-immigrant peers.
More areas of progress…

The Bad

Standardized test scores have not recovered from COVID. ELA pass rates fell from 57% in 2019 to 52% in 2023 in San Diego County.
Student homelessness grew to over 21,000 in San Diego County in 2023.
Poor mental health: 28% of San Diego high-school students reported it in 2023.
Suicidal ideation rose to 21% of SDUSD students in 2023; 10% reported a suicide attempt.
Peer isolation reached 39% in 2023, up from 31% in 2019.
Texting while driving jumped from 23% in 2021 to 34% in 2023 among San Diego students — and 41% among White students.
More areas of concern…

The Unequal

Test scores: 77% of Asian students met or exceeded ELA standards in 2023, compared to 37% of Black and American Indian/Alaska Native students.
College enrollment: 88% for AANHPI youth, 46% for Black youth in 2023; 73% for women, 57% for men.
Family-sustaining wages: 68% of White youth versus 22% of Black youth live in households earning one.
Mental health: 38% of girls report poor mental health versus 19% of boys; 60% of “other” sexual orientation students versus 21% of heterosexual peers.
Sexual teen dating violence: 28% of bisexual students versus 11% of heterosexual students.
Witnessed neighborhood violence: 35% of Black students versus 21% of AANHPI students.
More areas of inequality…

Browse by topic

Six issue areas, each with its own page of charts and findings.

Education Preschool through college: enrollment, test scores, language learners, school economic diversity, completion. Economic Stability Residential stability, family-sustaining wages, labor force participation, self-sufficient wages. Health Health insurance, low birth weight, sleep, eating, physical activity, substance use, mental health. Victimization Bullying, teen dating violence, witnessed neighborhood violence, weapons at school, juvenile arrests. Risky Behaviors Binge drinking, frequent vape use, pregnancy and STD prevention, driving under the influence, texting while driving. Policy Recommendations City, community, and advocacy actions drawn from the report to improve youth wellbeing across San Diego.

Last updated: May 2026 Read the full report (PDF)