The Phillipian

State of the Academy

2018

M.CALLAHAN/The Phillipian

On April 7, The Phillipian, vol. CXLI, sent out the 2018 “State of Academy” survey to all Andover students in hopes of obtaining valuable information about the school community. This year, 1043 students participated. The anonymous survey asked a comprehensive set of 111 questions, comprised of eight sections: General, Politics and Worldview, Wellness, Sex, Drugs and Alcohol, School, Community Diversity, and Discipline. The final product includes seven sections of data graphics and information, with the results from Community Diversity split into other sections. This year, The Phillipian will also publish raw results from the entire survey in a State of the Academy Website to be viewed in tandem with the printed copy. We sincerely thank participating members of the Andover community for their willingness to share information and their own personal experiences for this special issue of The Phillipian, and we hope that the State of the Academy will serve to inform, enlighten, and create a more holistic narrative of the students at Andover.

Editor’s Note: In order to maintain complete transparency, please note the following: due to an administrative error, the “State of the Academy” survey gathered responses from nine students who are currently or permanently off campus. Seeing as these nine students represent only 0.78% of the total number of respondents, however, we hope that the data will not be significantly altered in any meaningful way.



Source CodeSee Response Data

General


What class are you in?

Are you a boarding student?

YES
NO

Where are you from?

(For students from the United States) What is your immigration status?

What is your ethnicity?

Note: respondents may have selected more than one

What is your gender?

What is your sexual orientation?

Sexual orientation is "a person's sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted" (Oxford Dictionaries). Each term is defined as follows:


  • Asexual — without sexual attraction
  • Bisexual — sexually attracted to both men and women
  • Demisexual — sexually attracted only after developing an emotional connection
  • Heterosexual — sexually attracted to the opposite sex or gender
  • Homosexual — sexually attracted to the same sex or gender
  • Pansexual — sexually attracted to others regardless of sex or gender

What is your romantic orientation?

Romantic orientation is "an individual's pattern of romantic attraction based on a person's gender" (AVENwiki). Each term is defined as follows:


  • Aromantic — without romantic attraction
  • Biromantic — romantically attracted to both men and women
  • Demiromantic — romantically attracted only after developing an emotional connection
  • Heteroromantic — romantically attracted to the opposite sex or gender
  • Homoromantic — romantically attracted to the same sex or gender
  • Panromantic — romantically attracted to others regardless of sex or gender

What are your preferred gender pronouns (PGPs)?

Are you on any form of financial aid?

YES
NO

If you attend college, will you be a first-generation college student?

YES
NO

Are you a varsity athlete?

YES
NO

With which religion or faith system do you identify, if any?

Note: respondents may have selected more than one



School

Academics are a large part of the life of an Andover student, involving both the school day and an average of 4.2 hours of homework outside of the classroom. Many students also participate in additional extracurricular activities. 64% of respondents reported that they participated in extracurriculars partly to increase their chances of admission to a selective college, and 7% reported participating in extracurriculars solely for this reason. Finally, faculty voted earlier this week to adopt a new schedule, Model A3, beginning the fall of the 2018-2019 school year. 55% of respondents, however, do not support a change in the current academic schedule.

5.18

was the average school-wide Winter 2017-2018 G.P.A



What was your rounded Winter 2017-2018 (unweighted) G.P.A.?

Note: If respondents were between two numbers, they were instructed to round up to the next closest decimal — a 5.3 G.P.A. would round to a 5.4

How many hours do you spend on coursework outside of class each day?

Average GPA by Hours spent on coursework

Do you think that grading disparities exist between teachers of the same subject at Andover?

YES
‌

In which department is there the largest grading disparity between teachers?

Are day students are able to integrate with boarding students on campus?

Boarders:

YES
NO

Day Students:

YES
NO

Have you ever switched teachers within the same course in order to attain a better grade?

YES
NO

Do you think attending Andover affects your chances of attending a selective college?

Do you participate in any extracurriculars because you think they will increase your chances of getting into a selective college?

Do you think that the majority of your teachers care about your health and wellbeing?

YES
NO

Has attending Andover affected your relationship with your family?

Have you ever considered leaving Andover permanently?

YES
NO

Would you want your children to attend Andover?

YES
NO

Do you support a change in the current academic schedule?

YES
NO

Is the faculty diverse enough?

Overall:

YES
NO

White:

YES
NO

Asian:

YES
NO

Black:

YES
NO

Original People of the Americas:

YES
NO

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander:

YES
NO


Politics & Worldview

Andover is generally known for its politically liberal culture, which is further evidenced by the 44.2% of students that identify as identify as Liberals. 16.3% of respondents identify as Conservatives, nearly three times less than those who identify as liberal. This clear majority has impacted the atmospheres of political discussions on campus, resulting in 61.9% of respondents feeling the need to censor themselves due to their political leaning. Looking at current national issues, about 60% of respondents support affirmative action. Black respondents were nearly unanimous (90.35%) in their support of affirmative action. In addition, 33.8% of respondents believed that reverse racism — defined as system “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism on the basis of race directed against a member of a dominant or privileged racial group” (Oxford Dictionaries) — exists. Additionally, 48.8% of respondents believe that there is a rape culture at Andover. Finally, 87% of respondents supported all-gender housing following its first year of implementation at Andover, a 3% increase from last year.


What is your political affiliation?

Do you believe that the United States should increase restrictions on immigration?

YES
NO

Immigration beliefs by political affiliation

Do you consider yourself a feminist?

YES
NO

Feminism by gender

Note: Percentages for certain categories may be skewed due to a low number of responses.

Do you support the Black Lives Matter movement?

Feminists:

YES
NO

Non-Feminists:

YES
NO

Is there a rape culture at Andover?

Feminists:

YES
NO

Non-Feminists:

YES
NO

Belief in a rape culture by gender

Note: Percentages for certain categories may be skewed due to a low number of responses.

Do you believe a female should have the right to choose if they have an abortion?

Do you think that gun control laws in the United States should change?

Do you support all-gender Housing at Andover?

YES
NO

While at Andover, have you ever felt the need to censor yourself due to your political leaning?

YES
NO

Self-censorship by political affiliation

Do you believe that reverse racism can exist?

Reverse racism is defined as “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism on the basis of race directed against a member of a dominant or privileged racial group” (Oxford Dictionaries).

Senior:

YES
NO

Upper:

YES
NO

Lower:

YES
NO

Junior:

YES
NO


Wellness

Addressing student wellness has been at the forefront of Andover’s mission to help students stay balanced. On average, Andover students sleep just under 6.7 hours per night. 78.7% of respondents consider themselves generally happy at Andover, while 63.0% of respondents think that Andover students as a whole are happy. 38.5% of students find support systems in their friends, the largest percentage. Students who find their support systems including faculty and/or Sykes staff come a close second at 33.40%. 166 students have been diagnosed with depression, and 187 students have been diagnosed with anxiety, either before or after coming to Andover.


On average, how many hours of sleep do you get per night?

Do you feel insecure about your academic ability and/or intelligence?

Do you feel insecure about your body, physical health, and/or appearance?

Insecurity about appearance by gender.

Note: Percentages for certain categories may be skewed due to a low number of responses.

59.83%

of men have felt insecure about their appearance

89.66%

of women have felt insecure about their appearance


Insecurity about appearance by race.

Note: Percentages for certain categories may be skewed due to a low number of responses.

Have you ever been diagnosed with anxiety?

Have you ever been diagnosed with depression?

Have you ever had, or do you currently have, an eating disorder?

Have you ever engaged, or do you currently engage, in self-harm?

Generally speaking, do you consider yourself happy at Andover?

YES
NO

In general, do you think that Andover students are happy?

YES
NO

Happiness by race

Note: Percentages for certain categories may be skewed due to a low number of responses.

What social media platforms do you use at Andover?

Note: Respondents may have selected more than one

Have you ever been to Graham House or the Sykes Wellness Center to see a counselor?

YES
NO

Have you ever been bullied or hazed while at Andover?

Do you feel alone on campus?



Sex

An overwhelming 91% majority of student respondents believe in the existence of a hook-up culture at Andover, and 38.3% of all respondents have felt pressured to participate in the hook-up culture. 49% of respondents have engaged in sexual activity, compared to 52% from last year’s survey. 66% of respondents believe that the current sexual education curriculum at Andover is adequate. 37 respondents have been sexually assaulted on campus, and 91 have been sexually assaulted off campus, in addition to 28 both on and off campus. 21.2% of female respondents have been sexually assaulted while 7.6% of male respondents and 0% of intersex respondents have been sexually assaulted. 33 respondents have been sexually harassed on campus, and 208 have been sexually harassed off campus, in addition to 125 both on and off campus. 54.05% of female respondents have been sexually harassed while 13.1% of male respondents.

Editor’s note: Correlated statistics from respondents who identified as intersex have been removed to protect the complete anonymity of these respondents.


Have you ever engaged in sexual activity?

Note: respondents may have selected more than one

With how many people have you engaged in sexual activity with?

Relationship status by sexuality

Note: Percentages for certain categories may be skewed due to a low number of responses.

Do you consistently ask your partner for verbal consent?

Do you use barrier-method protection while engaging in sexual activity?

Note: Respondents may have selected more than one.

Do you think that the current sexual education curriculum at Andover is adequate?

Note: Percentages for certain categories may be skewed due to a low number of responses.

YES
NO

Do you believe that there is a hook-up culture at Andover?

YES
NO

Belief in a hook-up culture by gender

Note: Percentages for certain categories may be skewed do to a low number of responses.

Have you ever felt pressure by your peers to participate in Andover's hook-up culture?

Have you ever felt pressured by a partner to engage in sexual activity?

Note: Percentages for certain categories may be skewed do to a low number of responses.

Have you ever masturbated?

Males:

YES
NO

Females:

YES
NO

Have you ever watched porn?

Males:

YES
NO

Females:

YES
NO

Porn by grade



Drugs

Like other high schools, Andover is susceptible to a pervasive drug and alcohol culture. 27.82% of students have felt pressured by peers to consume drugs or alcohol. Out of all Andover students, 21.6% have attended a school-sponsored event under the influence of drugs or alcohol while 11.6% have used drugs or alcohol during the academic school day. Students of the upper socioeconomic class have the highest percentages in consuming alcohol and tobacco products on and off campus, using Juuls, hallucinogens, or hard drugs on and off campus; using pharmaceutical or “study drugs”; and purchasing or owning a fake ID.


Juuling by the years

39.10%

of 2017-2018 respondents have juuled

28.86%

of 2016-2017 respondents have juuled

Have you ever used hallucinogens or hard drugs?

Note: Respondents may have selected more than one.

Have you ever used pharmaceutical drugs in the hopes of enhancing academic performance at Andover? (i.e. "study drugs")

Have you ever sold someone drugs, alcohol, or your prescription medication?

Have you ever attended a school-sponsored event while under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

YES
NO

How often do you consume drugs or alcohol on campus?

Marijuana usage by class

Alcohol usage by class

Tobacco usage by class

Juul and E-Cigarette usage by class

Have you felt pressured to consume alcohol by your peers?

By socioeconomic class, do you own/have you ever purchased a fake id?

Upper class:

YES
NO

Everyone else:

YES
NO


Discipline

When it is determined that an Andover student has committed a major offense, they are called upon a Disciplinary Committee (DC). 61 respondents have sat before a DC, with the highest percentage by socioeconomic class from the lower socioeconomic class (18.2%). 306 respondents reported having cheated on tests, quizzes, or in-class assessments. 89% of respondents support changes to make room visit policies more lenient. 78.04% of students believe that the school’s disciplinary system favors students of privileged backgrounds.


Have you ever sat before a Disciplinary Committee (DC)?

Everyone:

YES
NO

Males:

YES
NO

Females:

YES
NO

DCs by socio-economic class

By those who've been DCed, does the DC system effectively discipline students?


By sex, does the DC system effectively discipline students?

Do you think that the school's disciplinary system favors students of privileged backgrounds?

Upper class:

YES
NO

Upper-middle class:

YES
NO

Middle class:

YES
NO

Lower-middle class:

YES
NO

Lower class:

YES
‌

Have you ever committed a major offense without being caught?

(Major offenses include, but are not limited to academic dishonesty, drugs and alcohol, cruising, gambling, and downloading/sharing sexually explicit content)

YES
NO

Do you think that the administration should have the right to search an entire dorm for contraband material?


By alcohol consumption, should the school be able to search dorms?


Do you support changes in room-visit policies?

Opinions on room-visiting by sexual activity

Note: Information on whether respondents were sexually active or not is based upon the number of people respondents have engaged in sexual activity with. There was not a question on the State of the Academy specifically asking if respondents were sexually active.

Have you ever had an illegal room-visit?

YES
NO

Have you ever been Sanctuaried?

YES
NO

Have you ever Sanctuaried someone else?

YES
NO

Cheating by class

Plagiarism by class