Information for students

How does COMPASS benefit you?

COMPASS is a way for you to generate positive change in your school.

group of teens sitting together outside

You have a unique opportunity to let your school know how it is doing in terms of providing you with a healthy environment.

When you fill out our survey each year, you allow us to give your school feedback on what programs and policies are working well, where there might be room for improvement, and how we can help your school make positive change.

If your school is doing a good job at promoting healthy lifestyles, we're going to help your school be even better! This can include:

  • introducing or improving breakfast/lunch programs
  • offering more activities during or after school
  • adjusting aspects of the health curriculum
  • introducing health related school events

back to top

What do you need to do?

Improving your school requires only 30 minutes of your time.

On the day the COMPASS survey begins at your school, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire online. This questionnaire takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and will ask you questions about:

  • healthy eating
  • physical activity
  • smoking, alcohol, marijuana and opioid use
  • bullying
  • how connected you feel to your school
  • your mental health 
  • emerging health issues in your community and nationally
  • other background information about yourself

We ask that you take your time filling out the questionnaire and answer the questions as honestly as possible. Only COMPASS staff will see your answers and your answers will remain completely anonymous.

We will use the data from all student questionnaires to give your school feedback about its health-related programs and policies, and make recommendations about what your school can do to provide you with an environment that is even better.

back to top

COMPASS Demystifying research series social media posts

Everything you need to know about COMPASS

Figure 1- Everything you need to know about COMPASS title image
Figure 2- what is compass
Figure 3- what provinces participate in COMPASS
Figure 4- what health topics are measured in COMPASS
Figure 5- what type of study is COMPASS
Figure 6- how is COMPASS data collected
Figure 1- Everything you need to know about COMPASS title image
1 / 6
Figure 2- what is compass
2 / 6
Figure 3- what provinces participate in COMPASS
3 / 6
Figure 4- what health topics are measured in COMPASS
4 / 6
Figure 5- what type of study is COMPASS
5 / 6
Figure 6- how is COMPASS data collected
6 / 6

Information about privacy and confidentiality

Figure 1 - privacy and confidentiality title page
Figure 2 - what is privacy
Figure 3 - maintaining confidentiality
Figure 4- information about coding questions on survey
Figure 5 - types of data
Figure 6 - how is the code generated
Figure 7 - more details about anonymity
Figure 1 - privacy and confidentiality title page
1 / 7
Figure 2 - what is privacy
2 / 7
Figure 3 - maintaining confidentiality
3 / 7
Figure 4- information about coding questions on survey
4 / 7
Figure 5 - types of data
5 / 7
Figure 6 - how is the code generated
6 / 7
Figure 7 - more details about anonymity
7 / 7

How are the COMPASS research results used?

Figure 1- how are the research results used title page
Figure 2- other uses of research
Figure 3 - local data sharing
Figure- annual school health profile
Figure 2 - board and public health reports
Figure 6 - program planning and evaluation
Figure 1- how are the research results used title page
1 / 6
Figure 2- other uses of research
2 / 6
Figure 3 - local data sharing
3 / 6
Figure- annual school health profile
4 / 6
Figure 2 - board and public health reports
5 / 6
Figure 6 - program planning and evaluation
6 / 6