Back-to-school stress deepens in Arizona classrooms

By Stacy Mantle
Mail

Back-to-school season often brings excitement: new backpacks, first‑day photos and reunions with friends.

But educators, parents and students say this year feels different — heavier, more anxious and layered with uncertainty.

"This year of school is exceptionally stressful because our district has opted to barrel ahead with a block schedule," said Jennifer Allen, mother of five children in the Mesa Unified District. "This is something none of us parents wanted, the kids absolutely didn’t want and I am hard pressed to find teachers that were excited about it either!" 

According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 70% of U.S. teens say school is their top stressor. Arizona ranks 50th for youth prevalence of depressive episodes (23.96%) and 48th for youth with private insurance that didn’t cover emotional or behavioral health issues.

Arizona also faces the worst counselor ratio  — roughly 645 students per counselor. This is only slightly better than during the 2022–23 school year when there were approximately 667 students for every school counselor, more than double the American School Counselor Association’s recommended ratio of 250:1

"My high school freshman had his first day of orientation and was asking faculty members about how this new block schedule will work but apparently he couldn’t find anyone that would give him a straight answer either," Allen said. "Not a good outcome if the purpose of freshman orientation was to help put these kids minds at ease. Being a working mom, the added stress of having five of our kids at three different schools, all on different release schedules, makes this year even more stressful and challenging."

Academic pressure remains the top stressor for teens nationwide, APA data show. At the same time, Arizona’s counselor shortage is among the most severe in the country — nearly triple the recommended 250‑to‑1 ratio.

“There’s no single fingerprint for how kids handle back‑to‑school stress,” said Rebecca DePalma, a physician assistant with Denova Collaborative Health. “Open conversations before and after school, noticing changes in behavior, and staying in touch with teachers can make a huge difference. Even subtle shifts — like withdrawing from favorite activities or saying things that raise concern — are signals to check in and, if needed, bring them in for support. Therapy isn’t just for crises; it can be valuable for ongoing maintenance, too.”

Rising costs and increased financial woes

Families are facing financial stress layered on top of academic challenges and emotional challenges. These issues further increase the stress of families.

"School supply shopping has gotten out of control over the past few years and it becomes more difficult each year my son gets older as he needs more and more supplies," said Ariana Giles, whose son participates in the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale. "This year I spent $200 on supplies alone. I have to save all summer to make sure I can cover his costs and ensure he is ready for school."

The National Retail Federation projects parents will spend about $570 per child on school supplies, clothing and technology this year, down slightly from last year’s second‑highest average in survey history. A recent Credit Karma survey found that nationally, more than 44% of parents expect to borrow to cover those costs.

Housing issues and food insecurity is also on the rise as costs continue to rise.

“Today, more parents are having to work multiple jobs because wages aren’t keeping up with higher costs of living,” said Joseph Palomino, director of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress. “Housing costs have skyrocketed in the last few years, eating up a growing piece of stagnating family budgets and leaving fewer resources for food."

Palomino said even as budgets are dwindling, food prices are rising and programs like the Suplemental Nutrition Assistance Program faces cuts tat the federal level,

"Gutting that support forces impossible choices no parent should have to make," he said.

Financial stresses of districts

Financial stresses aren't limited to families. In Arizona, that financial squeeze collides with policy shifts. The state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program — a universal school voucher system — disbursed more than $822 million in fiscal 2025. 

Mesa Public Schools, the state’s largest district, projects a $19 million budget loss this year due to ESA transfers, according to legislative budget data. District leaders say those dollars would have supported counseling, transportation and classroom aides.

Districts also are recovering from a summer funding freeze. In June, the U.S. Department of Education paused nearly $6 billion in grants for English learners, migrant education and summer programs — a freeze lifted only in late July. Of that, about $132 million was destined for Arizona.

Seversal districts, including Phoenix Union and Roosevelt were forced to cut tutoring hours and delay counselor hires as a result.

The timing was especially difficult for schools serving newcomers. Phoenix Union’s population of students who arrived in the U.S. within the past year has surged to more than 2,000, mirroring statewide trends tied to recent migration.

Local solutions taking shape

Despite challenges, some districts are testing initiatives advocates say could serve as models for the rest of the state. One pilot involves a telehealth partnership with Cartwheel that delivers faster emotional and psychological support to low‑income students across Arizona.

Others focus on meeting basic needs: Mesa hosts “Backpack Saturdays,” combining supply giveaways with food pantries and uniform swaps, while the Boys & Girls Club’s Kid Spree program — sponsored by Kohl’s — provides families with $200 to shop for clothing and supplies before the school year begins.

“For many of our families, back-to-school shopping can be a financial challenge. Kid Spree is about more than just new shoes or outfits — it’s about restoring a sense of dignity and excitement for the new school year,” said Ivan Gilreath, BGCS president and CEO. “We are incredibly grateful to our funding partners and Kohl’s for making this event possible.”

The program has made back-to-school shopping more manageable for parents. 

“We are so grateful we have been selected over the past few years for back-to-school shopping by Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Giles. “It helps me cover the costs of clothes, backpacks, and shoes for him which makes him feel excited and ready to take on the new year. I would have needed around $500 to cover all the costs this year and because of the back-to-school event I could pay my bills and put food on the table.”

Preparing for school is challenging for kids, parents and teachers. Those who work in the mental health care sector say it's important to remember the challenges that can come with big changes.

"Behind every backpack is a young student carrying hopes, questions and a quiet need to feel safe and accepted," said Patrick Buehl, executive director of Horizon Recovery. "Meet them with kindness, listen with care and remind them they belong in this world, just as they are."

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.