At-Risk Students: Supporting Learners Facing Life’s Toughest Challenges

Lyssete Tagulao
Jul 12
2 min read

Definition

At-risk students are learners who face significant barriers that can interfere with their education and overall well-being. These may include poverty, trauma, unstable housing (homelessness), food insecurity, abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, or unstable family situations. At-risk students are more likely to experience academic failure, chronic absenteeism, mental health challenges, and school dropout if not given the right support.

Source: https://www.graduateprogram.org/blog/how-to-identify-and-support-gifted-students-in-the-classroom/

Characteristics

Students who are at risk may:

Arrive at school tired, hungry, or without basic supplies
Miss school frequently due to caregiving, moving, or crises
Appear withdrawn, anxious, angry, or overly quiet
Have difficulty focusing or completing assignments
Show inconsistent academic performance
Seem disconnected from classmates or school activities
Need emotional reassurance and stable relationships

These students often carry burdens beyond their control, but with the right help, they can thrive.

Accommodations & Modifications

Ways to support at-risk students in school:

Build strong, caring relationships with consistent check-ins
Offer flexibility with deadlines and attendance
Provide quiet spaces for breaks or emotional regulation
Connect families with school counselors or community services
Use trauma-informed teaching practices (patience, predictability, empathy)
Ensure access to basic needs: school supplies, snacks, hygiene products
Create structured routines and visual supports
Celebrate small successes to build confidence and motivation

Resources

1. 🧤 National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)

Provides guidance on the rights of homeless students under the McKinney-Vento Act and how schools can support families in transition.

2. 🧤 CASEL – Social and Emotional Learning

Promotes SEL strategies that build resilience, emotional awareness, and positive relationships for students affected by trauma or poverty.

3. 📽 Video: “Getting Started With Trauma‑Informed Practices” – Edutopia

This clear, approachable video shows how teachers can adapt their classrooms using trauma-informed strategies, such as building trust, creating safe spaces, and fostering strong relationships, to help all students, especially those affected by poverty, trauma, or instability, thrive.

4. 📖 Book: Fostering Resilient Learners by Kristin Souers & Pete Hall

This book offers practical ways teachers can create safe, supportive, and trauma-informed classrooms for struggling students.

5. 🧤 Communities In Schools (CIS)

National nonprofit that places support staff in schools to help at-risk students overcome barriers and stay engaged.