Why Wayfinder

Research-Backed

Wayfinder Research + Outcomes

Wayfinder students demonstrate significant improvement in three key measures: purpose, engagement, and social awareness.

Schedule Demo

Wayfinder Boosts Student Performance

Students who complete the Wayfinder curriculum experience many positive outcomes, including:

Harvard EASEL Lab Profile

The Harvard EASEL Lab did an in-depth analysis of Wayfinder's high school curriculum, evaluating all components of the Wayfinder program. They found our SEL program supports students to learn skills like:

Critical Thinking
Self-Knowledge

Empathy
Purpose

Prosocial Behaviors
Gratitude

Read Harvard EASEL Lab Profile

Wayfinder Evaluation + Theory of Change

In 2023, Wayfinder’s Research + Product Development Consultant articulated a theory of change model that spells out how Wayfinder’s programming helps students build belonging, purpose, and future-ready skills.

Read Wayfinder Evaluation

Graph that shows 55% of students grew in school engagement and 64% of students grew in social awareness.

2021-22 Independent Program Evaluation

View Full Program Evaluation

Stanford University researcher Dr. Heather Malin completed an independent evaluation at a high school near San Francisco. Pre- and post-program surveys were administered to students who participated in the Wayfinder curriculum and to a control group of students at the same school who did not engage with our curriculum.

THE RESULTS

Wayfinder students scored higher than the control group in all measures, demonstrating statistically significant improvement in:
‍

Purpose
Sense of purpose, goal commitment, beyond-the-self motivation

Engagement
Interest in and enthusiasm for their classes

Social Awareness
Positive social behaviors such as listening to others and respecting others’ views

Our Research Advisory Council

Dr. Bill Damon

Director, Stanford Center on Adolescence + Author,

Path to Purpose

Dr. Susie Wise

Founder, Stanford K12 Lab + Adjunct Professor Stanford d.school

Vicki Zakrzewski

Education Director

UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center

Emily Esfahani Smith

NY Times Contributor + Author,

The Power of Meaning

Heather Malin, Ph.D

Director

Stanford Center on Adolescence

Founded at Stanford, Based on Research

Wayfinder was started at the Stanford d.school using the latest child and adolescent research from Dr. Bill Damon, and other leaders in the field. Everything we create is evidence-based, research-backed, and grounded in human-centered design.

Students Who Experience Belonging Have:

Greater levels of self-confidence

Better stress management

Stronger relationships with peers + teachers

Higher levels of motivation + achievement

Students Who Feel Purposeful Have:

Increased academic engagement

Higher grade point averages

More prosocial behavior

Greater levels of self-motivation

RISE Program

Wayfinder partnered with the RISE Initiative for a six-week virtual program designed for students to develop lives of meaning and purpose. RISE students from over 33 different countries Zoomed into six 1.5-hour Wayfinder-facilitated sessions.

Students showed growth in core competencies, 60-70 students per week overcame challenges of connectivity + time differences to attend, and students responded with overwhelmingly positive evaluations during the course.

CASEL SELect Program Designation

Wayfinder has earned the prestigious CASEL SELect Program designation, recognized for:

Proven Effectiveness:

Demonstrates significant outcomes in improving school climate, student connectedness, social behaviors, and identity development

High-Quality Implementation Support:
‍Successfully used in hundreds of schools worldwide, Wayfinder’s flexible curriculum supports full K-12 rollouts, MTSS interventions, counseling, and more, with custom implementation plans tailored to each school’s needs

Meaning Making via Collaboration:
‍Wayfinder’s comprehensive programming integrates CASEL competencies across all grade levels, fostering relationship skills, social awareness, and cultural competence through active student collaboration and real-world practice

Relevance + Academic Alignment:
‍Co-designed with students and rigorously tested, Wayfinder’s curriculum addresses relevant topics like social media and entrepreneurship, promoting student ownership and ensuring alignment with academic standards and future readiness.