How do generational differences affect your school district?
We’ll provide a quick rundown on each generation, from baby boomers all the way to Gen Alpha.
GENERATIONS:
AN OVERVIEW
How do generational differences affect your school district?
It’s a complicated question—and the answer begins with a baseline understanding of each generation, from baby boomers to Gen Alphas. Here’s a quick rundown of each group: when they were born, what major events have affected them and what behavioral trends sociologists have observed.
But first, a few important disclaimers:
While sociologists generally agree on the approximate birth year ranges of each generation, there's nothing magical about those numbers. Someone born in 1964 (technically a baby boomer) probably won't have a drastically different mindset than someone born in 1965 (technically a Gen Xer).
"Because of the unique events and experiences of each generation, we see different behavioral trends in each population," says researcher and generational expert Kim Lear. "But these are trends, not traits." In other words, generational theory can help you understand broader groups of people, but it doesn't necessarily have any bearing on your interactions with individuals. "Leaders have to understand individuals, know their motivations and know what type of feedback inspires them," says Lear.
A lot of factors contribute to who a person is, from age to gender to race to class and more. As you interact with groups in your community, don't forget to consider those other complex factors.
Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964) Born in the decades following World War II, baby boomers entered life in an era of great optimism and economic prosperity. As a generation, they have long been characterized by their strong work ethic and loyalty to employers. Having adapted to life before the digital age, they tend to value in-person conversation and phone calls over other forms of communication—although they've definitely taken to social media in recent years. As baby boomers came into adulthood at a time of economic strength, they tend to value institutions and tradition.
Generation X (Born 1965-1980) As the first generation of children to widely see both parents working, Generation X famously became known as “latch key kids” who returned home after school to empty houses. That independence at such a young age led Gen X to be characterized as self-reliant and resilient. Thanks to the birth of the 24-hour news cycle in the early ‘80s—not to mention countless public scandals, from Watergate to the O.J. Simpson trial—Gen X also developed a healthy skepticism. Known by some as the “forgotten generation,” Gen X falls between the baby boomers and the millennials, and in many ways serves as a bridge between the two. In the U.S., Gen X as a group is more racially diverse and more tech-literate than their predecessors, but they fall behind millennials on both these measures.
Millennials (Born 1981-1996) The first generation to grow up with personal computers, millennials are known for being more technologically literate than generations before—but that’s not all that makes them unique. In the U.S., they are also less white and more politically progressive than those who came before them. Coming of age in a post-9/11 world and entering the workforce during the 2008 financial crisis, millennials have also become characterized by financial instability, mental health struggles and burnout. No longer teens and twenty-somethings, they are now entering their 30s and 40s and are grappling with new challenges, such as parenthood, home ownership and planning for retirement.
Generation Z (Born 1997-2012) Gen Z, our youngest adults, are on track to be the most educated and most ethnically and racially diverse generation in American history. As the first adults to have little to no memory of life before smartphones, they’re not just tech-literate—they’re digital natives. Many Gen Zers saw their adolescence or early adulthood disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as the newest members of the workforce, they were hardest hit by layoffs in the resulting economic downturn. Time will tell what effects these events have on Gen Z mindsets long-term—but in a 2024 Gallup survey, Gen Zers reported even higher rates of mental health struggle than millennials did at the same age. However, 79% of Gen Zers said they believe they have a great future ahead of them.
Generation Alpha (Born 2012-Present) Right now, the oldest Gen Alphas are just 12 years old—and while their generation is already being researched, it’s hard to say with certainty what they will be like. Millennial parenting styles, increases in “screen time” and losing a few formative years to the pandemic will all likely impact this generation’s behavioral trends—but how? We’ll have to wait and see. As a school leader, you have a unique perspective on Gen Alpha—you interact with them as a group more than perhaps any other adults in our society. And in fact, you have the opportunity to help shape them into tomorrow’s leaders.
