Poll Raises Questions About Extent of Teen Cheating

Students feeling under pressure more likely to excuse ethical violations.

The results of a recent online poll are raising questions about the extent of academic dishonesty among the nation’s teenagers.

Nearly four in 10 teenagers who responded to the poll said there are times they feel they have to engage in a variety of unethical behaviors, including cheating on a test, lying, stealing, or behaving violently toward another person, to succeed in school.

The poll, released this month , was co-sponsored by JA Worldwide, which runs the Junior Achievement entrepreneurship program, and Deloitte, a global financial- services company based in New York City. It explored how young people’s willingness to break rules could shape their later conduct...