The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive power of effortful control (EC) and empathy for perception of school climate. Self-report measures of EC, dispositional empathy, and perception of school climate were obtained for 398 students (204 females) aged 12 to 13. Sociometric status was peer-evaluated, and academic achievement was based on students? final grades at the end of the school year. The structural equation model that was developed confirms the influence of EC and empathy on perception of school climate. The model manages to explain 39% of the variance in perception of school climate and confirms that for males and females alike, the predictive power of EC and empathy is greater than for other variables studied such as academic achievement and sociometric status. Further, EC and empathy are found to have a positive influence on academic achievement. The importance of developing activities to foster EC and empathy in order to facilitate interpersonal relationships and enhance perception of the school climate is discussed.