Although schools are not traditionally designed to provide intensive mental health services to children, they are in a position to create systems that foster mental health. By creating school-wide systems in which students are academically, behaviorally and socially successful, schools can integrate those essential protective factors shown to contribute to mental health. The purpose of this paper is to thoroughly explore factors impacting the mental health development of students and then to examine school practices that foster mental health. This paper will identify those school-wide practices that are associated with mental health. Specifically, this paper will review current approaches in schools that promote mental health in students, including instructional practices, curriculum design, ecological considerations, teacher perceptions, and social competence building.