The main finding of this study was that aspects of both objectively measured and subjectively perceived poor performance persisted as significantly associated with a wide range of depression in both sexes when studied together in a multivariate analysis. In more specific analyses concerning moderate depression, the indices of objective school performance did not prove significant in either sex. With studying the most extreme cases of self-reported depression, gender differences appeared; objective school performance seemed protective for severe depression in boys but not in girls. Subjective school performance was strongly associated with severe depression in girls than in boys. The study found that mental health can be promoted in a school setting with support strategies such as enhancing self-esteem and promoting efficient learning strategies. Depression was measured using the R-Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the objective school performance comprised of self-reported grade point average (GPA) which was used as a continuous variable, the subjective school performance comprised of perceived loading of schoolwork and perceived difficulties in different areas of schoolwork. Participants were seventh-ninth grade students ages 13-17 (n=2,319) attending secondary school in Pori, a Finnish city, in spring 2000. Tables, references