This study investigated the effects of community violence exposure (CVE) on mental well-being and academic goal orientation among in-school adolescents in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria. A total of 298 adolescents (150 males, 148 females) from public secondary schools participated in the study. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and independent samples t-tests. Results indicated that CVE had a significant positive direct effect on mental well-being, suggesting possible adaptive or normalization responses to chronic violence exposure. However, CVE did not directly predict academic goal orientation, implying that adolescents may have developed resilience mechanisms that buffer academic motivation from the adverse effects of violence. In contrast, mental well-being had a significant direct effect on academic goal orientation, emphasizing the importance of psychological functioning in fostering academic motivation. Gender differences were also observed: males reported significantly higher CVE than females, but no significant gender differences emerged for mental well-being or academic goal orientation. These findings highlight the complex interplay between violence exposure and academic goal orientation in contexts of chronic community violence. It is recommended that interventions aimed at strengthening adolescent mental health in schools should be given priority to enhance academic engagement in high-risk settings.