Trends in Bullying, Use of Hate-related Words, and Other Unfavorable Conditions at Schools

Three new Data Points released today (July 28, 2016) look at trends in reports of bullying, use of hate-related words, and other unfavorable conditions in the nation's schools. The reports from the National Center for Education Statistics, in the Institute of Education Sciences, use data collected in the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey.

Trends in Bullying at School Among Students Ages 12 to 18 shows that the percentage of students who reported being bullied at school declined from 2005 to 2013.

Trends in Hate-Related Words at School Among Students Ages 12 to 18 shows that, from 2001 to 2013, there was a decline in the percentages of students who reported being called a hate-related word or seeing hate-related graffiti at school. Among students who reported being called a hate-related word at school, the percentage of students called a gender-based hate word decreased from 2001 to 2013, while the percentages of those students called hate words based on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation increased.

Reports of Bullying and Other Unfavorable Conditions at School shows that students who reported being bullied at school also reported other unfavorable school conditions at a higher rate than students who were not bullied. Such unfavorable conditions at school included availability of drugs and alcohol and the presence of hate-related graffiti, gangs, and guns.