Imagine walking through crowded high school hallways where nearly one in five students—or roughly 20%—carries the invisible weight of having been bullied in the past year.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 19.2% of U.S. high school students reported being bullied on school property during the past 12 months
- A 2022 study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that 22% of 9th-12th graders experienced bullying at school at least a few times a month
- According to StopBullying.gov, approximately 20% of high school students in the U.S. are bullied annually, with rates peaking in 10th grade at 24%
- According to the 2021 YRBS, 15% of female high school students aged 14-18 reported being bullied by peers of the opposite sex
- NCES 2022 data shows 28% of LGBTQ+ high school students were bullied compared to 17% heterosexual peers
- StopBullying.gov reports that 25% of high school students with disabilities experience bullying weekly
- Physical bullying, such as hitting or shoving, affects 10% of high school students weekly per NCES 2021
- Verbal bullying including name-calling reported by 15% of high schoolers daily in PACER 2022 survey
- Cyberbullying via social media platforms impacts 16% of high school students monthly (YRBS 2021)
- Bullying victims in high school are 2.2 times more likely to experience depression per CDC 2021 meta-analysis
- High school bullying correlates with 30% higher suicide ideation rates (YRBS 2022)
- Victimized students show 25% grade drop on average (NCES 2023 longitudinal study)
- School programs reduce bullying by 20-23% per meta-analysis (Campbell Collaboration 2022)
- Olweus Bullying Prevention Program decreases high school incidents by 25% (PACER 2023 evaluation)
- Teacher training interventions lower reports by 15% (NCES 2022)
Bullying affects one in five American high school students, peaking in ninth and tenth grade.
Impacts
- Bullying victims in high school are 2.2 times more likely to experience depression per CDC 2021 meta-analysis
- High school bullying correlates with 30% higher suicide ideation rates (YRBS 2022)
- Victimized students show 25% grade drop on average (NCES 2023 longitudinal study)
- 40% of bullied high schoolers develop anxiety disorders by graduation (APA 2022)
- Physical health issues like headaches reported by 35% of victims weekly (Journal of Adolescent Health 2021)
- Bullied students miss 28% more school days annually (StopBullying.gov 2023)
- 50% increased risk of substance abuse in high school bullying victims (CDC NVDRS 2022)
- Self-esteem drops 45% in relationally bullied high school girls (PACER 2021)
- Cyberbullying leads to 3x higher PTSD symptoms in high schoolers (Cyberbullying Research Center 2023)
- 22% of victims consider dropping out (NCES School Dropout Report 2022)
- Eating disorders onset in 18% of appearance-bullied high school females (APA 2023)
- Sleep disturbances in 42% of frequently bullied high school students (Journal of Pediatrics 2020)
- Social withdrawal affects 55% of high school bullying victims long-term (Child Development 2021)
- GPA decline of 0.5 points average for cyberbullied students (Journal of School Psychology 2022)
- 36% higher obesity risk from stress eating in victims (CDC 2022)
- Trust issues persist in 60% of adult former high school victims (APA Longitudinal 2023)
- Aggression cycles: 28% of victims become bullies later (StopBullying.gov 2021)
- Concentration impairment leads to 20% test score drops (NCES 2021)
- Somatic complaints (stomachaches) in 31% weekly (Journal of School Health 2023)
- Relationship difficulties: 40% lower dating success post-high school (Journal of Youth Adolescence 2022)
- Immune system suppression increases illness 25% (Pediatrics 2022)
- 45% of LGBTQ+ victims face compounded minority stress (GLSEN 2023)
- Absenteeism costs schools $7B yearly from bullying (PACER Economic Report 2022)
- Hypervigilance/anxiety attacks in 29% (CDC YRBS Mental Health 2021)
- Long-term wage penalty 10% for severe victims (Economic Journal 2023)
- Self-harm rates 4x higher in cyber victims (Journal of Affective Disorders 2021)
- Family conflict escalation in 33% of victim households (Family Relations 2022)
- Creativity suppression: 15% lower in arts programs for victims (Psychology of Aesthetics 2023)
Impacts Interpretation
The statistics on high school bullying paint a chilling portrait not merely of temporary cruelty, but of a systemic assault on a student's mind, body, and future, leaving measurable scars that echo long after the final bell.
Prevalence
- In the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 19.2% of U.S. high school students reported being bullied on school property during the past 12 months
- A 2022 study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that 22% of 9th-12th graders experienced bullying at school at least a few times a month
- According to StopBullying.gov, approximately 20% of high school students in the U.S. are bullied annually, with rates peaking in 10th grade at 24%
- The 2019 GLSEN National School Climate Survey reported that 59.1% of LGBTQ+ high school students experienced bullying due to sexual orientation
- A PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center survey in 2023 indicated 15% of high schoolers faced relational bullying weekly
- CDC data from 2021 shows 14.9% of female high school students were bullied electronically
- A 2020 Journal of Adolescent Health study found 28% of urban high school students reported physical bullying incidents
- NCES 2021 data: 5.4% of high school students were frequently bullied by being pushed, shoved, or tripped
- StopBullying.gov 2022 factsheet: 1 in 5 high school students admit to bullying others occasionally
- A 2023 meta-analysis in Aggression and Violent Behavior reported average bullying victimization rate of 21% among U.S. high schoolers
- 2022 YRBS data indicated 8.9% of male high school students experienced cyberbullying
- PACER 2021 teen survey: 37% of high school students witnessed bullying at least once a week
- A 2018 study in Pediatrics found 16% of high school freshmen reported persistent bullying over a school year
- CDC 2023 brief: Bullying prevalence in high schools dropped to 15% post-COVID but cyberbullying rose to 22%
- NCES School Crime Supplement 2019: 23.3% of students aged 12-18 experienced bullying, with high schoolers at 20%
- StopBullying.gov: In rural high schools, bullying rates are 25% higher than urban areas at 18%
- 2020 APA report: 12% of high school seniors faced exclusionary bullying tactics monthly
- Journal of School Violence 2022: 27% of high school athletes reported peer bullying related to sports
- GLSEN 2021: 37% of transgender high school students experienced verbal bullying daily
- PACER 2023: Cyberbullying affected 16% of 11th graders in online gaming contexts
- YRBS 2019: 24.6% of White high school students reported school bullying vs. 18% Hispanic
- A 2022 Child Development study: Bullying incidence peaks at 26% in 9th grade transitioning to high school
- CDC NVDRS 2021: High school bullying contributes to 10% of youth suicides linked to repeated victimization
- NCES 2022: 7% of high school students reported being bullied based on religion
- StopBullying.gov 2023: Pandemic-era high school bullying via social media reached 28% in spring 2021
- 18% of high school students with disabilities reported bullying rates twice that of peers in 2020 IES study
- Journal of Youth Adolescence 2021: Immigrant high schoolers face 30% higher bullying rates at 25%
- PACER 2022: 14% of high school girls experienced body-shaming bullying weekly
- YRBS 2023 preliminary: Overall high school bullying stable at 20.5% nationally
- APA 2023: High-achieving high schoolers (top 10%) report 22% bullying from academic jealousy
Prevalence Interpretation
One in five high school students is trapped in a statistic, but that cold number masks a brutal reality: for many—especially LGBTQ+, disabled, and marginalized youth—school is not a sanctuary but a daily battleground where bullying is a pervasive and often violently targeted curriculum.
Prevention
- School programs reduce bullying by 20-23% per meta-analysis (Campbell Collaboration 2022)
- Olweus Bullying Prevention Program decreases high school incidents by 25% (PACER 2023 evaluation)
- Teacher training interventions lower reports by 15% (NCES 2022)
- Peer mediation programs reduce relational bullying by 18% in high schools (Journal of School Psychology 2021)
- Social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula cut victimization 19% (CASEL 2023 meta)
- Anti-cyberbullying apps decrease online harassment by 22% (Cyberbullying Research Center 2022)
- School-wide positive behavior interventions reduce physical bullying 21% (PBIS 2023)
- Parent workshops improve reporting rates by 30%, reducing hidden bullying (StopBullying.gov 2021)
- Bystander intervention training lowers incidents 17% (APA 2022)
- Restorative justice circles resolve 65% of high school conflicts pre-escalation (NEPC 2023)
- Digital citizenship education reduces cyberbullying 24% (Common Sense Media 2022)
- Mentoring programs for at-risk students cut perpetration 16% (Big Brothers Big Sisters 2023)
- Policy enforcement with clear consequences lowers rates 14% (NCES Policy Study 2021)
- LGBTQ+ affinity groups decrease targeted bullying 28% (GLSEN Safe Space 2023)
- Mindfulness training for students reduces aggression 12% (Journal of Applied School Psychology 2022)
- Anonymous reporting apps increase interventions by 35% (StopBullying.gov Tech 2023)
- Athlete anti-hazing programs drop sports bullying 30% (NFHS 2022)
- Cultural competency training for staff reduces bias bullying 19% (EDWeek 2023)
- Weekly advisory periods foster empathy, cutting incidents 13% (Edutopia 2021)
- Screen time limits policies lower cyberbullying 20% (AAP 2023)
- Inclusive curriculum integration decreases exclusionary bullying 16% (UNESCO 2022)
- Crisis response teams intervene early, preventing 27% escalations (NASSP 2023)
- Gamified anti-bullying apps engage 40% more students in prevention (Journal of Educational Technology 2022)
- Faculty-student ratio improvements correlate with 11% bullying drop (NCES 2023)
- Empathy-building theater programs reduce relational aggression 25% (Drama in Schools 2021)
- Hotlines 24/7 availability boosts reporting 32%, aiding prevention (PACER 2023)
- Data-driven targeting of hotspots reduces hallway bullying 18% (Safe Schools Alliance 2022)
- Cross-age peer tutoring lowers victimization 15% (Journal of Research on Adolescence 2023)
Prevention Interpretation
These statistics collectively prove that bullying is like a stubborn weed: it takes a multi-pronged, relentless, and slightly exhausting garden of interventions to cut it back, but if you keep pulling from every angle, you can actually make the yard a decent place to be.
Types
- Physical bullying, such as hitting or shoving, affects 10% of high school students weekly per NCES 2021
- Verbal bullying including name-calling reported by 15% of high schoolers daily in PACER 2022 survey
- Cyberbullying via social media platforms impacts 16% of high school students monthly (YRBS 2021)
- Relational aggression like rumor-spreading seen in 12% of female high school cliques (APA 2020)
- Property bullying (theft/damage) occurs in 8% of high school incidents per StopBullying.gov 2023
- Sexual harassment bullying reported by 11% of high school girls (GLSEN 2022)
- Racial/ethnic slurs as verbal bullying in 9% of diverse high schools (NCES 2019)
- Exclusion from activities (social bullying) at 14% in high school peer groups (Journal of School Violence 2021)
- Cyberstalking/harassment via apps affects 7% of high school smartphone users (Cyberbullying Research Center 2023)
- Intimidation/threats (physical precursor) in 6% of high school hallways (CDC 2022)
- Homophobic slurs as verbal bullying in 13% of high school environments (GLSEN 2021)
- Online impersonation cyberbullying at 5% among high school social media users (PACER 2023)
- Body-shaming via photos/videos in 10% of high school cyber cases (StopBullying.gov 2022)
- Gang-related intimidation bullying in 4% of urban high schools (Journal of Adolescent Health 2020)
- Academic sabotage (hiding materials) at 3% in competitive high schools (APA 2023)
- Sexting coercion as sexual cyberbullying in 2% of high school relationships (CDC YRBS 2021)
- Disability-mocking bullying verbal/physical at 18% for special ed high schoolers (PACER 2021)
- Religious attire targeting (hijab etc.) in 7% multicultural high schools (NCES 2022)
- Doxing (sharing private info online) cyberbullying at 4% high school prevalence (Cyberbullying.org 2022)
- Hazing as group physical bullying in 9% of high school sports teams (NFHS 2023)
- Gossip via Snapchat streaks affects 11% relational bullying (Journal of Children and Media 2021)
- Stalking in school (following) physical bullying 5% (CDC 2023)
- Misgendering verbal bullying for trans high schoolers at 35% (GLSEN 2023)
- Vandalism of lockers/personal items property bullying 6% (NCES 2021)
- Flaming/trolling in gaming chats cyber 8% high school boys (Cyberbullying Research 2023)
- Spreading STD rumors sexual bullying 3% (Journal of School Health 2022)
Types Interpretation
While these statistics coldly quantify the percentages of torment, behind each number lies a daily reality where high school, for many, feels less like a place of learning and more like a gauntlet of verbal barbs, physical threats, and digital ambushes that follow them home.
Victim Demographics
- According to the 2021 YRBS, 15% of female high school students aged 14-18 reported being bullied by peers of the opposite sex
- NCES 2022 data shows 28% of LGBTQ+ high school students were bullied compared to 17% heterosexual peers
- StopBullying.gov reports that 25% of high school students with disabilities experience bullying weekly
- A 2020 study found 32% of overweight high school girls (BMI >25) faced appearance-based bullying
- CDC 2023: Black high school males have a 12% cyberbullying victimization rate vs. 9% for White males
- GLSEN 2022 survey: 45% of bisexual high school students experienced gender-based bullying
- PACER 2021: Low-income high schoolers (family income < $35k) report 27% bullying rate
- Journal of School Health 2019: Asian American high school students face 18% racial bullying incidence
- YRBS 2021: 22% of 9th grade females reported victimization vs. 16% of 12th graders
- NCES 2019: Students with IEPs in high school bullied at 33% rate vs. 19% general population
- A 2023 study in Child Abuse & Neglect: Rural high school girls 20% more likely to be relationally bullied
- StopBullying.gov: Immigrant high school students bullied at 29% rate due to accent/language
- APA 2022: High school students identifying as non-binary face 40% bullying prevalence
- PACER 2023 teen poll: 26% of high school students with anxiety disorders report targeted bullying
- CDC NVDRS: Native American high schoolers have 24% victimization from cultural bullying
- Journal of Adolescent Research 2021: Single-parent family high schoolers bullied at 23% rate
- GLSEN 2021: Students of color in high school LGBTQ+ report 35% intersectional bullying
- YRBS 2019: Hispanic females in high school cyberbullied at 17% vs. 13% males
- NCES 2023: Religiously affiliated high school minorities bullied at 21%
- A 2020 Pediatrics study: Autistic high school students face 50% bullying rate
- StopBullying.gov 2022: Foster care high schoolers experience 31% bullying from instability stigma
- PACER 2021: Honors students in high school bullied for 'nerdiness' at 19%
- Journal of Youth and Adolescence 2023: Military family high schoolers bullied at 25% due to frequent moves
- CDC 2022: Obese high school males (BMI>30) report 29% physical bullying
- APA 2021: Deaf high school students face communication-based bullying at 38%
- GLSEN 2023: Questioning sexual orientation high schoolers bullied at 42%
Victim Demographics Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim portrait of high school not as a universal rite of passage, but as a system where the most authentic aspects of a student’s identity—be it their body, orientation, background, ability, or even academic drive—are weaponized against them by peers who have learned to target difference with chilling precision.
Sources & References
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- Reference 2NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 3STOPBULLYINGstopbullying.govVisit source
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- Reference 17CYBERBULLYINGcyberbullying.orgVisit source
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