School Bullying in US 2026 show that about 19.7% of high school students were bullied on school property in 2025, roughly the same as 19% in 2023, while electronic bullying eased to 14.6% from 16%, according to CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Federal data from 2021–22 put bullying of students ages 12–18 at 19%, public schools reported more than 143,000 harassment or bullying allegations to the Department of Education, and 2026 court settlements ranged from $25,000 to $995,000 in the cases below, with larger awards reported in other cases.
School Bullying in US 2026 – Introduction
School Bullying Statistics in US 2026 come from four main federal sources: the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) of high school students, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) School Crime Supplement of students ages 12 to 18, the Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) of school-reported allegations, and court records. Each measures something different, so their numbers do not match and should not be added together.
This report is current as of November 1, 2026. The CDC released its 2025 YRBS findings in August and September 2026. The latest NCES bullying data, from the 2022 School Crime Supplement, and the latest CRDC data, for 2021–22, are older. The tables show each figure with its source and year. If you or a young person you know is in crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, to reach a counselor.
Interesting Facts About School Bullying in US 2026
BULLYING MEASURES BY SOURCE (%)
Bullied on school property, YRBS 2025 ██████████████████████████████ 19.7
Bullied at school, NCES 2021-22 (ages 12-18)█████████████████████████████░ 19.2
Middle school bullied, NCES 2021-22 █████████████████████████████░ 26.3
Electronically bullied, YRBS 2025 ██████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░ 14.6
High school bullied, NCES 2021-22 ████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░ 15.7| Metric | Latest Data Point |
|---|---|
| High school students bullied on school property, 2025 (CDC YRBS) | 19.7% (19% in 2023, 15% in 2021) |
| High school students electronically bullied, 2025 (CDC YRBS) | 14.6% (16% in 2023) |
| Electronic bullying, girls / boys, 2025 | 17.7% / 11.6% |
| Students ages 12–18 bullied at school, 2021–22 (NCES) | 19.2% (28% in 2010–11) |
| Bullying in middle school / high school (NCES) | 26.3% / 15.7% |
| Bullied students who told an adult at school | 44.2% |
| Harassment or bullying allegations reported by public schools, 2021–22 | 143,000+ |
| Students lifetime cyberbullied (Cyberbullying Research Center, 2025) | 58% |
| High school students with persistent sadness or hopelessness, 2025 | 33% (40% in 2023) |
| Students who skipped school over safety, 2023 (CDC) | 13% |
Data source: CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2023 and 2025 (YRBS Explorer; Youth Health in Focus, September 2026); NCES and Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime Supplement 2022 (Student Reports of Bullying, NCES 2024-109); Department of Education, Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22; Cyberbullying Research Center (2025). The 2025 school-bullying figure is as reported by the Louisiana Illuminator from CDC data.
The YRBS shows bullying on school property at 19.7% in 2025, about unchanged from 19% in 2023 and well above the 15% low in 2021. Electronic bullying fell to 14.6%. NCES’s survey of students ages 12 to 18 found 19.2% bullied in 2021–22, down from 28% in 2010–11. The two surveys ask different age groups and use different wording, so their similar levels are a coincidence of method, not a trend line.
Several rows point to underreporting. Only 44.2% of bullied students told an adult at school. Schools reported more than 143,000 allegations of harassment or bullying in 2021–22, but those are allegations that reached school staff, not all incidents. Mental health indicators improved in 2025, with persistent sadness falling to 33%. School Bullying Statistics in US 2026 therefore describe a problem that is flat or slowly improving, depending on the measure.
School Bullying Rates in the US 2026: CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey Trend
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BULLIED (%)
2019 on school property ████████████████████████████████████████ 19.5
2021 on school property ██████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░ 15.0
2023 on school property ███████████████████████████████████████░ 19.0
2025 on school property ████████████████████████████████████████ 19.7
2021 electronically ████████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░ 15.9
2023 electronically ████████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░ 16.0
2025 electronically █████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░ 14.6
| Survey Year | Bullied on School Property | Electronically Bullied |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 19.5% | Not shown here |
| 2021 | 15.0% | 15.9% |
| 2023 | 19% | 16% |
| 2025 | 19.7% | 14.6% |
| 2025, girls | Not shown here | 17.7% |
| 2025, boys | Not shown here | 11.6% |
Data source: CDC YRBS 2019 and 2021 (MMWR Supplements); CDC YRBS 2023 Data Summary & Trends Report; CDC YRBS Explorer, 2025 (electronic bullying, via SocialUsage); 2025 school-property figure as reported by the Louisiana Illuminator.
Bullying on school property fell to 15.0% in 2021, when many students learned remotely, then rebounded to 19% in 2023 and 19.7% in 2025 as students returned to full in-person schedules. That puts the 2025 rate close to the 19.5% of 2019. Electronic bullying stayed between 14.6% and 16% across the period, and the 14.6% reading for 2025 is the lowest in the table.
Girls report more electronic bullying than boys, 17.7% against 11.6%. These are self-reports from students in grades 9 to 12 and do not cover younger children. CDC defines electronic bullying as bullying through texting, social media or other digital channels. School Bullying Statistics in US 2026 from the YRBS cannot say how often bullying is repeated or how serious it is, only how many students say it happened during the year.
Bullying of Students Ages 12–18 in 2026: NCES School Crime Supplement Findings
SHARE OF STUDENTS AGES 12-18 BULLIED AT SCHOOL (%)
2010-11 ████████████████████████████████████████ 28
2018-19 ███████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░░ 22
2021-22 ███████████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 19.2
Middle school █████████████████████████████████████░░░ 26.3
High school ██████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 15.7
| Indicator (2021–22) | Value |
|---|---|
| Students ages 12–18 bullied during school | 19.2% |
| 2010–11 / 2018–19 comparison | 28% / 22% |
| Middle school / high school | 26.3% / 15.7% |
| Rural / town schools | 23.8% / 23.4% |
| Made fun of, called names or insulted | 12% |
| Bullied by someone more powerful | 15.4% |
| Bullied repeatedly | 14.5% |
| Bullied online or by text (share of bullied students) | 21.6% |
| Bullied students who told an adult at school | 44.2% |
| Bullied on multiple days during the school year | About 2 in 3 |
Data source: NCES and Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, 2022 (Student Reports of Bullying, NCES 2024-109, February 2024); StopBullying.gov, Facts About Bullying.
Bullying fell from 28% in 2010–11 to 19.2% in 2021–22 in NCES’s measure, a decline of about 31% (report calculation). Middle schools had the highest rate at 26.3%, against 15.7% in high schools, and rural schools (23.8%) and town schools (23.4%) ran above the national average. Name-calling was the most common type, at 12% of all students.
Power imbalance and repetition define bullying in the federal definition. 15.4% of students reported being bullied by someone more powerful and 14.5% reported being bullied repeatedly. About two in three bullied students said it happened on multiple days. Only 44.2% told an adult, which is why school-reported counts understate School Bullying Statistics in US 2026. The SCS is conducted every few years, and the next results were not out when this report was compiled.
Cyberbullying Statistics in the US 2026: Teen Experiences Online
CYBERBULLYING EXPERIENCES, STUDENTS AGES 13-17 (%)
Lifetime, 2025 ████████████████████████████████████████ 58.2
Lifetime, 2007 ████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 18.8
Past 30 days, 2025 ███████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 33
Left out of group chat ██████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 32.5
Mean comments online ██████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 31.6
| Cyberbullying Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Lifetime victimization, 2025 | 58.2% (from 18.8% in 2007) |
| Past 30 days, 2025 | 33% |
| Excluded from group chats (past 30 days) | 32.5% |
| Mean or hurtful comments posted online | 31.6% |
| Embarrassed or humiliated online | 31.3% |
| Rumors posted online | 29.2% |
| Boys experiencing cyberbullying as target | 36.6% |
| High school students electronically bullied (CDC, 2025) | 14.6% |
Data source: Cyberbullying Research Center (Patchin and Hinduja), 2025 national survey of 3,466 middle and high school students; CDC YRBS 2025. The two sources use different time windows and populations.
The Cyberbullying Research Center’s 2025 survey of 3,466 students found 58.2% had been cyberbullied at some point, more than triple the 18.8% of 2007, and 33% in the past 30 days. Exclusion from group chats (32.5%) and mean comments (31.6%) were the most common forms. These rates are far higher than CDC’s 14.6% for the past 12 months because the center asks about a lifetime and about many specific behaviors.
The gap shows why headline numbers vary. CDC counts students who say they were electronically bullied in one year, using a single question, while the center lists specific acts and counts any of them. The center’s sample is not a random national sample, so treat its rates as indicative. Both agree that cyberbullying is widespread, and School Bullying Statistics in US 2026 need a clear definition whenever a number is quoted.
Student Mental Health and Safety 2026: CDC YRBS 2025 Results
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH INDICATORS (%)
Persistent sadness, 2021 ████████████████████████████████████████ 42
Persistent sadness, 2023 ██████████████████████████████████████░░ 40
Persistent sadness, 2025 ███████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░░ 33
Considered suicide, 2023 ███████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 20
Considered suicide, 2025 █████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 14
Attempted suicide, 2025 ██████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 6
| Indicator | 2023 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Persistent sadness or hopelessness | 40% | 33% |
| Poor mental health | 29% | 23% |
| Seriously considered attempting suicide | 20% | 14% |
| Made a suicide plan | 16% | 12% |
| Attempted suicide | 9% | 6% |
| Persistent sadness, girls / boys (2025) | Not shown here | 43% / 24% |
| Skipped school over safety concerns | 13% | Not shown here |
Data source: CDC, Youth Health in Focus: Findings From the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2015–2025 (September 2026); CDC YRBS 2023 Data Summary & Trends Report. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
Student mental health improved from 2023 to 2025. Persistent sadness fell from 40% to 33%, serious suicidal consideration from 20% to 14%, suicide plans from 16% to 12% and attempts from 9% to 6%. CDC calls five indicators improved. Girls remain at higher risk, with 43% reporting persistent sadness against 24% of boys.
Bullying did not fall alongside those gains, since school-property bullying held near 19.7%. Students who are bullied report poorer mental health in CDC’s earlier analyses, and in 2023 13% of high school students missed school because they felt unsafe. The survey cannot show whether bullying caused any individual outcome. School Bullying Statistics in US 2026 should be read alongside mental health data, with attention to girls and to LGBTQ+ students who report higher electronic bullying.
Harassment and Bullying Reports in US Schools 2026: Civil Rights Data Collection
ALLEGATIONS BY BASIS, 2020-21 (% OF 42,500+ ALLEGATIONS)
Sex ████████████████████████████████████████ 40
Race █████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░ 29
Sexual orientation ███████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 19
Disability █████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 9
Religion ███░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 3
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Allegations of harassment or bullying reported to school employees, 2021–22 | 143,000+ |
| Allegations on the basis of religion, 2021–22 | About 2,700 |
| Allegations, 2020–21 | 42,500+ |
| 2020–21 split: sex / race / sexual orientation / disability / religion | 40% / 29% / 19% / 9% / 3% |
| Students disciplined for harassment or bullying, 2020–21 | About 42,300 |
| Boys among students disciplined for sex-based harassment | 78% |
| Students reporting harassment on basis of sex, race or disability, 2020–21 | 29,092 |
| States with anti-bullying laws | All 50 |
Data source: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (first look, January 2025) and 2020–21 (released November 2023); USAFacts; StopBullying.gov.
Public schools reported more than 143,000 allegations of harassment or bullying in 2021–22, up from 42,500 in 2020–21. The jump reflects a change in reporting rules, not necessarily more bullying: the 2021–22 collection first required districts to report all allegations. In 2020–21, 40% of allegations concerned sex, 29% race, 19% sexual orientation, 9% disability and 3% religion. About 42,300 students were disciplined that year.
Discipline falls unevenly. Boys made up 78% of students disciplined for sex-based harassment, while girls made up most of those reporting it. All 50 states have anti-bullying laws, and most require districts to adopt policies and investigation procedures, but the laws generally do not prescribe specific consequences. Because schools define and count allegations differently, School Bullying Statistics in US 2026 from CRDC data should be compared across years only with care.
School Bullying Lawsuits and Settlements in the US 2026
SELECTED BULLYING-RELATED RESOLUTIONS (MILLIONS USD)
California district (reported) ████████████████████████████████████████ 27.0
Public Justice jury verdict ██████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 15.0
Rockaway Twp, NJ (2023) ██████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 9.1
Public Justice verdict ████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 8.05
Dry Creek, CA (Mar 2026) █░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 1.0
Winnsboro ISD, TX (Jul 2026) ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 0.025
| Case or Source | Date | Amount or Outcome | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Creek Joint Elementary District, California | March 2026 | $995,000 settlement | State duty to supervise and protect students |
| Winnsboro ISD, Texas | July 2026 | $25,000 settlement | Title IX, ADA, FERPA claims; harassment of a student with a disability |
| Fairfield City Schools, Ohio (Emilie Olsen) | 2026 | Policy revisions and bullying specialist; insurer-funded | Suit filed after 2014 death |
| California district (reported by The Principal Center) | 2026 | $27 million reported | Death of a middle school student in 2019 |
| Rockaway Township, New Jersey | 2023 | $9.1 million | Largest bullying settlement in the state |
| Public Justice 2026 compendium | Winter 2026 | Verdicts of $15 million and $8.05 million; settlements of $1.25 million to $8.7 million | Title IX, Title VI, Section 1983 |
Data source: Public Justice, K-12 Verdicts and Settlements (Winter 2026); ACTS LAW (31 March 2026); KLTV and KSST Radio (July 2026); WCPO (2026); The Principal Center; K-12 Dive (Rockaway Township, 2023). The $27 million figure rests on one secondary account.
Settlements in 2026 span a wide range. Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District agreed to pay $995,000 over repeated bullying and assaults, and Winnsboro ISD settled for $25,000, to be held until the student turns 18. Fairfield City Schools agreed to revise harassment policies and hire a bullying specialist, with its insurer funding the payment. Public Justice’s winter 2026 compendium lists verdicts of $15 million and $8.05 million and settlements from $1.25 million to $8.7 million in cases under Title IX and Title VI.
Courts impose liability only on specific showings. Districts are generally liable for peer bullying only if they were given notice and responded with deliberate indifference, and procedural rules for suing a public body add hurdles. Judge Jeremy Kernodle dismissed the Winnsboro school board and board members in 2025 because only the district can be sued. The cases are a small, self-selected sample, not a rate of lawsuits per student, so School Bullying Statistics in US 2026 on lawsuits show severity and not frequency.
School Bullying in US 2026 FAQ
How Common Is Bullying in US Schools in 2026?
CDC’s YRBS found 19.7% of high school students bullied on school property in 2025. NCES found 19.2% of students ages 12–18 bullied in 2021–22.
What Percentage of High School Students Are Cyberbullied in 2026?
14.6% reported electronic bullying in 2025, down from 16% in 2023. Girls reported 17.7% and boys 11.6%.
Is School Bullying Getting Better or Worse in 2026?
Mixed. School-property bullying was 15.0% in 2021, 19% in 2023 and 19.7% in 2025. NCES shows a long decline from 28% in 2010–11 to 19.2%. Electronic bullying fell slightly in 2025.
Where Is Bullying Most Common in 2026?
Middle schools, at 26.3% versus 15.7% in high schools, according to NCES. Rural schools (23.8%) and town schools (23.4%) report higher rates than the national average.
How Many Bullied Students Tell an Adult in 2026?
44.2% of bullied students told an adult at school, so more than half did not.
How Many Harassment or Bullying Allegations Do Schools Report in 2026?
Public schools reported more than 143,000 allegations in 2021–22, the latest federal data. The 2020–21 collection counted 42,500.
Are Bullied Students More Likely to Miss School in 2026?
CDC found 13% of high school students skipped school in 2023 because they felt unsafe at school or on the way. The 2025 survey did not change the guidance that bullying and safety concerns are linked.
Can Parents Sue a School for Bullying in 2026?
Yes, under state negligence law and federal laws such as Title IX, Title VI and the ADA. Districts are usually liable only if they knew about the bullying and responded inadequately. Recent 2026 settlements ranged from $25,000 to $995,000 in the cases reviewed.
Do All States Have Anti-Bullying Laws in 2026?
Yes. All 50 states have anti-bullying laws, and most require districts to adopt policies and investigate reports. The laws generally do not set specific consequences.
What Is the Teen Mental Health Picture in 2026?
CDC’s 2025 survey found persistent sadness among 33% of high school students, down from 40% in 2023, and suicide attempts at 6%, down from 9%. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988.
How Many Teens Experience Cyberbullying in 2026?
The Cyberbullying Research Center found 58.2% of students ages 13–17 had been cyberbullied in their lifetime and 33% in the past 30 days in 2025.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.