The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the national spotlight off many other physical and mental health problems, including childhood bullying. Approximately one in five kids between the ages of 12 and 18 experiences bullying, which the CDC defines as being the subject of unwanted aggressive behavior. That behavior may involve observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated or is very likely to be repeated.
The rise in social media usage has likely led to an increase in cyberbullying. Peer-on-peer aggression can have serious and long-lasting effects on child development, including experiencing depression, low self-esteem, self-harming behaviors, and even substance abuse later in life. Here are 20 warning signs your child may be getting bullied at school.
The prevalence of bullying varies throughout the U.S. To determine the states with the most reported cases of bullying at school, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the share of high schoolers who were bullied on school property in 2018, the latest year for which data is available, from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
Though any child, regardless of background and living situation, can be a victim of bullying, students who identify as LGBTQ as well as children with disabilities, may be at a higher risk. State-level data for these groups was available only in a handful of states and thus were not included in our analysis.
Currently, there is no federal law that directly addresses bullying. In some cases, when bullying is based on race, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, bullying may constitute harassment and schools may be legally obligated to address it.
A 2015 study published by The Journal of the American Medical Association found that students in states with at least one legislative component recommended by the Department of Education were 24% less likely to report bullying and 20% less likely to report cyberbullying. According to the study, some of the components most likely to reduce the prevalence of bullying include having a description of prohibited behaviors and having requirements for school districts to establish local policies.
Click here for the states with the biggest bullying problem
Methodology
To determine the states with the most reported cases of bullying at school, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the share of high schoolers who were bullied on school property in 2018, the latest year for which data is available, from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Data was available for 43 states. The seven states without available data — Minnesota, Oregon, Delaware, Indiana, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming — were not included in the analysis.
The YRBS question about cyberbullying includes being bullied through texting, Instagram, Facebook, or other social media, during the 12 months before the survey. The question about being bullied on school property also applies to the last 12 months before the survey was taken. High school students were also asked if they had attempted suicide one or more times during the 12 months before the survey.
43. Ohio
> High school students bullied on school property: 13.9% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 15.9% — 8th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 11.8% — 9th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 13.3% — 15th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 15.2% — 11th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 11.4% — 19th highest
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42. Texas
> High school students bullied on school property: 14.3% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 17.3% — 11th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 11.4% — 8th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 12.2% — 11th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 14.2% — 9th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 10.3% — 21st lowest
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41. Georgia
> High school students bullied on school property: 14.5% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 16.0% — 9th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 13.0% — 14th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 10.6% — 7th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 12.4% — 8th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 8.6% — 11th lowest
40. Nevada
> High school students bullied on school property: 14.6% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 17.0% — 10th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 12.1% — 12th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 11.9% — 9th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 15.7% — 12th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 8.0% — 9th lowest
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39. Florida
> High school students bullied on school property: 14.9% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 17.8% — 13th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 12.0% — 10th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 11.3% — 8th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 14.8% — 10th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 7.7% — 8th lowest
38. Colorado
> High school students bullied on school property: 15.4% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 18.2% — 14th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 12.1% — 12th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 12.2% — 11th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 16.5% — 16th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 8.2% — 10th lowest
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37. Massachusetts
> High school students bullied on school property: 16.3% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 17.4% — 12th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 14.6% — 20th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 13.9% — 21st lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 16.7% — 18th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 10.7% — 25th lowest
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35. New Jersey
> High school students bullied on school property: 16.4% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 18.9% — 16th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 13.9% — 15th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 13.8% — 19th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 16.4% — 15th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 11.3% — 21st highest
35. Rhode Island
> High school students bullied on school property: 16.4% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 19.8% — 19th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 12.8% — 13th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 13.0% — 12th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 16.9% — 19th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 8.9% — 12th lowest
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34. Maryland
> High school students bullied on school property: 16.7% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 18.3% — 15th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 14.8% — 21st lowest
> High school students bullied online: 13.5% — 17th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 15.9% — 14th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 10.8% — 25th highest
33. Hawaii
> High school students bullied on school property: 17.0% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 19.4% — 17th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 14.4% — 18th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 13.1% — 13th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 15.8% — 13th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 10.4% — 22nd lowest
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31. New Mexico
> High school students bullied on school property: 17.4% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 19.9% — 20th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 14.9% — 23rd lowest
> High school students bullied online: 13.3% — 15th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 17.0% — 20th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 9.6% — 13th lowest
31. Virginia
> High school students bullied on school property: 17.4% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 19.8% — 19th lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 15.1% — 24th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 13.9% — 21st lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 18.1% — 25th highest
> Male students bullied online: 10.0% — 18th lowest
30. Connecticut
> High school students bullied on school property: 17.8% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 21.3% — 25th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 14.3% — 17th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 14.3% — 23rd lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 17.3% — 23rd lowest
> Male students bullied online: 11.4% — 19th highest
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29. Arizona
> High school students bullied on school property: 18.2% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 21.9% — 23rd highest
> Male students bullied at school: 14.6% — 20th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 13.4% — 16th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 16.7% — 18th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 10.1% — 20th lowest
28. Utah
> High school students bullied on school property: 18.4% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 21.3% — 25th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 15.5% — 25th highest
> High school students bullied online: 15.8% — 19th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 20.2% — 16th highest
> Male students bullied online: 11.5% — 17th highest
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27. Mississippi
> High school students bullied on school property: 18.5% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 21.1% — 22nd lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 15.9% — 24th highest
> High school students bullied online: 13.6% — 18th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 17.3% — 23rd lowest
> Male students bullied online: 9.9% — 17th lowest
26. North Carolina
> High school students bullied on school property: 18.9% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 21.3% — 25th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 16.1% — 21st highest
> High school students bullied online: 14.8% — 24th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 18.1% — 25th highest
> Male students bullied online: 11.5% — 17th highest
25. Pennsylvania
> High school students bullied on school property: 19.1% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 23.3% — 19th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 14.9% — 23rd lowest
> High school students bullied online: 14.3% — 23rd lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 19.1% — 21st highest
> Male students bullied online: 9.8% — 15th lowest
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24. Louisiana
> High school students bullied on school property: 19.3% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 21.4% — 24th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 16.7% — 20th highest
> High school students bullied online: 15.0% — 21st highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 17.3% — 23rd lowest
> Male students bullied online: 12.1% — 12th highest
23. Oklahoma
> High school students bullied on school property: 19.4% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 24.5% — 15th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 14.3% — 17th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 14.5% — 24th lowest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 19.2% — 19th highest
> Male students bullied online: 9.7% — 14th lowest
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21. Illinois
> High school students bullied on school property: 19.9% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 20.2% — 21st lowest
> Male students bullied at school: 19.3% — 11th highest
> High school students bullied online: 16.0% — 17th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 18.6% — 23rd highest
> Male students bullied online: 13.3% — 6th highest
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21. North Dakota
> High school students bullied on school property: 19.9% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 23.1% — 20th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 16.9% — 19th highest
> High school students bullied online: 14.7% — 25th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 18.6% — 23rd highest
> Male students bullied online: 11.0% — 22nd highest
20. Alabama
> High school students bullied on school property: 20.9% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 25.4% — 11th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 16.1% — 21st highest
> High school students bullied online: 16.1% — 15th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 21.3% — 14th highest
> Male students bullied online: 10.9% — 23rd highest
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18. Missouri
> High school students bullied on school property: 21.0% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 24.8% — 14th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 17.3% — 17th highest
> High school students bullied online: 18.1% — 5th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 21.9% — 13th highest
> Male students bullied online: 14.3% — 3rd highest
18. New York
> High school students bullied on school property: 21.0% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 21.3% — 25th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 20.4% — 3rd highest
> High school students bullied online: 17.3% — 12th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 19.0% — 22nd highest
> Male students bullied online: 15.1% — the highest
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17. Kansas
> High school students bullied on school property: 21.1% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 22.0% — 22nd highest
> Male students bullied at school: 20.2% — 4th highest
> High school students bullied online: 17.2% — 13th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 19.4% — 18th highest
> Male students bullied online: 14.6% — 2nd highest
15. Idaho
> High school students bullied on school property: 21.2% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 25.0% — 13th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 17.1% — 18th highest
> High school students bullied online: 16.7% — 14th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 22.9% — 7th highest
> Male students bullied online: 10.6% — 23rd lowest
15. South Dakota
> High school students bullied on school property: 21.2% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 27.0% — 6th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 15.3% — 25th lowest
> High school students bullied online: 16.1% — 15th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 22.5% — 10th highest
> Male students bullied online: 10.1% — 20th lowest
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14. Nebraska
> High school students bullied on school property: 21.3% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 24.0% — 17th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 18.9% — 12th highest
> High school students bullied online: 15.7% — 20th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 20.6% — 15th highest
> Male students bullied online: 10.9% — 23rd highest
13. Michigan
> High school students bullied on school property: 21.4% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 23.1% — 20th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 19.6% — 9th highest
> High school students bullied online: 18.1% — 5th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 22.4% — 11th highest
> Male students bullied online: 14.0% — 4th highest
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12. Tennessee
> High school students bullied on school property: 21.5% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 27.1% — 5th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 16.1% — 21st highest
> High school students bullied online: 14.9% — 22nd highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 19.2% — 19th highest
> Male students bullied online: 10.7% — 25th lowest
11. Montana
> High school students bullied on school property: 22.0% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 25.8% — 9th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 18.4% — 15th highest
> High school students bullied online: 17.9% — 9th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 23.3% — 5th highest
> Male students bullied online: 12.5% — 11th highest
10. Wisconsin
> High school students bullied on school property: 22.3% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 24.3% — 16th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 20.2% — 4th highest
> High school students bullied online: 17.4% — 10th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 22.9% — 7th highest
> Male students bullied online: 12.0% — 15th highest
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9. Maine
> High school students bullied on school property: 22.4% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 25.8% — 9th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 18.8% — 13th highest
> High school students bullied online: 18.0% — 7th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 23.3% — 5th highest
> Male students bullied online: 12.8% — 9th highest
8. Arkansas
> High school students bullied on school property: 22.6% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 25.3% — 12th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 19.7% — 7th highest
> High school students bullied online: 17.4% — 10th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 22.4% — 11th highest
> Male students bullied online: 12.1% — 12th highest
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7. West Virginia
> High school students bullied on school property: 22.7% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 27.4% — 4th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 18.1% — 16th highest
> High school students bullied online: 18.4% — 4th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 24.2% — 4th highest
> Male students bullied online: 12.9% — 8th highest
5. Iowa
> High school students bullied on school property: 23.0% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 26.4% — 8th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 19.7% — 7th highest
> High school students bullied online: 18.6% — 3rd highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 25.3% — 3rd highest
> Male students bullied online: 12.0% — 15th highest
5. New Hampshire
> High school students bullied on school property: 23.0% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 27.6% — 3rd highest
> Male students bullied at school: 18.5% — 14th highest
> High school students bullied online: 20.1% — the highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 26.8% — the highest
> Male students bullied online: 13.4% — 5th highest
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4. South Carolina
> High school students bullied on school property: 23.3% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 23.7% — 18th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 22.3% — 2nd highest
> High school students bullied online: 14.9% — 22nd highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 17.7% — 24th lowest
> Male students bullied online: 12.1% — 12th highest
3. California
> High school students bullied on school property: 23.5% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 27.0% — 6th highest
> Male students bullied at school: 20.1% — 6th highest
> High school students bullied online: 14.7% — 25th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 19.9% — 17th highest
> Male students bullied online: 9.9% — 17th lowest
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2. Kentucky
> High school students bullied on school property: 23.8% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 27.9% — 2nd highest
> Male students bullied at school: 19.6% — 9th highest
> High school students bullied online: 18.0% — 7th highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 22.7% — 9th highest
> Male students bullied online: 13.0% — 7th highest
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1. Alaska
> High school students bullied on school property: 25.5% (US avg: 19.5%)
> Female students bullied at school: 28.8% — the highest
> Male students bullied at school: 22.4% — the highest
> High school students bullied online: 19.4% — 2nd highest (US avg: 15.7%)
> Female students bullied online: 26.4% — 2nd highest
> Male students bullied online: 12.8% — 9th highest
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