Table 230.10.

Percentage of public schools reporting selected discipline problems that occurred at school, by frequency and selected school characteristics: Selected years, 1999-2000 through 2019–20

[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Year and school characteristic	Happens at least once a week1																								Happens at all2
	Student racial/ ethnic tensions			Student bullying3			Student cyber- bullying4			Student sexual harassment of other students			Student harassment of other students based on sexual orientation or gender identity5			Student verbal abuse of teachers			Widespread disorder in classrooms			Student acts of disrespect for teachers other than verbal abuse			Gang activities			Cult or extremist group activities
1	2			3			4			5			6			7			8			9			10			11
All schools
1999-2000	3.4	6	(0.41)	29.3		(1.21)	---		(†)	---		(†)	---		(†)	12.5		(0.69)	3.1		(0.44)	---		(†)	18.7		(0.85)	6.7	(0.46)
2003-04	2.1	6	(0.28)	26.8		(1.09)	---		(†)	4.0		(0.40)	---		(†)	10.7		(0.80)	2.8		(0.39)	---		(†)	16.7		(0.78)	3.4	(0.35)
2005-06	2.8	6	(0.31)	24.5		(1.14)	---		(†)	3.5		(0.40)	---		(†)	9.5		(0.61)	2.3		(0.24)	---		(†)	16.9		(0.76)	3.7	(0.41)
2007-08	3.7		(0.49)	25.3		(1.11)	---		(†)	3.0		(0.39)	---		(†)	6.0		(0.48)	4.0		(0.45)	10.5		(0.71)	19.8		(0.88)	2.6	(0.36)
2009-10	2.8		(0.39)	23.1		(1.12)	7.9		(0.49)	3.2		(0.55)	2.5		(0.41)	4.8		(0.49)	2.5		(0.37)	8.6		(0.67)	16.4		(0.84)	1.7	(0.31)
2013-147	1.4		(0.31)	15.7		(1.12)	---		(†)	1.4		(0.26)	0.8		(0.19)	5.1		(0.54)	2.3		(0.45)	8.6		(0.74)	---		(†)	---	(†)
2015-16	1.7		(0.33)	11.9		(0.79)	12.0		(0.64)	1.0		(0.19)	0.6		(0.13)	4.8		(0.51)	2.3		(0.38)	10.3		(0.80)	10.4		(0.62)	---	(†)
2017-18	2.8		(0.42)	13.6		(0.72)	14.9		(0.59)	1.4		(0.27)	1.0		(0.19)	6.0		(0.53)	3.1		(0.41)	11.8		(0.72)	11.0		(0.66)	---	(†)
2019-208
All schools	3.8		(0.48)	14.6		(0.86)	15.9		(0.91)	1.6		(0.30)	1.5		(0.21)	9.8		(0.62)	4.1		(0.42)	15.3		(0.73)	14.0		(0.71)	---	(†)
School level
Elementary9	2.9		(0.63)	11.4		(1.53)	7.2		(1.14)	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	8.9		(1.09)	3.3		(0.68)	13.6		(1.29)	6.0		(1.03)	---	(†)
Middle10	6.5		(0.79)	24.6		(1.55)	32.5		(1.89)	3.9		(0.64)	3.8		(0.72)	12.8		(1.09)	6.3		(0.79)	21.2		(1.46)	23.5		(1.27)	---	(†)
Secondary/high11	4.1		(0.61)	16.1		(1.18)	28.9		(1.60)	2.5		(0.48)	3.1		(0.48)	10.4		(1.37)	4.1		(0.75)	15.8		(1.48)	31.6		(1.97)	---	(†)
Combined/other12	‡		(†)	10.0	!	(3.14)	9.6	!	(2.99)	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	6.4	!	(2.68)	6.2	!	(2.56)	11.2	!	(3.66)	5.7	!	(2.25)	---	(†)
Enrollment size
Less than 300	‡		(†)	8.7		(1.79)	9.2		(1.96)	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	8.9		(2.07)	2.8	!	(1.16)	13.7		(2.52)	8.8		(1.63)	---	(†)
300 to 499	3.6		(1.06)	13.1		(1.81)	13.4		(1.44)	1.1	!	(0.49)	‡		(†)	10.1		(1.64)	2.8		(0.76)	13.2		(1.76)	8.2		(1.49)	---	(†)
500 to 999	4.4		(0.79)	17.3		(1.52)	16.0		(1.12)	2.2		(0.48)	2.1		(0.47)	9.8		(1.12)	5.6		(0.77)	17.4		(1.50)	14.1		(1.17)	---	(†)
1,000 or more	7.0		(1.12)	21.0		(1.67)	36.4		(1.97)	4.4		(0.85)	5.4		(0.82)	10.3		(1.33)	5.0		(1.05)	17.2		(1.69)	40.4		(2.18)	---	(†)
Locale
City	5.0		(1.07)	20.5		(2.23)	16.6		(1.97)	2.7		(0.79)	2.1		(0.52)	16.2		(1.67)	8.0		(1.25)	22.2		(1.77)	24.0		(1.86)	---	(†)
Suburban	4.0		(0.74)	12.7		(1.23)	14.8		(1.31)	1.4		(0.34)	1.5		(0.23)	8.6		(1.14)	3.0		(0.75)	14.3		(1.64)	13.0		(1.35)	---	(†)
Town	2.2		(0.59)	12.1		(1.75)	20.0		(2.34)	2.6	!	(0.96)	1.3	!	(0.42)	6.9		(1.64)	2.0	!	(0.92)	11.3		(1.72)	11.9		(1.32)	---	(†)
Rural	2.9	!	(0.92)	12.0		(1.52)	14.7		(1.96)	0.5	!	(0.16)	1.0	!	(0.31)	6.0		(1.43)	2.4		(0.55)	11.4		(1.78)	6.0		(1.03)	---	(†)
Percent minority enrollment13
0 to 25 percent	1.7	!	(0.53)	11.2		(1.08)	16.5		(1.45)	1.0	!	(0.33)	1.0		(0.25)	3.8		(0.91)	2.0		(0.54)	11.0		(1.43)	3.6		(0.57)	---	(†)
26 to 50 percent	4.5		(0.95)	13.8		(1.86)	15.8		(1.85)	1.8	!	(0.58)	1.7		(0.39)	7.1		(1.19)	2.2		(0.62)	14.1		(1.86)	10.5		(1.31)	---	(†)
51 to 75 percent	6.8		(1.35)	19.1		(2.77)	15.3		(1.82)	2.9		(0.73)	1.8	!	(0.56)	15.3		(2.54)	5.1		(1.39)	19.8		(2.49)	18.9		(1.99)	---	(†)
76 to 100 percent	3.5		(0.88)	16.1		(2.04)	15.7		(1.61)	1.5		(0.42)	1.7		(0.47)	15.5		(1.67)	7.5		(1.17)	18.3		(1.99)	26.4		(1.97)	---	(†)
Percent of students eligible for     free or reduced-price lunch
0 to 25 percent	3.3		(0.66)	9.9		(1.33)	12.5		(1.60)	0.9		(0.26)	1.5		(0.38)	2.3	!	(0.74)	1.1	!	(0.42)	6.5		(1.21)	4.7		(0.89)	---	(†)
26 to 50 percent	5.1		(1.01)	14.9		(1.38)	17.2		(1.63)	1.8		(0.48)	1.5		(0.29)	6.9		(1.30)	3.1		(0.84)	13.7		(1.60)	8.6		(0.77)	---	(†)
51 to 75 percent	3.6		(1.02)	15.6		(1.92)	18.9		(1.87)	1.5		(0.43)	1.3		(0.36)	9.2		(1.39)	4.3		(0.90)	17.2		(1.65)	13.5		(1.14)	---	(†)
76 to 100 percent	3.0		(0.88)	16.1		(1.85)	14.2		(1.56)	2.0	!	(0.70)	1.6		(0.45)	16.8		(1.49)	6.4		(1.02)	19.9		(1.86)	24.0		(1.78)	---	(†)
Prevalence of violent incidents     at school during school year14
No violent incidents	1.6	!	(0.71)	3.7		(0.86)	5.8		(1.36)	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	2.6	!	(0.84)	2.1	!	(0.81)	5.0		(1.15)	2.3	!	(0.77)	---	(†)
Any violent incidents	4.7		(0.62)	19.2		(1.14)	20.2		(1.04)	2.3		(0.41)	2.1		(0.30)	12.8		(0.74)	4.9		(0.51)	19.6		(0.79)	18.9		(0.97)	---	(†)

---Not available.

†Not applicable.

!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

‡Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate or the coefficient of variation (CV) is 50 percent or greater.

1 Includes schools that reported the problem happens either at least once a week or daily.

2 Includes schools that reported the problem happens at all at their school during the school year. In the 1999-2000 survey administration, the questionnaire specified "undesirable" gang activities and "undesirable" cult or extremist group activities. As of 2013-14, the questionnaires have no longer asked about cult or extremist group activities.

3 The 2015-16, 2017-18, and 2019-20 questionnaires defined bullying as "any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths who are not siblings or current dating partners that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated." The term was not defined for respondents in previous survey administrations.

4 "Cyberbullying" was defined for respondents as occurring "when willful and repeated harm is inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, or other electronic devices." Respondents were instructed to include cyberbullying "problems that can occur anywhere (both at your school and away from school)."

5 Prior to 2015-16, the questionnaire asked about "student harassment of other students based on sexual orientation or gender identity (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning)" in one single item. The 2015-16, 2017-18, and 2019-20 questionnaires had one item asking about "student harassment of other students based on sexual orientation," followed by a separate item asking about "student harassment of other students based on gender identity." For 2015-16, 2017-18, and 2019-20, schools are included in this column if they responded "daily" or "at least once a week" to either or both of these items; each school is counted only once, even if it indicated daily/weekly frequency for both items. The 2015-16, 2017-18, and 2019-20 questionnaires provided definitions for sexual orientation--"one's emotional or physical attraction to the same and/or opposite sex"--and gender identity--"one's inner sense of one's own gender, which may or may not match the sex assigned at birth." These terms were not defined for respondents in previous survey administrations.

6 Prior to the 2007-08 survey administration, the questionnaire wording was "student racial tensions."

7 Data for 2013-14 were collected using the Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), while data for all other years were collected using the School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS). The 2013-14 FRSS survey was designed to allow comparisons with SSOCS data. However, the mode of the 2013-14 FRSS survey differed from that of SSOCS, which evolved over time. Specifically, all respondents to the 2013-14 survey could choose either to complete the survey on paper (and mail it back) or to complete the survey online. All respondents to SSOCS had only the option of completing a paper survey prior to 2017-18. In 2017-18, SSOCS experimented with offering an online option to some respondents. In 2019-20, SSOCS switched to using primarily an online survey instrument. The 2013-14 FRSS survey also relied on a smaller sample than SSOCS. The FRSS survey's smaller sample size and difference in survey administration may have impacted the 2013-14 results.

8 The coronavirus pandemic affected the 2019-20 data collection activities, while the change to virtual schooling and the adjusted school year may have impacted the data collected by SSOCS. Readers should use caution when comparing 2019-20 estimates with those from earlier years. For more information, see Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools in 2019–20: Findings From the School Survey on Crime and Safety (NCES 2022-029).

9 Elementary schools are defined as schools that enroll students in more of grades K through 4 than in higher grades.

10 Middle schools are defined as schools that enroll students in more of grades 5 through 8 than in higher or lower grades.

11 Secondary/high schools are defined as schools that enroll students in more of grades 9 through 12 than in lower grades.

12 Combined/other schools include all other combinations of grades not specified in the Elementary, Middle, and Secondary/high categories, including K-12 schools.

13 Percent combined enrollment of Black, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native students, and students of Two or more races.

14 "Violent incidents" include rape or attempted rape, sexual assault other than rape, physical attack or fight with or without a weapon, threat of physical attack or fight with or without a weapon, and robbery with or without a weapon. Respondents were instructed to include violent incidents that occurred before, during, or after normal school hours or when school activities or events were in session.

NOTE: Responses were provided by the principal or the person most knowledgeable about crime and safety issues at the school. "At school" was defined for respondents to include activities that happen in school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses, and at places that hold school-sponsored events or activities. Respondents were instructed to respond only for those times that were during normal school hours or when school activities or events were in session, unless the survey specified otherwise. Some data have been revised from previously published figures.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1999-2000, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2009-10, 2015-16, 2017-18, and 2019-20 School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS), 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2020; and Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), "School Safety and Discipline: 2013-14," FRSS 106, 2014. (This table was prepared October 2021.)