Bullying and drug incidents climbed in New York schools after the pandemic, even as reported rates of serious violence fell to near zero, according to a new state comptroller’s report.
The February report reviews seven years of School Safety and Educational Climate (SSEC) data and finds that trends since COVID depend heavily on what schools are required to report—and what they are not.
Serious violence appears low, but definitions changed
Statewide rates for assaults, sexual offenses, and weapons possession dropped sharply during remote learning and stayed low after students returned to classrooms. By the 2023–24 school year, reported rates for these serious incidents hovered near zero across all regions.
The report cautions against reading that as a clear behavioral shift. In 2021–22, New York narrowed the definitions for these categories. Schools now report them only if the offender is at least 10 years old, the act meets felony standards, and the school refers it to law enforcement. Incidents that once counted may no longer appear in the data.
Drug incidents rebound above pre-pandemic levels
Drug-related incidents tell a different story.
Secondary schools reported 6.5 drug incidents per 1,000 students in 2023–24, higher than before the pandemic. Upstate schools posted the highest rates, at 9.8 incidents per 1,000 students—more than double New York City’s rate.
Alcohol incidents remained relatively rare statewide, staying at or below one incident per 1,000 students in every region.
Bullying now dominates incident reports
Bullying emerged as the most common problem in the data.
Schools reported nearly 30,000 bullying incidents statewide in 2023–24, accounting for more than 60 percent of all SSEC reports. Among schools that reported any bullying, the rate reached 18.2 incidents per 1,000 students—up from 10.2 in 2017–18.
New York City saw the sharpest post-pandemic increase. Bullying rates there rose to 25.8 incidents per 1,000 students in 2023–24, far above other regions. The report notes that the increase coincided with city rule changes that clarified and expanded what counts as bullying, including online behavior.
Cyberbullying stays low, but may be underreported
Cyberbullying rates remained low statewide, at 1.8 incidents per 1,000 students in 2023–24. Among schools that reported any cyberbullying, New York City again posted the highest rates.
The report warns that cyberbullying often goes undetected because it happens online and anonymously, making underreporting likely.
Many schools report zero incidents
A striking share of schools reported no incidents at all.
In 2023–24, 41 percent of public elementary schools and nearly 6 percent of public secondary schools reported zero violent or disruptive incidents. Outside New York City, more than one-third of public schools reported none.
Audits by the comptroller’s office have repeatedly flagged underreporting and misclassification, raising concerns about how fully the data reflects what students experience.
Report urges broader view of school safety
The comptroller’s office concludes that SSEC data alone cannot capture school climate. Surveys of students, staff, and families—like those used in New York City—show much higher levels of bullying and safety concerns than incident reports suggest.
Without additional tools, the report says, policymakers risk mistaking changes in reporting rules for real improvements in school safety.
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