What does this measure?

The number of incidents of bullying reported by school districts, per 1,000 students in the school districts in a county or school district.

Why is this important?

Bullying can negatively affect a student's self-esteem, ability to concentrate and ability to learn. It may affect not only the targeted student, but also other students who feel afraid or insecure in an environment where bullying is occurring.

How is our county doing?

In 2022, there were about 4,700 reported bullying incidents in Essex County, for a rate of 41 per 1,000 students. This was similar to the state rate of 42 in 2021, and lower than the county's 2013 rate of 52 per 1,000 students. Within Essex County, Saugus (182) and Methuen (80) had the highest rates among the districts.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County had a much higher rate than Middlesex, MA (28 per 1,000) in 2022.

Notes about the data

Comparable data was not available for Westchester, NY and Lake, IL. Bullying is defined by Massachusetts as the repeated use by one or more students of written, verbal or electronic expression or physical acts or gestures that cause physical or emotional harm or property damage, creates fear in the target of the bullying, creates a hostile environment, infringes on rights, or disrupts the educational process. New York has a slightly different definition.