In 2013-14, Students living in the Midwest reported the highest percentages of racial bullying experiences.
Between 25% to 35% of U.S. students report having been bullied in school. 16% of these report being builled for their race. With known side-effects such as depressions, anxiety, and reduced academic achievement, addressing the root of these incidences is crucial.
The 2014-15 school year marked the first time that minority student enrollment in public schools surpassed that of white students, and people of color are expected to become the majority in U.S. by 2020. Racial bullying needs to be addressed by leaders in the counties and states which reported high rates in 2013-14.
The Civil Rights Data Collection is a bi-annual survey required of all public local education agencies by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights since 1968. Its stated purpose is as an enforcement and monitoring tool used to ensure that recipients of Federal Title I funds do not discriminate and to investigate whether civil rights laws have been violated in schools.
It is a self-reported survey which reports on 1,930 data points measured from 95,507 schools, representing over 50 million American students. Learn more about the CRDC here.
4 out of the top 5 states with the highest student racial bullying rates are in the Midwest.
| Rank # | State | Region | % Students Racially Bullied |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri | Midwest | 0.43% |
| 2 | Montana | Midwest | 0.29% |
| 3 | Nebraska | Midwest | 0.26% |
| 4 | North Dakota | Midwest | 0.24% |
| 5 | Arkansas | South | 0.20% |
Is your county on this list? There are several counties where over 4.4% of students are victims. 9 of the top 10 of these are in the Midwest.
Most counties, represented in shades of blue, reported less than 1% of their students as victims of racial bullying. However, many counties reported over 1% of students as victims, represented in shades of purple.
| Rank # | State | County | Region | % Students Racially Bullied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | Mcdonough County | Midwest | 12.1% |
| 2 | Montana | Rosebud County | Midwest | 7.4% |
| 3 | Colorado | Costilla County | Midwest | 6.4% |
| 4 | Nebraska | Scotts Bluff County | Midwest | 5.6% |
| 5 | Missouri | Pike County | Midwest | 5.6% |
| 6 | Missouri | Cass County | Midwest | 5.4% |
| 7 | North Dakota | Dunn County | Midwest | 5.4% |
| 8 | Missouri | New Madrid County | Midwest | 4.7% |
| 9 | Georgia | Meriwether County | South | 4.5% |
| 10 | Idaho | Benewah County | Midwest | 4.4% |