Woodbridge Schools Report Bullying, Violence Numbers in Annual Report

Ninety-six instances of bullying were reported in Woodbridge Public Schools during the 2012-13 school year, according to a recently released report from the state.

On Dec. 5, the New Jersey Department of Education announced the release of its "Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse in the Schools Report" for the past school year, detailing reported instances of violence, vandalism, bullying and drug use in schools.

Among its 13,277 students, Woodbridge Public Schools reported 96 instances of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB), 40 instances of drugs being used, sold, distributed or possessed in schools, and 32 reports of violence, according to the tally. 

Eight instances involving weapons were reported, as well as three involving vandalism, according to the report.

Overall, Middlesex County schools reported 644 instances of violence, 625 bullying incidents and 250 instances involving drugs during the 2012-13 school year, according to the report. 

Statewide trends showed that more than a third of the reported bullying happened in the classroom, and that students in grades 5-8 were responsible for the majority of those bullying incidents in the 2012-13 school year, according to the state.

The statewide total for all categories decreased by nearly 5,000 incidents in comparison to that of the 2011-12 school year, according to the state.

That decline is due to a 36 percent drop in bullying incidents from year to year, according to the state.

"While part of the decline may be attributed to bullying prevention programs in schools, part of the decline can also be attributed to Department of Education working with local districts over the past two years to provide a clearer understanding of the criteria for reporting incidents of HIB," a Dec. 5 press release from the Department of Education.

To view the Violence and Vandalism Report for the 2012-13 school year, click here.