Puerto Rico is working to ensure its schools are safe and supportive. This page features school climate information for Puerto Rico, including a list of grants the State and its communities have received; State discipline and bullying policies; data for a selection of indicators; related news articles; and grantee highlights demonstrating community efforts.
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law in 2015. The Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program falls under ESSA, subpart 1 of Title IV, Part A. The SSAE program is intended to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and local communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; improve school conditions for student learning; and improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students. States receive funds in the form of block grants and then fund local education agencies. To learn more, visit the T4PA Center website.
In 2018, Puerto Rico State Education Agency received a Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence) grant. This award funds short-term and long-term education-related services for local educational agencies (LEAs) and institutions of higher education (IHEs) to help them recover from a violent or traumatic event in which the learning environment has been disrupted. To find out more about this grant, go to: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/dvppserv/index.html
Indicator 1: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported they Had Been Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property One Or More Times (for example, a gun, knife, or club during the 12 months before the survey)
This U.S. territory did not participate in data collection in 2009. This U.S. territory did not have data for this indicator in 2021.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
| Indicator 1: Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2011 | 4.9 | 7.4 |
| 2013 | 4.1 | 6.9 |
| 2015 | 4.7 | 6.0 |
| 2017 | 7.5 | 6.0 |
| 2019 | 3.0 | 7.4 |
Indicator 2: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That They Were in a physical fight on school property (one or more times during the 12 months before the survey)
This U.S. territory did not participate in data collection in 2009. This U.S. territory did not have data for this indicator in 2015 or 2021.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
| Indicator 2: Involved in Physical Fight on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2011 | 11.6 | 12.0 |
| 2013 | 9.3 | 8.1 |
| 2017 | 13.1 | 8.5 |
| 2019 | 7.2 | 8.0 |
Indicator 3: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That They Were Offered, Sold, Or Given An Illegal Drug By Someone On School Property
This U.S. territory did not participate in data collection in 2009.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
| Indicator 3: Offered, Sold or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2011 | 18.7 | 25.6 |
| 2013 | 18.2 | 22.1 |
| 2015 | 18.6 | 21.7 |
| 2017 | 22.8 | 19.8 |
| 2019 | 16.2 | 21.8 |
| 2021 | 9.2 | 22.2 |
Indicator 4: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported that they Seriously considered attempting suicide (during the 12 months before the survey)
This U.S. territory did not participate in data collection in 2009.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
| Indicator 4: Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2011 | 13.1 | 15.8 |
| 2013 | 14.3 | 17.0 |
| 2015 | 12.3 | 17.7 |
| 2017 | 17.1 | 17.2 |
| 2019 | 12.4 | 18.8 |
| 2021 | 12.1 | 13.9 |
Indicator 5: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported Being Bullied On School Property During the 12 Months Before the Survey
This U.S. territory did not participate in data collection in 2009.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
| Indicator 5: Bullied On School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2011 | 12.7 | 20.1 |
| 2013 | 10.6 | 19.6 |
| 2015 | 10.0 | 20.2 |
| 2017 | 17.1 | 19.0 |
| 2019 | 9.2 | 19.5 |
| 2021 | 5.0 | 15.0 |
Indicator 6: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That Their Mental Health Was Most Of The Time Or Always Not Good (Poor Mental Health Includes Stress, Anxiety, and Depression) During the 30 Days Before the Survey
Data for this indicator are not available before 2021.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 20, 2023.
| Indicator 6: Reported That Their Mental Health Was Most Of The Time Or Always Not Good | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2021 | 17.0 | 29.3 |
