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)
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
| Indicator 1: Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2009 | 0.0 | 7.7 |
| 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)
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
| Indicator 2: Involved in Physical Fight on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2009 | 0.0 | 11.1 |
| 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
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
| Indicator 3: Offered, Sold or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2009 | 0.0 | 22.7 |
| 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 |
Indicator 4: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported that they Seriously considered attempting suicide (during the 12 months before the survey)
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
| Indicator 4: Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2009 | 0.0 | 15.8 |
| 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 |
Indicator 5: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported Not Participating in at Least 60 Minutes of Physical Activity that Increased Their Heart Rate and Made Them Breathe Hard Some of the Time on at Least 1 Day During the 7 Days Before the Survey
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
| Indicator 5: Did Not Participate in At Least 60 Minutes of Physical Activity | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2009 | 0.0 | |
| 2011 | 32.8 | 13.8 |
| 2013 | 29.2 | 15.2 |
| 2015 | 32.3 | 14.3 |
| 2017 | 30.0 | 15.4 |
| 2019 | 29.5 | 17.0 |
Indicator 6: Did not eat vegetables (green salad, potatoes [excluding French fries, fried potatoes, or potato chips], carrots, or other vegetables, during the 7 days before the survey)
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
| Indicator 6: Did Not Eat Vegetables 7 Days Before the Survey | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Puerto Rico | US |
| 2009 | 0.0 | |
| 2011 | 19.1 | 5.7 |
| 2013 | 18.0 | 6.6 |
| 2015 | 15.5 | 6.7 |
| 2017 | 16.4 | 7.2 |
| 2019 | 19.3 | 7.9 |
