LAUSD data shows student fights and threats higher than 4 years ago

While the Los Angeles Unified School District has made steady improvements to lower the number of students experiencing fights, threats, drug incidents, weapons issues and suicide risks, school safety experts warn the district has more work to do.

Student fights and threats are still significantly up compared to four years ago, according to LAUSD data.

In the 2025-2026 school year, there were 6,131 fights, a 21% jump from four years ago, and 4,015 student threats, an 11.5% increase from the 2022-2023 school year.

Monica Harmon, executive director of Speak Out Against Bullying Inc., says the school district needs to implement stricter measures.

"There's no consequences. There needs to be consequences," she said after an anti-bullying assembly at an elementary school on Thursday. "So many kids get in trouble, the students report it, and then, you know, they're back in school the next day. They're not suspended. There need to be tougher restrictions."

Ronald Stephens, executive director of the National School Safety Center and professor of education emeritus at Pepperdine, reviewed the LAUSD data. He called the numbers "very concerning."

"I will tell you from a litigation standpoint, the questions the school district will be asked if something serious happens is, 'What did you know, and when did you know it, with respect to the fighting and aggression and illegal substance, and then, when you learned of it, what did you do about it?' So, it will be important for the school district to take some steps in terms of enhancing their supervision, or some other type of training or intervention or partnership," Stephens explained.

"The school district does indeed have a safe school plan, but clearly, their existing plan, with these other red flags that are emerging, suggests that they will need to do something else to enhance their supervision and support for students at risk."

Stephens added that the data should inform the school district's protocols moving forward.

"With those kinds of numbers jumping over the last few years, it really suggests to go back to the drawing board and talk with students, with parents, with teachers, and get some good advice on what they might suggest, because most of this work in keeping schools safe is not about rocket science," he said. "It's about having a physical presence and a care for students."

Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Eric Eppolito says his agency is making a focused effort to increase school outreach this year to help prevent smaller problems among students in schools from growing into bigger ones.

"When you talk about bullying, that can lead to a lot of things, from minor to something really serious. You know, as the kids get older, it gets even more problematic. You're dealing with fights and things that escalate from there," Eppolito said.