Ocean City's Violence and Vandalism Numbers Remain Low in Latest Report

The Ocean City School District reported 39 total incidents as part of the Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse in the Schools Report for 2013-2014, released by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) this week.

The report is produced each year to share self-reported incidents from districts that include violence, vandalism, weapons offenses, substance offenses, and harassment, intimidation and bullying.

This year’s reporting period was from July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014.

Ocean City’s magic number was 12. It didn’t exceed that number, which showed up under three categories: violence, substance abuse and Harassment Intimidation, Bullying (HIB).

The district reported two incidents involving weapon and just one incident of vandalism.

Violent incidents were essentially cut in half, as there were 23 incidents reported last year.

However, instances of substance abuse tripled, as only four were reported last year. To combat substance abuse, the Ocean City School District’s Drug Awareness Committee is participating in the “Did You Know?” billboard campaign.

All other numbers remained steady, as there were 14 HIB incidents reported the previous year, two incidents of vandalism and one incident involving a weapon.

There are 2,096 students in the district, 11 more than last year.

It is the second year NJDOE has released anti-bullying grade reports. Bullying has been a separate reporting category for the past three years. A third of all reported incidents were categorized as harassment, intimidation and bullying, although the total counts are down 16 percent statewide compared to 2012-2013.

The state’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act requires the Commissioner of Education to grade the efforts of each public school and school district to address bullying in the school environment. The Commissioner has released these anti-bullying grades to schools and districts, which are posted on each school and district website.

Each school’s anti-bullying grade, from 0 to 78, was calculated from information provided through a 40-page self-assessment that measured how well each school achieved specific indicators for meeting state regulations and protocols.

The district earned an overall grade of 63, according to numbers last updated in March.

The highest individual grade at that time belonged to the Ocean City Primary School, which scored a 65.

Ocean City High School’s grade was a 60, and the Ocean City Intermediate School scored a 63.

For the district’s full results, click here.

The 2014 New Jersey School Climate Survey is also available for the second year.

The survey is a tool for local school districts to get feedback on what the school community thinks about their school in areas such as community engagement, morale and the academic climate.

Some of the questions also touch upon the emotional environment and physical safety, as well as relationships and communications between the school and its stakeholders.

NJDOE doesn’t administer the survey, and school districts are not required to participate.

For more on the School Climate Survey, visit the NJDOE’s School Climate Survey webpage.