Most assaults at Worcester schools came from its youngest students
Most incidents of students physically assaulting Worcester Public School (WPS) staff took place in elementary schools during the previous school year, according to data the district shared Friday.
The school district saw assaults on staff by students increase from 92 in the 2023-2024 school year to 158 in the 2024-2025 school year — an increase of 72%.
The district defines assaults on staff or other students as the use of physical force to cause or attempt physical injuries, according to a spokesperson for the district.
Of the 158 assaults last school year, 131, or 83% took place at elementary schools, according to the data. In the 2023-2024 school year, there were 60 student assaults on staff at the elementary level.
"We are examining the factors that led to this increase in incidents coded as staff assaults," a spokesperson for WPS told MassLive. "We believe there are likely a range of factors, from some of our youngest students born during COVID being in school for the first time due to lack of preschool, to students or staff who are lacking programmatic supports, to coding being inconsistent due to a new data system the district implemented within the past three years."
WPS classifies the elementary level as kindergarten through 6th grade.
When broken down by grade, there were 26 assaults on staff among kindergarteners, 35 among first graders, 35 among second graders, 15 among third graders, nine among fourth graders, four among fifth graders and seven among sixth graders, according to the data.
The number of assaults committed by kindergartners increased by 20 while the number of assaults committed by second graders increased by 26.
Assaults in first grade increased by eight, third grade classes saw an increase of seven and fourth and sixth grade classes saw five more assaults each. There was no increase in assaults among fifth graders.
A small number of students are responsible for most of these assaults.
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The 26 assaults among kindergarteners were committed by 10 students
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The 35 assaults among first graders were committed by 14 students
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The 35 assaults among second graders were committed by 17 students
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The 15 assaults among third graders were committed by seven students
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The nine assaults among fourth graders were committed by five students
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The four assaults among fifth graders were committed by four students
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The seven assaults among sixth graders were committed by seven students.
"There are issues we are addressing at the elementary level, for both students and staff, to ensure everyone gets the necessary support, programming, and training," Superintendent Brian Allen said in a press release. "At the same time, I want to dispel any notion that our schools are unsafe."
While Worcester's elementary schools saw a noticeable increase in assaults, Worcester's middle schools saw a decrease.
Middle schools saw fewer assaults overall, with seventh and eighth grades reporting six and nine incidents respectively, down from the previous year.
Ninth and 11th grade classes at Worcester high schools also saw a decrease in assaults. The number of assaults among ninth graders was four, down from five in the previous school year. There was only one assault among 11th graders, down from two the previous year, according to the data.
Worcester's 10th and 12th grades saw a slight increase in reported assaults. There were three assaults among 10th graders, up from two in the 2023-2024 school year, according to the data. There were four staff assaults among 12th graders, an increase from one assault the previous year.
In response to these findings, WPS says it is considering restoring programming that creates specialized approaches for students with high needs.
The district is also considering increasing professional development for administrators and staff, such as deescalation techniques, behavioral supports, and trauma-informed practices; expanding the scope of the early childhood task force and support team and exploring the feasibility of additional staff supports.
"Due to budget cuts two years ago, a number of Board Certified Behavior Analysts were eliminated," the spokesperson told MassLive. "Additionally, we are examining whether there needs to be an expansion of specific programming to support students with emotional disabilities or severe behavioral issues."
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