The post-COVID-19, in-class return of the nation’s largest school system has seen a spike in assaults and sex offenses this academic year, according to a Post analysis of NYPD statistics.
School crime figures for the last three months of 2021 — the first block of data available after the Department of Education fully reopened this academic year — show hikes in several categories compared to the same stretch in 2019.
Over those months, the number of kids busted for assault in city schools has jumped to 71 from 37 during the same period in 2019 — the last time schools were fully open, according to the data.
Kids busted for sex offenses, including forcible touching, sex abuse, and rape — also has risen this school year.
There were 27 sex offenses during the time period compared to 14 in 2019, the figures show. Most of those were misdemeanor forcible touching cases. Students arrested for rape upped from 2 to 5, according to the data.
Overall, the number of felony arrests involving students was relatively flat, going from 72 in 2019 to 77 in the 4th quarter of 2021.
Other categories, including robberies, were down sharply this year, the numbers show.
The DOE said overall incidents were down by 19 percent from 2019 this academic year.
“Our schools are safe,” said spokesman Nathaniel Styer. “Department of Education personnel and NYPD School Safety agents work closely, every day, to ensure a safe environment for each of the city’s public school students.”
