Staggering scope of violence at LAUSD exposed with thousands of fights every year

LAUSD, the nation’s second-largest school district, has seen thousands of fights in recent years amid growing community concerns over bullying-related incidents and a lack of prevention.

Los Angeles Unified’s Franklin High School was rocked by tragedy this week after senior Xavier Nungarary died after jumping from the fourth floor of a school building after he was pummeled and insulted by a classmate. The teen had reportedly endured relentless bullying, according to his family.

LAUSD data presented at a November 2025 committee meeting showed 5,636 fights and other acts of aggression during the 2024-25 school year, down slightly from 5,707 the year before.

The district declined to provide current-year fight data to the California Post but offered condolences to Nungaray’s family.

“Our hearts are with family, friends, classmates, teachers, and the community during this difficult time. Los Angeles Unified is working closely with Franklin High School, providing support and resources to students and staff who may be impacted by this loss,” the district said.

“Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.”

LAUSD insiders told The California Post that Franklin High School has a particularly acute bullying problem. Former LAUSD board member David Tokofsky, who led the district that includes Franklin for a dozen years, said violence has always been a problem at Franklin.

“That’s because the Avenues gang is one of the most notorious gangs in the city,” he said, and Franklin is on their turf.

Tokofsky said the fact that LAUSD has reduced police presence on campuses leaves the district responsible for incidents such as the bullying that allegedly preceded Nungarary’s death. It wasn’t immediately clear if an officer was on campus at the time of the tragedy.

LAUSD previously voted to slash millions from the Los Angeles School Police Department’s budget in 2021, eliminating more than 130 positions.

LAUSD student survey data also shows reported bullying at its highest level since 2021-22, with 17% of students saying they were bullied. Reports of physical bullying — including shoving, hitting and kicking — surged from 6% in 2024-25 to 15% in 2025-26.

The survey is issued every spring to all LAUSD schools and includes feedback from students, parents, staff, and teachers.

LAUSD’s student experience survey also showed data from Franklin High School. Just 8% of seniors at the school reported bullying, and 5% said it was physical. The school’s overall bullying reporting rate is 11%.

Nungaray, 17, jumped to his death after a classmate verbally and physically assaulted him. His stepmom told CBS LA that other students bullied Nungaray throughout high school and he was “hesitant to speak up.”

“He was scared that he was gonna end up getting punished instead of the bullies,” she said.

The fallout from the incident will present a test for new LAUSD Superintendent Andrés Chiat, who took over for former boss Alberto Carvalho after Carvalho left amid a splashy federal investigation, said former LAUSD board member Tokofsky.

“We’ll see if he has any leadership skills,” said the former LAUSD board member. “If he dances away from that issue, he’s just avoiding a dust-up with Black Lives Matter, the board members and the teachers’ union.”

The school district drew more controversy earlier this year following the death of a 12-year-old girl after she was allegedly struck in the head with a metal water bottle while attempting to defend her older sister from bullies in a school hallway.

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After a police investigation into the fight, cops arrested a Reseda student on suspicion of murder in April.
But the next month, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner classified Zavaleta’s death as “natural” because she had a congenital blood vessel condition that caused her death.

After the medical examiner’s natural-cause ruling, prosecutors are reviewing the viability of the criminal case.

Zavaleta’s family has strongly disputed the medical examiner’s conclusion, saying she had no prior symptoms before being struck in the head. The family has filed a wrongful-death and negligence claim against LAUSD.

Anti-bullying advocates have called for an investigation into any bullying Nungaray endured at Franklin High School before his death.

The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, founded after the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, is pushing for an extensive examination of the circumstances to reveal any missteps.

“This is not about deciding what happened before the facts are known,” said Daniel Chapin, founder and president of the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation. “It is about making sure the questions are actually asked and answered.”

“When a family says their child was being bullied, and a student says she witnessed him being physically attacked immediately before his death, those statements deserve a serious, independent examination. The family should not have to investigate this themselves,” he added.