High school kids who are bullied tend to get worse grades than teens who aren’t, according to a new study by the American Sociological Association. Kids who were bullied saw a about a .05 drop in grade point average, according to the study. While that might seem to be a pretty insignificant number, researchers beg to differ. “This effect, though small, is highly significant and suggests that bullying negatively affects GPA even after factoring previous grades, family background and school characteristics often associated with achievement…” said lead author Lisa M. Williams. The difference in GPA was particularly pronounced in top-notch African-American and Latino students. “Stereotypes about black and Latino youth suggest they perform poorly in school,” Williams said. “High-achieving blacks and Latinos who do not conform to these stereotypes may be especially vulnerable to the effect bullying has on grades.” (HealthDay)