The Anti-Defamation League has filed a federal civil-rights complaint alleging that a Jewish student at Southern Hills Middle School in Boulder endured two years of escalating antisemitic harassment and physical assaults, and that the Boulder Valley School District failed to stop it. According to the filing, the abuse stretched from slurs and Nazi salutes to a recess game called “Jew Tag,” plus threats and repeated physical attacks. The student’s family ultimately pulled him out of Southern Hills, saying they no longer believed he was safe on campus. ADL is asking the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to investigate the district under Title VI and to order mediation and systemic changes across BVSD.
Inside The Federal Complaint
The 57-page complaint details a pattern ADL says began in 2024 and intensified through the 2025-26 school year, including antisemitic slurs in the lunch line, Holocaust mockery, money-based stereotypes, and Nazi salutes, according to Colorado Public Radio. In April 2025, classmates allegedly tried to launch a recess game they called “Jew touch tag,” while referring to Jewish students as “dirty” and “contaminated.” The family, the complaint says, began formally alerting school officials in November 2024. Their reports continued as incidents piled up, but ADL argues that the district’s response largely meant moving the victim or excusing him from activities instead of confronting or consistently disciplining the students accused of harassment.
Assault, Police Involvement And Alleged District Gaps
One incident in December is described as so serious that it landed on the police blotter. The complaint says a classmate turned a Chromebook charging cord into a lasso, wrapped it around the student’s neck, and yanked him backward, conduct that prompted Boulder police to open an investigation and issue a juvenile criminal referral for third-degree assault, as reported by CBS Colorado. James Pasch, ADL’s vice president of litigation, said school leaders carry a “solemn obligation” to keep students safe. According to the filing, some students received short suspensions, while other alleged threats resulted in no documented corrective action. ADL says the ongoing harassment harmed the student’s mental health and education and ultimately pushed his parents to withdraw him from Southern Hills.
What ADL Is Demanding And How It Fits A Bigger Pattern
The complaint asks the Office for Civil Rights to open a formal investigation, require BVSD to comply with Title VI, and enter mediation that would lead to districtwide remedies. Those requested steps include public statements condemning antisemitism, mandatory staff and student training, stronger reporting and tracking systems, independent audits and support for a transfer or other accommodations for the family, according to Colorado Public Radio. ADL sets the Boulder case against its statewide numbers: the group’s Audit of Antisemitic Incidents logged 167 incidents in Colorado in 2025, a tally it says underscores the need for district-level reforms.
District Pushback And A Family In Retreat
Boulder Valley School District declined an on-camera interview but said in a statement that it takes such allegations “seriously” and is working on upgrades to policies, reporting tools and education efforts, according to CBS Colorado. The complaint states that the student no longer attends Southern Hills and that he has stopped wearing a Star of David or openly identifying as Jewish at school because of safety fears. Local advocates say the filing spotlights a growing tension for districts that are trying to navigate strict student privacy rules while still mounting clear, bias-specific responses when harassment goes from verbal to violent.
What Happens If Federal Investigators Step In
If the Office for Civil Rights accepts ADL’s complaint, it can investigate whether BVSD violated Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin, including discrimination tied to shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics. If it finds violations, OCR can require corrective actions or negotiate a resolution agreement. The U.S. Department of Education explains that complaints are screened and routed before any investigation begins and notes that remedies can include policy changes, training and ongoing monitoring. If OCR opens a formal case here, investigators would review district records and interview witnesses to determine whether the Boulder Valley School District met its federal obligations.
