This study examined the prevalence, manifestations and ways of combating bullying among high school students in four selected preparatory schools in Addis Ababa namely Menelik II and Bole high schools (Government owned), School of Tomorrow and Ethio-parents (Private owned). Data were collected from 334 students using multistage sampling technique. Hence, Illinois Bullying Scale was adapted to measure the prevalence and manifestations of bullying and interview was employed to collect data regarding the combating methods against bullying in selected schools. To this effect, descriptive statistical tools including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation etc. were used to describe the variables. Independent sample t-tests were employed to analyze the mean differences. Taking the mean differences into consideration, scores below and above the mean were also computed to analyze the data collected through the questionnaire. On top of that, thematic analysis was used to analyze the data collected through the interview. Finally, the results unveiled that there were high levels of bullies and bullied. The prevalence of bullying was found to be higher in private high schools than in the government high schools. The male students had higher participation in physical and emotional bullying than that of the female students. Therefore, the study concludes that there are high rates of bullying (bullies and bullied) in both private and government owned high schools. Henceforward, the schools need to work on nurturing school environment by formulating combating methods like installing anti-bullying events, incorporating anti-bullying policies on available studentsâ€Ÿ handbooks and providing face-to-face counseling and focus group discussions.rnKey words: Bullying, manifestations, mitigation of bullying