My school was weird. lots of little groups with some that traversed many groups rather than being soley part of one. That's what I did. There was bullying here and there, but not huge amts.
The girls in my school, however, were rough ridin' horrible people almost completely. Very similar to what Bread described. They didn't prey on boys but they were psychological warfare'ing the crap out of each other.
My overall take away seems simliar to you, Rams in that I don't miss HS one bit. I enjoyed some of the things I did, but I am only linked to two ppl(they are married to each other) from my time there and they weren't even in my class. The only ppl that have stuck together are the ones who still consider it the best time of their lives. Huddled together united by their fear of the outside world. Other than that one crew, basically everyone else couldn't wait to get away from each other.
My size definitely protected me through other ppl's assumptions of who/what I was. I am lucky to that extent though. Still never been in a fight in my life outside of my brothers.