Are America’s Schools Safe?
June 2007

Schools should be a safe haven for teaching and learning and be free of crime and violence. Any instance of crime or violence at school not only affects those  directly involved but also has implications for the broader school community and the community at large. (National Education Association)

The School Environment (Bureau of Justice Statistics)

• 28% of students aged 12-18 report being the victim of bullying
• 11% report hate-filled words used against them
• 24% see gangs at school (an increase of 3% in the past two years)
• 11% of principals reported verbal abuse of teachers

Security Measures (Bureau of Justice Statistics)

• Over 93% of students report that their school requires visitors to sign in
• 83% of public schools lock or monitor entrances during the school day
• Roughly 1% of schools required students to pass through metal detectors
  

(Indicators of School Crime and Safety - Bureau of Justice Statistics)

Are Schools Becoming Safer? (Youth Violence Project)

• Young People are 5% less likely to be victim of a serious crime at school than out of school (6% vs. 11%)
• 8.9% of students report carrying a weapon to school, down from 17.9% in 1993
• The rate of violent crimes has decreased from 13 students per 1,000 in 1994 to 6 students per 1,000 in 2003
• The trend in school homicides decreased, from 42 in 1992 to 13 in 2005
• Minority students report more fear of becoming the victim of a violent crime, but this fear has declined among all groups since 1995

(Violence in Schools - Youth Violence Project)

Do Your Part to Keep Kids Safe

While the frequency of violent crimes in public schools is relatively low, we must also acknowledge that even one death is too many.  The US Department of Education offers guidance to educators on how to keep students safe in a crisis, and the Department of Homeland Security and over 1,000 organizational partners work to promote child readiness in school and in the home as part of National Preparedness Month each September.