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| 2021 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 229.10. | Percentage of public schools recording incidents of crime at school, percentage reporting incidents of crime at school to sworn law enforcement, and number of incidents recorded or reported, by type of crime: Selected years, 1999-2000 through 2019-20 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of crime recorded or reported to sworn law enforcement | Percent of schools | 2017-18 | 2019-201 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999-2000 | 2003-04 | 2005-06 | 2007-08 | 2009-10 | 2013-142 | 2015-16 | Percent of schools |
Number of incidents |
Percent of schools |
Number of incidents |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded incidents | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 86.4 | (1.23) | 88.5 | (0.85) | 85.7 | (1.07) | 85.5 | (0.87) | 85.0 | (1.07) | --- | (†) | 78.9 | (1.28) | 79.8 | (1.23) | 1,438,500 | (54,530) | 77.2 | (1.31) | 1,425,500 | (56,370) | ||||||||
Violent incidents |
71.4 | (1.37) | 81.4 | (1.05) | 77.7 | (1.11) | 75.5 | (1.09) | 73.8 | (1.07) | 65.0 | (1.46) | 68.9 | (1.30) | 70.7 | (1.38) | 962,300 | (45,850) | 70.2 | (1.30) | 938,500 | (49,890) | ||||||||
| Serious violent incidents | 19.7 | (0.98) | 18.3 | (0.99) | 17.1 | (0.91) | 17.2 | (1.06) | 16.4 | (0.94) | 13.1 | (1.00) | 15.5 | (0.93) | 21.3 | (0.98) | 54,400 | (7,770) | 25.4 | (1.06) | 62,800 | (4,020) | ||||||||
| Rape or attempted rape | 0.7 | (0.10) | 0.8 | (0.17) | 0.3 | (0.07) | 0.8 | (0.17) | 0.5 | (0.10) | 0.2 | ! | (0.10) | 0.9 | (0.19) | 0.9 | (0.16) | 1,100 | (200) | 1.0 | (0.16) | 1,000 | (170) | |||||||
| Sexual assault other than rape3 | 2.5 | (0.33) | 3.0 | (0.32) | 2.8 | (0.24) | 2.5 | (0.33) | 2.3 | (0.34) | 1.7 | (0.37) | 3.4 | (0.38) | 5.2 | (0.46) | 7,100 | (590) | 5.3 | (0.51) | 7,700 | (830) | ||||||||
| Physical attack or fight with a weapon | 5.2 | (0.60) | 4.0 | (0.46) | 3.0 | (0.38) | 3.0 | (0.33) | 3.9 | (0.48) | 1.8 | (0.34) | 2.6 | (0.38) | 3.0 | (0.42) | 10,500 | (2,850) | 8.9 | (0.76) | 16,900 | (2,450) | ||||||||
| Threat of physical attack with a weapon | 11.1 | (0.70) | 8.6 | (0.71) | 8.8 | (0.66) | 9.3 | (0.77) | 7.7 | (0.72) | 8.7 | (0.78) | 8.5 | (0.79) | 13.2 | (0.86) | 26,700 | (4,460) | 10.0 | (0.68) | 20,500 | (2,060) | ||||||||
| Robbery with a weapon | 0.5 | ! | (0.15) | 0.6 | (0.15) | 0.4 | (0.12) | 0.4 | ! | (0.14) | 0.2 | (0.05) | ‡ | (†) | 0.5 | ! | (0.16) | 0.4 | (0.10) | 500 | (140) | 0.9 | ! | (0.29) | ‡ | (†) | ||||
| Robbery without a weapon | 5.3 | (0.56) | 6.3 | (0.60) | 6.4 | (0.59) | 5.2 | (0.56) | 4.4 | (0.49) | 2.5 | (0.42) | 2.7 | (0.36) | 3.5 | (0.39) | 8,500 | (1,050) | 5.7 | (0.48) | 14,000 | (1,500) | ||||||||
| Physical attack or fight without a weapon | 63.7 | (1.52) | 76.7 | (1.21) | 74.3 | (1.20) | 72.7 | (1.07) | 70.5 | (1.11) | 57.5 | (1.43) | 64.9 | (1.28) | 65.7 | (1.39) | 597,300 | (34,030) | 59.9 | (1.18) | 583,300 | (35,690) | ||||||||
| Threat of physical attack without a weapon | 52.2 | (1.47) | 53.0 | (1.34) | 52.2 | (1.27) | 47.8 | (1.19) | 46.4 | (1.33) | 47.1 | (1.50) | 39.4 | (1.48) | 41.4 | (1.38) | 310,700 | (18,050) | 40.1 | (1.04) | 292,400 | (22,480) | ||||||||
Theft/larceny4 |
45.6 | (1.37) | 46.0 | (1.29) | 46.0 | (1.07) | 47.3 | (1.29) | 44.1 | (1.31) | --- | (†) | 38.7 | (1.29) | 33.4 | (1.31) | 132,500 | (6,130) | 31.7 | (1.21) | 117,300 | (5,370) | ||||||||
Other incidents5 |
72.7 | (1.30) | 64.0 | (1.27) | 68.2 | (1.07) | 67.4 | (1.13) | 68.1 | (1.12) | --- | (†) | 58.5 | (1.68) | 59.8 | (1.18) | 343,700 | (9,270) | 56.5 | (1.32) | 369,700 | (12,160) | ||||||||
| Possession of a firearm/explosive device | 5.5 | (0.44) | 6.1 | (0.49) | 7.2 | (0.60) | 4.7 | (0.38) | 4.7 | (0.52) | --- | (†) | 4.0 | (0.50) | 3.3 | (0.37) | 3,600 | (390) | 3.7 | (0.47) | 3,700 | (490) | ||||||||
| Possession of a knife or sharp object | 42.6 | (1.28) | --- | (†) | 42.8 | (1.23) | 40.6 | (1.10) | 39.7 | (1.06) | --- | (†) | 38.4 | (1.26) | 38.2 | (1.12) | 69,100 | (2,220) | 32.4 | (1.13) | 53,200 | (1,980) | ||||||||
| Distribution of illegal drugs | 12.3 | (0.50) | 12.9 | (0.55) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ||||||||
| Possession or use of alcohol or illegal drugs | 26.6 | (0.72) | 29.3 | (0.87) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ||||||||
| Distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 25.9 | (0.68) | 23.2 | (0.68) | 24.6 | (0.57) | --- | (†) | 24.9 | (0.85) | 24.9 | (0.69) | 120,300 | (4,480) | 28.5 | (1.01) | 169,100 | (7,660) | ||||||||
| Inappropriate distribution, possession, or use of prescription drugs |
--- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 12.1 | (0.47) | --- | (†) | 9.5 | (0.55) | 9.7 | (0.46) | 21,100 | (1,350) | 9.0 | (0.47) | 19,100 | (1,300) | ||||||||
| Distribution, possession, or use of alcohol | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 16.2 | (0.68) | 14.9 | (0.57) | 14.1 | (0.50) | --- | (†) | 13.3 | (0.50) | 13.4 | (0.45) | 29,000 | (1,420) | 14.3 | (0.40) | 29,400 | (1,550) | ||||||||
| Sexual harassment | 36.3 | (1.26) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ||||||||
| Vandalism | 51.4 | (1.61) | 51.4 | (1.17) | 50.5 | (1.17) | 49.3 | (1.16) | 45.8 | (1.12) | --- | (†) | 33.4 | (1.25) | 33.1 | (1.10) | 100,600 | (5,720) | 32.4 | (1.18) | 95,100 | (4,790) | ||||||||
Reported incidents to sworn law enforcement |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 62.5 | (1.37) | 65.2 | (1.35) | 60.9 | (1.15) | 62.0 | (1.24) | 60.0 | (1.58) | --- | (†) | 47.4 | (1.54) | 46.9 | (1.04) | 422,800 | (12,650) | 46.6 | (1.08) | 482,400 | (22,480) | ||||||||
Violent incidents |
36.0 | (1.26) | 43.6 | (1.15) | 37.7 | (1.09) | 37.8 | (1.16) | 39.9 | (1.13) | --- | (†) | 32.7 | (1.13) | 32.5 | (1.08) | 192,100 | (8,050) | 32.4 | (0.99) | 225,600 | (13,580) | ||||||||
| Serious violent incidents | 14.8 | (0.82) | 13.3 | (0.88) | 12.6 | (0.70) | 12.6 | (0.86) | 10.4 | (0.62) | --- | (†) | 10.0 | (0.68) | 14.9 | (0.86) | 26,100 | (1,680) | 13.8 | (0.65) | 32,500 | (2,750) | ||||||||
| Rape or attempted rape | 0.6 | (0.10) | 0.8 | (0.17) | 0.3 | (0.07) | 0.8 | (0.17) | 0.5 | (0.10) | --- | (†) | 0.7 | (0.14) | 0.8 | (0.16) | 1,000 | (190) | 0.9 | (0.15) | 1,000 | (150) | ||||||||
| Sexual assault other than rape3 | 2.3 | (0.34) | 2.6 | (0.28) | 2.6 | (0.26) | 2.1 | (0.29) | 1.4 | (0.20) | --- | (†) | 2.7 | (0.28) | 4.3 | (0.42) | 5,600 | (440) | 4.1 | (0.38) | 6,300 | (730) | ||||||||
| Physical attack or fight with a weapon | 3.9 | (0.50) | 2.8 | (0.38) | 2.2 | (0.27) | 2.1 | (0.27) | 2.2 | (0.32) | --- | (†) | 1.3 | (0.24) | 1.5 | (0.23) | 2,400 | (390) | 2.1 | (0.35) | 5,000 | ! | (1,580) | |||||||
| Threat of physical attack with a weapon | 8.5 | (0.59) | 6.0 | (0.55) | 5.9 | (0.49) | 5.7 | (0.59) | 4.5 | (0.43) | --- | (†) | 5.3 | (0.53) | 9.0 | (0.67) | 12,400 | (1,290) | 6.5 | (0.52) | 11,300 | (1,270) | ||||||||
| Robbery with a weapon | 0.3 | ! | (0.09) | 0.6 | (0.15) | 0.4 | (0.12) | 0.4 | ! | (0.14) | 0.2 | (0.05) | --- | (†) | 0.3 | ! | (0.13) | 0.3 | (0.08) | 400 | (90) | 0.5 | (0.13) | 500 | (130) | |||||
| Robbery without a weapon | 3.4 | (0.41) | 4.2 | (0.51) | 4.9 | (0.48) | 4.1 | (0.42) | 3.5 | (0.40) | --- | (†) | 1.9 | (0.28) | 2.4 | (0.33) | 4,300 | (560) | 3.9 | (0.38) | 8,300 | (1,090) | ||||||||
| Physical attack or fight without a weapon | 25.8 | (0.91) | 35.6 | (0.98) | 29.2 | (1.00) | 28.2 | (0.90) | 34.3 | (0.90) | --- | (†) | 25.1 | (1.03) | 21.7 | (0.70) | 107,600 | (5,570) | 23.0 | (0.93) | 130,600 | (8,110) | ||||||||
| Threat of physical attack without a weapon | 18.9 | (0.94) | 21.0 | (0.82) | 19.7 | (0.69) | 19.5 | (0.76) | 15.2 | (0.79) | --- | (†) | 12.9 | (0.65) | 14.3 | (0.63) | 58,400 | (4,090) | 14.7 | (0.71) | 62,600 | (6,280) | ||||||||
Theft/larceny4 |
28.5 | (1.04) | 30.5 | (1.17) | 27.9 | (0.97) | 31.0 | (1.12) | 25.4 | (1.01) | --- | (†) | 18.1 | (0.80) | 14.9 | (0.75) | 53,900 | (2,780) | 14.6 | (0.61) | 47,700 | (2,840) | ||||||||
Other incidents5 |
52.0 | (1.14) | 50.0 | (1.18) | 50.6 | (1.00) | 48.7 | (1.17) | 46.3 | (1.23) | --- | (†) | 33.5 | (1.15) | 35.1 | (0.86) | 176,900 | (5,210) | 35.9 | (1.19) | 209,100 | (9,290) | ||||||||
| Possession of a firearm/explosive device | 4.5 | (0.41) | 4.9 | (0.44) | 5.5 | (0.51) | 3.6 | (0.32) | 3.1 | (0.39) | --- | (†) | 1.9 | (0.29) | 2.1 | (0.30) | 2,300 | (320) | 2.4 | (0.27) | 2,400 | (270) | ||||||||
| Possession of a knife or sharp object | 23.0 | (0.84) | --- | (†) | 25.0 | (1.00) | 23.3 | (0.69) | 20.0 | (0.88) | --- | (†) | 15.8 | (0.66) | 18.0 | (0.68) | 30,500 | (1,260) | 16.1 | (0.68) | 25,900 | (1,310) | ||||||||
| Distribution of illegal drugs | 11.4 | (0.48) | 12.4 | (0.57) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ||||||||
| Possession or use of alcohol or illegal drugs | 22.2 | (0.67) | 26.0 | (0.76) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ||||||||
| Distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 22.8 | (0.62) | 20.7 | (0.60) | 21.4 | (0.57) | --- | (†) | 19.9 | (0.71) | 19.9 | (0.52) | 84,800 | (3,380) | 22.5 | (0.90) | 117,600 | (5,920) | ||||||||
| Inappropriate distribution, possession, or use of prescription drugs |
--- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 9.6 | (0.42) | --- | (†) | 7.4 | (0.56) | 7.1 | (0.36) | 15,100 | (960) | 6.5 | (0.37) | 13,500 | (990) | ||||||||
| Distribution, possession, or use of alcohol | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 11.6 | (0.61) | 10.6 | (0.55) | 10.0 | (0.41) | --- | (†) | 8.6 | (0.41) | 8.0 | (0.39) | 16,900 | (950) | 8.3 | (0.30) | 18,500 | (1,200) | ||||||||
| Sexual harassment | 14.7 | (0.78) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ||||||||
| Vandalism | 32.7 | (1.10) | 34.3 | (1.06) | 31.9 | (1.02) | 30.8 | (1.18) | 26.8 | (1.09) | --- | (†) | 12.9 | (0.86) | 12.0 | (0.66) | 27,300 | (2,220) | 13.6 | (0.82) | 31,200 | (2,910) | ||||||||
| ---Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| !Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate or the coefficient of variation (CV) is 50 percent or greater. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 The coronavirus pandemic affected the 2019-20 data collection activities, while the change to virtual schooling and the adjusted school year may have impacted the data collected by SSOCS. Readers should use caution when comparing 2019-20 estimates with those from earlier years. For more information, see Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools in 2019–20: Findings From the School Survey on Crime and Safety (NCES 2022-029). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Data for 2013-14 were collected using the Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), while data for all other years were collected using the School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS). The 2013-14 FRSS survey was designed to allow comparisons with SSOCS data. However, the mode of the 2013-14 FRSS survey differed from that of SSOCS, which evolved over time. Specifically, all respondents to the 2013-14 survey could choose either to complete the survey on paper (and mail it back) or to complete the survey online. All respondents to SSOCS had only the option of completing a paper survey prior to 2017-18. In 2017-18, SSOCS experimented with offering an online option to some respondents. In 2019-20, SSOCS switched to using primarily an online survey instrument. The 2013-14 FRSS survey also relied on a smaller sample than SSOCS. The FRSS survey's smaller sample size and difference in survey administration may have impacted the 2013-14 results. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Prior to 2015-16, the wording of the survey item was "sexual battery other than rape." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Theft/larceny is taking things worth over $10 without personal confrontation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 Caution should be used when making direct comparisons of "Other incidents" between years because the survey questions about alcohol and drugs changed and because sexual harassment was only included in 1999-2000. In addition, data on “possession of a knife or sharp object” were not included for 2003-04. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Responses were provided by the principal or the person most knowledgeable about crime and safety issues at the school. "At school" was defined to include activities that happen in school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses, and at places that hold school-sponsored events or activities. Respondents were instructed to include incidents that occurred before, during, and after normal school hours or when school activities or events were in session. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding and because schools that recorded or reported more than one type of crime incident were counted only once in the total percentage of schools recording or reporting incidents. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1999-2000, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2009-10, 2015-16, 2017-18, and 2019-20 School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS), 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2020; and Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), "School Safety and Discipline: 2013-14," FRSS 106, 2014. (This table was prepared October 2021.) |
