Student Surveys

Students' reports of victimization and perceptions of crime, violence, and school climate are important factors in providing a comprehensive picture of school crime and safety.

Created as a supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and co-designed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the School Crime Supplement (SCS) survey collects information about victimization, crime, and safety at school. The SCS is a national survey of approximately 8,300 students ages 12 through 18 in U.S. public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. The SCS was conducted in 1989, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007. It asks about school-related topics such as:

• Alcohol and drug availability;
• Fighting, bullying, and hate-related behaviors;
• Fear and avoidance behaviors;
• Gun and weapon carrying; and
• Gangs at school.

The National Household Education Survey (NHES) is a national telephone survey of U.S. households conducted by the NCES. The School Safety and Discipline (SS&D) component of the 1993 NHES included a sample of about 6,500 students in grades 6-12 and covered such topics as:

• The school learning environment;
• Discipline policy;
• Safety at school;
• Victimization;
• The availability and use of alcohol and drugs;
• Alcohol and drug education, and;
• Peer norms for behavior in school and substance use.