Between 1992 and 2004, the rate of nonfatal crime against students ages 12–18 at school declined 62 percent.

Theft and violence that occur at school¹ can lead to a disruptive and threatening environment, physical injury, and emotional stress (Elliot, Hamburg, and Williams 1998). To measure the frequency of theft and violence in our nation’s schools, this indicator examines nonfatal crime rates per 1,000 students, ages 12–18, from 1992 through 2004. Nonfatal crime includes theft and all violent crime; all violent crime includes serious violent crimes (rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) and simple assault.

From 1992 through 2004, the rate of nonfatal crime against students at school declined 62 percent (from 144 to 55 crimes per 1,000 students) (see table 36-1). During the same time period, the rate of crimes against students at school declined 65 percent for theft (from 95 to 33 crimes per 1,000 students) and 54 percent for violent crimes (from 48 to 22 crimes per 1,000 students). Between 2003 and 2004, the rate of nonfatal crime against students ages 12–18 at school declined 25 percent (from 73 to 55 crimes per 1,000 students). The rate of thefts against students at school declined 27 percent during the same time period (from 45 to 33 crimes per 1,000 students).

From 1992 through 2004, the rates for serious violent crime were lower when students were at school than when they were away from school. However, students were generally more likely to be victims of theft at school than away from school.

In 2004, a higher percentage of middle school-age students (ages 12–14) than high school-age students (ages 15–18) were victims of crime at school (64 vs. 46 crimes per 1,000 students) (see table 36-2). In contrast, middle school-age students were less likely to be victims of crime away from school than were high school-age students (34 vs. 61 crimes per 1,000 students). Differences were also found by students’ household location. The rates of violent crime at school were higher for urban students than for suburban students. Furthermore, rates of violent crime away from school, especially serious violent crime, were also higher for urban students than suburban students. However, rural students experienced higher rates of theft away from school than urban or suburban students.

¹“At school” includes inside the school building, on school property, or on the way to and from school. (back to text)