School safety and security measures

Question:
What safety and security measures are used in America's public schools?

Response:
Public schools use a variety of practices and procedures intended to promote the safety of students and staff. In the School Survey on Crime and Safety, public school principals were asked about their school's use of safety and security measures and procedures. Certain practices, such as locked or monitored doors or gates, are intended to limit or control access to school campuses, while others, such as metal detectors, security cameras, and limiting access to social networking websites, are intended to monitor or restrict students' and visitors' behavior on campus.

• The use of safety and security measures varied by school level during the 2009-10 school year. In general, higher percentages of high schools than middle or primary schools and higher percentages of middle schools than primary schools reported using the following safety and security measures: drug testing for athletes; drug testing for students in extracurricular activities; requiring students to wear badges or picture IDs; random dog sniffs to check for drugs; random sweeps for contraband, and using security cameras to monitor the school.

• For example, 84 percent of high schools, 73 percent of middle schools, and 51 percent of primary schools reported that they used security cameras to monitor their schools. In addition, the percentages of middle schools and high schools that reported having an electronic notification system for a schoolwide emergency were higher than the percentage of primary schools with such a system, and the percentages of middle schools and high schools having a structured, anonymous threat reporting system in place were higher than the percentage of primary schools having such a system in place.

• In contrast, a lower percentage of high schools than middle schools and primary schools reported controlling access to buildings during school hours, and the percentage of high schools that reported prohibiting the use of cell phones and text messaging devices was lower than the corresponding percentages of primary schools and middle schools. The percentage of high schools that reported requiring students to wear uniforms was lower than the percentages of middle schools and primary schools with such a requirement.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2012). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2011 (NCES 2012-002).

! Interpret data with caution.
‡ Reporting standards not met.
¹Primary schools are defined as schools in which the lowest grade is not higher than grade 3 and the highest grade is not higher than grade 8. Middle schools are defined as schools in which the lowest grade is not lower than grade 4 and the highest grade is not higher than grade 9. High schools are defined as schools in which the lowest grade is not lower than grade 9. Combined schools include all other combinations of grades, including K-12 schools.
²One or more checks, sweeps, or cameras.
³For example, drugs or weapons. Does not include dog sniffs.

NOTE: Responses were provided by the principal or the person most knowledgeable about crime and safety issues at the school. Respondents were instructed to respond only for those times that were during normal school hours or when school activities or events were in session, unless the survey specified otherwise.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2012). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2011 (NCES 2012-002), Table 20.2.

Related Tables and Figures:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2012, Digest of Education Statistics 2011, Table 168. Percentage of schools with various security measures, by school control and selected characteristics: 2007-08
  
• 2012, Percentage of public schools that used safety and security measures: Various school years, 1999–2000 through 2009–10
  
• 2012, Percentage of students ages 12–18 who reported selected security measures at school: Various years, 1999–2009
  
• 2012, The Condition of Education 2012: School Crime and Safety
  

Other Resources:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2012, Crime and Safety Surveys (CSS): This site provides access to publications and data on school crime and safety.