Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools: Findings From the School Survey on Crime and Safety

This federal report presents results from the 2017–18 School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS), a nationally representative survey of over 4,800 public school principals. The report summarizes the prevalence of violence, criminal incidents, and disciplinary actions in U.S. schools, and includes data on bullying, physical attacks, teacher threats, and gang presence. It also reports on security staffing, surveillance systems, and emergency preparedness practices. This resource helps education leaders, researchers, and policymakers understand the scope and nature of safety concerns facing K–12 institutions and offers a comprehensive baseline for planning interventions to reduce risk and create more supportive school climates.

Authors: Melissa Diliberti, Michael Jackson, Zoe Padgett