Student-on-Student Violence: A Statistical Overview

Student-on-student violence is a multifaceted issue with a long history. Examining these incidents through a statistical lens reveals trends, challenges in data collection, and the need for comprehensive prevention strategies. This article explores the scope of student-on-student violence, drawing on historical incidents, recent data, and ongoing efforts to understand and address this complex problem.

Historical Context of School Attacks

School-related violence is not a new phenomenon. Examining historical incidents provides context for understanding the evolution of such events. For example, in the 19th century, a student named Matthew Ward killed Schoolmaster Mr. Butler for punishing his brother. Similarly, Frank Pope, a pupil at St. John's seminary, shot and killed his teacher, Mr. Bristow, after being slapped. These early incidents, while isolated, demonstrate that violence in schools has existed for a long time.

The early 20th century saw further examples of student-perpetrated violence. Thomas Squires fatally shot Prof. Frank Shugart after being ejected from school for disobedience. At the all-girls Union School, Thomas McGiffen shot and seriously wounded the principal, Prof. These historical events highlight the diverse motivations behind school attacks, ranging from disciplinary actions to personal grievances.

Defining and Categorizing School Attacks

When examining school attacks, it's crucial to define the scope of the incidents being considered. This article focuses on attacks that occur on school property or are primarily related to school issues or events. This definition excludes warfare, robberies, gang violence, public attacks (such as political protests), accidental shootings, and suicides or murder-suicides by rejected spouses or suitors. Incidents involving only school staff are classified separately as workplace killings.

A Global Perspective on School Violence

School violence is not limited to a single country or region. The provided data includes a list of attacks related to secondary schools that have occurred around the world. For instance, the Wilno school massacre took place at Joachim Lelewel high school in Wilno, Poland. The Bath School disaster involved school board member Andrew Kehoe setting off a series of explosions in the Bath Consolidated School, killing many.

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Other international incidents include the Kungälv school shooting in Sweden, where a student killed one and wounded six others at a school dance, and the attack on St Alberts School in Zimbabwe, where ZANLA cadres captured pupils and staff. These examples illustrate that school violence is a global issue with varying causes and consequences.

Trends in School Violence in the United States

In the United States, data on school violence is collected through various sources, including the School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and the School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS). These surveys provide insights into the prevalence of violent crime, bullying, and other safety concerns in schools.

According to the latest SCS data collected in 2017, being the victim of a violent crime at school is rare, with about 1% of students surveyed reporting such experiences. Similarly, the SSOCS indicates that while most schools report at least one incident of violent crime per year, the trends for violent crime and serious violent crime in schools have been decreasing.

However, there is a perception that the number of school shootings is increasing. A review of data sources reveals that incidents of multiple-victim youth homicides in schools started declining in 1994 but have been increasing since 2009. Despite this increase, the rates of violent victimization and serious violent victimization at school are low and have been decreasing since the 1990s.

The Clery Act and Campus Crime Reporting

Since 1990, degree-granting postsecondary institutions participating in Title IV federal student financial aid programs have been required to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, known as the Clery Act. The Clery Act requires institutions to distribute timely warnings about crime incidents to students and staff, publicly report campus crime and safety policies, and collect, report, and disseminate campus crime data.

The Clery Act requires postsecondary degree-granting institutions to report data for several types of crimes, including murder, sex offenses (forcible and nonforcible), robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and arson. In calendar year 2021, a total of 23,400 criminal incidents of these types were reported. This translates to 16.9 on-campus crimes reported per 10,000 full-time-equivalent (FTE) students enrolled.

The overall number of on-campus crimes reported per 10,000 FTE students was lower in 2021 than in 2011 (16.9 vs. 20.0) but showed no consistent trend for this period. Considering specific types of reported on-campus crimes, the rate per 10,000 FTE students was lower in 2021 than in 2011 for five categories: murder, robbery, burglary, arson, and nonforcible sex offenses. In contrast, the rate was higher in 2021 than in 2011 for forcible sex offenses, motor vehicle theft, and aggravated assault.

Arrests and Disciplinary Referrals on Campus

As part of the Clery Act, degree-granting postsecondary institutions are also required to report the number of arrests made on campus for illegal weapons possession, drug law violations, and liquor law violations. In 2021, the total number of these arrests was 13,800. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of these arrests per 10,000 FTE students decreased overall (from 35.8 to 10.0).

In addition to reporting on-campus arrests, degree-granting postsecondary institutions also report referrals for disciplinary action for these types of cases. In 2021, there were a total of 127,300 referrals for disciplinary action for cases involving illegal weapons possession, drug law violations, and liquor law violations. The largest number of disciplinary referrals (102,700 referrals, or 81 percent of referrals) involved liquor law violations.

Mass Shootings at Colleges and Universities

Mass shootings at colleges and universities are a significant concern. From 1966 to 2023, there have been several high-profile mass shootings on college campuses in the United States. These incidents have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, leaving a lasting impact on the affected communities.

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Notable mass shootings include the University of Texas at Austin shooting in 1966, where a shooter killed 15 people and injured 31 others, and the Virginia Tech Massacre in 2007, which is the deadliest college shooting on record, with 32 people killed and at least 23 others injured. Other mass shootings have occurred at Appalachian School of Law, University of Arizona, Northern Illinois University, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Oikos University, Santa Monica College, University of California, Santa Barbara, Umpqua Community College, Dallas College, University of Virginia, Michigan State University, and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Non-Mass Shooting Gun Violence on College Campuses

In addition to mass shootings, there are many other instances of gun violence on college campuses. Everytown for Gun Safety documented 418 instances of gunfire on college campuses, occurring in 44 states and Washington, D.C., from 2013-2025. These incidents include individual attacks, unintentional gunfire, legal interventions, self-harm, and other instances.

Excluding mass shootings, gunfire on college campuses has killed 114 people in total and injured another 312 since 2013. Non-mass shooting intentional attacks have killed 81 people and wounded 192 others. Ten people have died by suicide in non-mass shootings on college campuses, and three were injured. Nine people have been killed in legal interventions involving guns on college campuses. Unintentional gunfire on college campuses has resulted in three deaths and 36 injuries.

College Campus Gun Policies

College campus gun laws vary from state to state and campus to campus. At least 16 states allow colleges to decide whether to allow guns on campus. Another 12 states generally allow guns on campus with some regulations, unless the college prohibits it. Most states generally prohibit guns on college campuses, but they may allow exceptions for safety officers, people with written approval from the institution, and/or people storing firearms in vehicles.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University studied the link between state gun laws and gun violence on college campuses. They found that policies allowing guns on campus don’t reduce mass shootings, and gun access “substantially increases” the risk of suicide among young adults. The presence of guns could make aggressive or reckless behaviors more deadly.

The Role of Knives in School Violence

While firearms often dominate the discussion of school violence, knives are also a significant concern. Several incidents of student-on-student violence have involved knives, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities.

For example, in one incident, a 16-year-old student, Henry Smith, was stabbed to death by a 16-year-old fellow student, Randolph Lawrence, at a Bronx vocational high school. In another case, a 30-year-old social studies teacher, Henry Chiariello, was stabbed to death at Greenville High School by an 18-year-old student, Jewel Garrett. Additionally, data from Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School indicates that 13 incidents related to possession of a weapon on school grounds involved weapons ranging from guns to knives.

Factors Contributing to School Violence

Understanding the factors that contribute to school violence is essential for developing effective prevention strategies. Several factors have been identified as potential contributors, including bullying, mental health issues, access to weapons, and social and cultural influences.

Bullying is a serious concern in schools and can have a significant impact on students' well-being. Some school shooters have reported feeling bullied, victimized, persecuted, or injured by others prior to their attacks. Mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis, can also play a role in school violence. Access to weapons, particularly firearms, increases the risk of lethal violence in schools.

Prevention and Intervention Strategies

Addressing school violence requires a multi-faceted approach that includes prevention and intervention strategies. These strategies may include school-based programs, mental health services, security measures, and community involvement.

School-based programs can promote positive social and emotional development, conflict resolution skills, and bullying prevention. Mental health services can provide support and treatment for students who are struggling with mental health issues. Security measures, such as controlled access, surveillance cameras, and school resource officers, can help to deter violence and respond to incidents. Community involvement can help to create a supportive and safe environment for students.

The Importance of Data Collection and Analysis

Accurate and comprehensive data collection and analysis are essential for understanding the scope and nature of school violence. Data can inform prevention efforts, guide resource allocation, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

The School Shooting Database (SSDB), funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), is an open-source database that includes all publicly known school shootings resulting in at least one firearm death or injury that occurred on school grounds in the United States from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2016. The SSDB aims to document the nature of the problem and clarify the types of shooting incidents that occur in schools.

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