INDICATOR 36

School Violence and Safety

The indicator and corresponding tables are taken directly from The Condition of Education 2007.
Therefore, the page numbers may not be sequential.

Additional information about the survey data and supplementary notes can be found in
the full report. For a copy of The Condition of Education 2007, visit the NCES website
(http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007064) or contact ED PUBs at 1-877-4ED-PUBS.

Suggested Citation:
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2007). The Condition of
Education 2007 (NCES 2007-064). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

U.S. Department of Education

Institute of Education Sciences
NCES 2007-064
 Indicator 36 Section 4—Contexts of Elementary and Secondary Education

School Characteristics and Climate

School Violence and Safety
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 declined 27 percent during the same time period
lead to a disruptive and threatening environ- (from 45 to 33 crimes per 1,000 students).
ment, physical injury, and emotional stress
(Elliot, Hamburg, and Williams 1998). To From 1992 through 2004, the rates for serious vio-
measure the frequency of theft and violence in lent crime were lower when students were at school
our nation’s schools, this indicator examines than when they were away from school. However,
nonfatal crime rates per 1,000 students, ages students were generally more likely to be victims
12–18, from 1992 through 2004. Nonfatal of theft at school than away from school.
crime includes theft and all violent crime; all In 2004, a higher percentage of middle school-
violent crime includes serious violent crimes age students (ages 12–14) than high school-age
(rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated students (ages 15–18) were victims of crime at
assault) and simple assault. school (64 vs. 46 crimes per 1,000 students) (see
From 1992 through 2004, the rate of nonfatal supplemental table 36-2). In contrast, middle
crime against students at school declined 62 percent school-age students were less likely to be vic-
(from 144 to 55 crimes per 1,000 students) (see tims of crime away from school than were high
supplemental table 36-1). During the same time school-age students (34 vs. 61 crimes per 1,000
period, the rate of crimes against students at school students). Differences were also found by stu-
declined 65 percent for theft (from 95 to 33 crimes dents’ household location. The rates of violent
per 1,000 students) and 54 percent for violent crime at school were higher for urban students
crimes (from 48 to 22 crimes per 1,000 students). than for suburban students. Furthermore, rates
Between 2003 and 2004, the rate of nonfatal crime of violent crime away from school, especially
against students ages 12–18 at school declined serious violent crime, were also higher for urban
25 percent (from 73 to 55 crimes per 1,000 stu- students than suburban students. However, rural
dents). The rate of thefts against students at school students experienced higher rates of theft away
from school than urban or suburban students.
1
“At school” includes inside the school build-
ing, on school property, or on the way to and
TRENDS IN VICTIMIZATION: Rate of nonfatal crime against students ages 12–18 at school or on the way to or from school
from school. per 1,000 students, by type of crime: 1992–2004
SOURCE:Dinkes, R., Cataldi, E.F., Kena, G., and Baum, Rate (per 1,000 students)
K. (2006). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 100
2006 (NCES 2007-003/NCJ 214262), table 2.1,
data from U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau
of Justice Statistics, School Crime Supplement 80
(SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey
(NCVS), 1992–2004. Theft
60

All violent crime

40

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Supplemental Notes 1, 3 20
Serious violent crime
Supplemental Tables 36-1,
36-2
0
Elliott, Hamburg, and 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Williams 1998 Year

The Condition of Education 2007 | Page 73

 Indicator 36 Appendix 1 Supplemental Tables

School Violence and Safety

Table 36-1. Rate of nonfatal crime against students ages 12–18 at school and away from school per 1,000 students, by type of crime: 1992–2004

Violent crime
Location and year Total Theft All violent crime Serious violent crime
At school
1992 144 95 48 10
1993 155 96 59 12
1994 150 94 56 13
1995 135 85 50 9
1996 121 78 43 9
1997 102 63 40 8
1998 101 58 43 9
1999 92 59 33 7
2000 72 46 26 5
2001 73 45 28 6
2002 64 40 24 3
2003 73 45 28 6
2004 55 33 22 4
Away from school
1992 138 68 71 32
1993 139 69 70 35
1994 129 60 69 33
1995 119 61 58 23
1996 117 62 55 26
1997 117 58 59 24
1998 95 46 48 21
1999 78 39 39 18
2000 74 40 34 14
2001 61 33 28 11
2002 55 29 26 11
2003 60 28 32 12
2004 48 27 21 9
NOTE:Total nonfatal crime includes violent crime and theft.Violent crime includes serious violent crime and simple assault. Serious violent crime includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault.“At school” includes
inside the school building, on school property, or on the way to or from school. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. See supplemental note 3 for more information about the National Crime Victimization Survey.
SOURCE: Dinkes, R., Cataldi, E.F., Kena, G., and Baum, K. (2006). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2006 (NCES 2007-003/NCJ 214262), table 2.1, data from U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime
Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), 1992–2004.

The Condition of Education 2007 | Page 197

Appendix 1 Supplemental Tables Indicator 36

School Violence and Safety

Table 36-2. Rate of nonfatal crime against students ages 12–18 at school and away from school per 1,000 students, by type of crime and selected student
characteristics: 2004
At school Away from school
Violent crime Violent crime
All Serious All Serious
violent violent violent violent
Student characteristic Total Theft crime crime Total Theft crime crime
  Total 55 33 22 4 48 27 21 9
Sex
Male 57 31 27 4 52 28 24 11
Female 52 35 17 4 43 25 18 6
Age
12–14 64 34 30 5 34 18 16 7
15–18 46 31 15 3! 61 35 26 10
Race/ethnicity1
White 60 35 25 5 52 30 22 8
Black 60 34 26 4! 57 21 36 19
Hispanic 39 27 12 ‡ 30 22 8! ‡
Other 38 29 10! ‡ 39 22 17! ‡
Location
Urban 62 33 28 6! 49 22 28 13
Suburban 51 33 17 4 43 25 18 6
Rural 57 30 27 ‡ 60 40 20 9!
Household income
Less than $15,000 45 16 29 ‡ 45 23 22 13!
$15,000–29,999 41 21 21 ‡ 91 45 45 15
$30,000–49,999 50 32 18 ‡ 16 9 7! 3!
$50,000–74,999 84 44 41 8! 74 39 35 14
$75,000 or more 62 44 18 4! 32 23 9 3!
! Interpret data with caution (estimates are unstable).
‡ Reporting standards not met (too few cases).
1
Other includes Asian, Pacific Islander, and American Indian (including Alaska Native). Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity.
NOTE:Total nonfatal crime includes violent crime and theft.Violent crime includes serious violent crime and simple assault. Serious violent crime includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault.“At school” includes
inside the school building, on school property, or on the way to or from school. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. See supplemental note 3 for more information about the National Crime Victimization Survey.
SOURCE: Dinkes, R., Cataldi, E.F., Kena, G., and Baum, K. (2006). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2006 (NCES 2007-003/NCJ 214262), tables 2.2 and 2.3, data from U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics,
School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), 2004.

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 Indicator 36 Standard Error Tables for Supplemental Tables

School Violence and Safety

Table S36-1. Standard errors for the rate of nonfatal crime against students ages 12–18 at school and away from school per 1,000 students, by type of crime:
1992–2004
Violent crime
Location and year Total Theft All violent crime Serious violent crime
At school
1992 7.2 5.8 4.0 1.7
1993 5.7 4.4 3.4 1.4
1994 4.9 3.8 2.9 1.3
1995 4.6 3.6 2.7 1.0
1996 4.6 3.6 2.6 1.0
1997 4.3 3.3 2.6 1.0
1998 4.8 3.3 3.1 1.7
1999 4.3 3.4 2.4 1.0
2000 3.8 3.0 2.1 0.8
2001 3.9 2.9 2.2 0.9
2002 3.5 2.7 2.0 0.7
2003 3.5 2.7 2.3 1.0
2004 3.0 2.3 2.0 0.8
Away from school
1992 7.1 4.8 4.9 3.2
1993 5.4 3.7 3.7 2.5
1994 4.5 3.0 3.2 2.1
1995 4.3 3.0 2.9 1.8
1996 4.5 3.2 2.9 1.9
1997 4.7 3.2 3.2 2.0
1998 4.8 3.3 3.1 1.7
1999 3.9 2.6 2.6 1.7
2000 3.9 2.8 2.5 1.5
2001 3.5 2.5 2.2 1.3
2002 3.2 2.2 2.1 1.3
2003 3.1 2.0 2.5 1.4
2004 2.8 2.0 2.0 1.2
SOURCE: Dinkes, R., Cataldi, E.F., Kena, G., and Baum, K. (2006). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2006 (NCES 2007-003/NCJ 214262), table S2.1, data from U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime
Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), 1992–2004.

The Condition of Education 2007 | Page 77

Standard Error Tables for Supplemental Tables Indicator 36

School Violence and Safety

Table S36-2. Standard errors for the rate of nonfatal crime against students ages 12–18 at school and away from school per 1,000 students, by type of crime
and selected student characteristics: 2004
At school Away from school
Violent crime Violent crime
All Serious All Serious
violent violent violent violent
Student characteristic Total Theft crime crime Total Theft crime crime
  Total 3.0 2.3 2.0 0.8 2.8 2.0 2.0 1.2
Sex
Male 4.1 2.9 3.0 1.1 3.9 2.8 2.8 1.9
Female 4.0 3.2 2.4 1.1 3.6 2.7 2.5 1.4
Age
12–14 4.4 3.2 3.3 1.3 3.2 2.3 2.3 1.5
15–18 3.6 3.0 2.2 0.9 4.2 3.1 3.0 1.8
Race/ethnicity
White 3.9 2.9 2.7 1.1 3.6 2.7 2.5 1.5
Black 7.2 5.3 5.2 2.0 7.0 4.2 6.1 4.4
Hispanic 5.2 4.3 3.1 † 4.5 3.8 2.6 †
Other 8.7 7.5 4.7 † 8.7 6.6 6.2 †
Location
Urban 5.6 4.0 4.1 1.8 5.0 3.2 4.0 2.7
Suburban 3.7 2.9 2.3 1.0 3.4 2.5 2.3 1.3
Rural 6.6 4.7 4.9 † 6.8 5.5 4.2 2.8
Household income
Less than $15,000 8.0 4.8 7.0 † 7.9 5.6 6.0 4.6
$15,000–29,999 6.1 4.3 4.7 † 9.1 6.4 7.0 4.0
$30,000–49,999 6.0 4.8 3.9 † 3.3 2.5 2.4 1.6
$50,000–74,999 8.4 6.0 6.4 2.8 7.8 5.7 5.8 3.7
$75,000 or more 5.9 5.0 3.4 1.6 4.2 3.5 2.3 1.3
† Not applicable.
SOURCE: Dinkes, R., Cataldi, E.F., Kena, G., and Baum, K. (2006). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2006 (NCES 2007-003/NCJ 214262), tables S2.2 and S2.3, data from U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics,
School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), 2004.

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