Study on Gun Shootings at Schools [Updated July 2024]

Introduction

In a shocking turn of events, former President Donald Trump was shot by a 20-year-old school dropout, highlighting the urgent need to address gun violence in educational settings. This comprehensive study examines the prevalence and impact of gun-related incidents in U.S. schools from 2000 to 2023. By analyzing factors such as the number of incidents, casualties, and deaths, as well as demographic and locational data, we aim to provide a detailed understanding of this critical issue.

Key Summary Stats:

• The number of school shooting incidents increased by 199.1% in 2023 from 2020
• The number of school shooting incidents increased by 1019.4% in 2023 from 2000
• School shooting casualties increased by 1205.3% between 2000-2023
• The largest single-year increase in casualties occurred between 2021 and 2022, with a 44.3% rise
• The number of deaths due to school shootings increased by 407.1% in 2023
• Over 95% of active shooters at both educational levels were male
• In elementary and secondary schools, 74% of shooters were aged 12-18
• The most common location for school shootings was the parking lot, with 309 incidents, accounting for nearly 28% of the total recorded events
• The highest number of gun-related incidents at schools occurred during morning hours, accounting for 32% of the total incidents
• Montana has the lowest number of gun-related incidents at schools with only 1 incident, representing less than 0.1% of the total incidents
• California has the highest number of gun-related incidents at schools with 270 incidents, accounting for 11.4% of the total incidents

Gun-Related Incidents at Schools by Year (2000-2023)

Over the past two decades, gun-related incidents in schools have shown a concerning upward trend. The following data or visual representation highlight the significant increase in such incidents from 2000 to 2023.

Number of Gun-Related Incidents at Schools (2000-2023)

Source: k12ssdb

💡 The number of school shooting incidents increased by 1019.4% in 2023 from 2000

💡 From 2017 to 2021, gun shooting incidents in schools surged by 326.7%

💡 The year 2018 saw a dramatic increase in gun shooting incidents in schools, with 119 incidents, almost double the 60 incidents in 2017

Gun-Related Casualties at Schools (2000-2023)

The following data illustrates the troubling rise in casualties resulting from gun-related incidents in schools over the past two decades. The line graph below provides a visual representation of this increase from 2000 to 2023.

Number of Gun-Related Casualties at Schools (2000-2023)

Source: k12ssdb

💡 School shooting casualties increased by 1205.3% between 2000-2023

💡 The largest single-year increase in casualties occurred between 2021 and 2022, with a 44.3% rise

💡 The year 2018 saw a significant jump in casualties, rising in 2017 with an increase of 125.4%

Gun-Related Deaths at Schools (2000-2023)

The following section provides a detailed analysis of the increase in gun-related deaths at schools from 2000 to 2023. The line graph below vividly captures this alarming trend over the years.

Number of Gun-Related Deaths at Schools (2000-2023)

Source: k12ssdb

💡 The number of deaths due to school shootings increased by 407.1% in 2023

💡 The highest number of deaths occurred due to school shootings in 2022, marking a 45.5% increase from 2021

💡 Significant spike in deaths due to school shootings in 2018, representing a 209.5% increase compared to 2017

Demographics of Active Shooters: Gender, Age, and Educational Level

The following data examines the demographics of active shooters by gender, age, and educational level from 2000 to 2021.

Number of Active Shooters, by Gender and Age (2000-2021)

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Center for Education Statistics

💡 Over 95% of active shooters at both educational levels were male

💡 In elementary and secondary schools, 74% of shooters were aged 12-18

💡 At elementary and secondary schools, 46 out of 47 active shooters were male

💡 At postsecondary institutions, 17 out of 19 active shooters were male

Locations of School Shootings (2012-2022)

The following section analyzes the distribution of school shootings by various locations over a decade, providing insights into the most common sites of these tragic incidents.

Number of School Shootings by Location (2012-2022)

Source: CHDS School Shooting Safety Compendium

💡 The most common location for school shootings was the parking lot, with 309 incidents, accounting for nearly 28% of the total recorded events

💡 The second most frequent location was the front of the school, with 116 incidents, representing about 10.4% of the total

School Gun-Related Incidents During School Hours

This section presents a detailed breakdown of gun-related incidents at schools by the time of day, highlighting when these incidents are most likely to occur between 2012 and 2022.

Gun-Related Incidents at Schools During School Hours (2012-2022)

Source: CHDS School Shooting Safety Compendium

💡 The highest number of gun-related incidents at schools occurred during morning hours, accounting for 32% of the total incidents

💡 Evening and night hours together accounted for approximately 24% of incidents, with evening incidents being significantly higher than night incidents

Statewise School Gun Related Incidents

This section provides a histogram detailing the number of gun-related incidents at schools across different states, offering a comparative overview of the prevalence of these incidents.

Number of Gun-Related Incidents at Schools by State

Source: k12ssdb

💡 California has the highest number of gun-related incidents at schools with 270 incidents, accounting for 11.4% of the total incidents

💡 Texas follows with 225 incidents, representing 9.5% of the total incidents

States with the Lowest Number of Gun-Related Incidents at Schools

This section highlights the top 10 states with the lowest number of gun-related incidents at schools, showcasing the states with the least prevalence of these incidents from 2012 to 2022.

Top 10 States with the Lowest Number of Gun-Related Incidents at Schools

Source: k12ssdb

💡 Montana has the lowest number of gun-related incidents at schools with only 1 incident, representing less than 0.1% of the total incidents

💡 North Dakota, South Dakota, and Hawaii combined have only 11 incidents, making up just 0.5% of the total incidents

States with the Highest Number of Gun-Related Incidents at Schools

This section identifies the top 10 states with the highest number of gun-related incidents at schools, providing a detailed comparison of states most affected by these incidents from 2012 to 2022.

Top 10 States with the Highest Number of Gun-Related Incidents at Schools

Source: k12ssdb

💡 California has the highest number of gun-related incidents at schools with 270 incidents, accounting for 11.4% of the total incidents

💡 Texas follows with 225 incidents, representing 9.5% of the total incident

💡 Ohio and Michigan each have over 100 incidents, contributing to 5.6% and 4.9% of the total incidents

Study Methodology

To conduct this study, we utilized data from reputable sources, including the K-12 Schooling Database, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the CHDS School Shooting Safety Compendium. Our approach involved analyzing data on gun-related incidents, casualties, deaths, demographics of shooters, locations of incidents, and state-wise breakdowns.

Selection

• K-12 Shooting Database: Reviewed the database for comprehensive data on gun-related incidents at schools.
• Demographics Data: Analyzed data on the age, gender, and educational level of active shooters.
• Location Data: Examined the most common locations for school shootings.
• Time Data: Investigated the times of day when gun-related incidents at schools were most likely to occur.

Analysis

• Incident Trends: Analyzed trends in the number of gun-related incidents, casualties, and deaths over the years.
• State-Level Analysis: Conducted detailed analysis of gun-related incidents at the state level.
• Demographic Trends: Examined the demographics of active shooters to identify patterns and trends.
• Location and Time Trends: Analyzed data on the locations and times of day when school shootings occurred.

Conclusion

Gun-related incidents at schools have risen dramatically over the past two decades, with a significant increase in both the number of incidents and the severity of outcomes. California leads the nation in the number of incidents, while states like Montana have the fewest. Understanding these trends is crucial for developing effective policies and interventions to address and reduce gun violence in schools.

Note: The data reflects reported incidents and may not capture all occurrences due to varying reporting standards and criteria across states and institutions.