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Survey: Serious violence at 10 percent of schools
The scene of the shooting at Heath High School But most had little or no crime in 1996-97
March 19, 1998
Web posted at: 2:22 p.m. EDT (1422 GMT)In this story:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- One in 10 American public schools experienced serious violence last year that included rape and robbery, said a first-of-its-kind survey released Thursday by the White House.
The incidence of crime was higher at large schools and at those in urban areas, said the survey, which noted that most public schools reported five or fewer crimes by students during the 1996-1997 school year.
President Clinton announced the findings at a White House event to tout his proposals for more closely tracking disciplinary problems in schools and reducing school violence.
He requested the survey after a December 1 shooting spree at Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky, left three students dead. Classmate Michael Carneal, 14, is charged with the crime and faces trial in October.
In remarks to education leaders, law enforcement officials and members of Congress, Clinton also announced $17.5 million in new financing for school safety projects.
The money, from the Justice Department's community policing and school safety program, will pay for anti-crime partnerships among law enforcement agencies, schools and community groups.
School safety is a central feature of Clinton's broader push for education improvements, including national achievement standards, additional federal spending to modernize school buildings and extra money to hire 100,000 more teachers to reduce classroom size.
Hundreds of schools surveyed
Metal detectors being used in a high school The survey on school crime was produced by the National Center for Education and Statistics.
It was based on contact with principals from more than 1,200 public schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The survey found 80 percent of schools reporting five or fewer crimes in the 1996-97 school year. In addition:
- 10 percent reported serious violence crimes. These include an estimated 11,000 physical attacks or fights in which a weapon was used; 7,000 robberies, and 4,000 rapes or other kinds of sexual assault.
- 47 percent reported crimes that were less serious, such as vandalism and fights.
- 43 percent reported no incidents of crime.
Principals rate absenteeism, tardiness and fights as the three most common discipline problems among students.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Suspected high school gunman arraigned - January 15, 1998
- Clinton orders annual report on school violence - December 6, 1997
- Teens talk about violence - December 3, 1997
- U.S. schools: Security by metal detector? - December 2, 1997
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- U.S. Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics
- National Alliance for Safe Schools
- Safe Schools for the Twenty-first Century
- Safe Schools Coalition of Washington
- Safe Schools Report and Resource Guide - Anti-Violence Documentation Project
- Gun-free Schools Act of 1994
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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