3. Prevalence of students being victimized at school*

Some of the crimes committed against students involve violence, while others involve their property. Presenting information on the prevalence of victimization for students helps clarify what percentage of students are affected by different types of crime.

• In 1999, a smaller percentage of students ages 12 through 18 reported being victims of nonfatal crimes (including either theft or violent crimes) at school during the previous 6 months than in 1995 (10 percent and 8 percent, respectively)(figure 3.1 and table 3.1). About 7 percent in 1995 were victims of theft compared with 6 percent in 1999. Also, 3 percent of students in 1995 reported being victims of violence at school compared with 2 percent in 1999.
• The decline in the prevalence of victimization between 1995 and 1999 was due in part to a decline for students in grades 7 through 9 (figure 3.1 and table 3.1). Between 1995 and 1999, the prevalence of reported victimization dropped from 11 percent to 8 percent for 7th graders, from 11 percent to 8 percent for 8th graders, and from 12 percent to 9 percent for 9th graders. During the same period, the prevalence of victimization remained relatively constant for 6th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders.
• In both 1995 and 1999, public school students were more likely to report having been victims of violent crime during the previous 6 months than were private school students (table 3.1). Public school students were also more likely than private school students to report being victims of theft at school in 1995, but equally likely to experience theft in 1999.

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