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| 2022 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 233.50. | Percentage of public schools with various safety and security measures: Selected years, 1999-2000 through 2019-20 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School safety and security measures | 1999-2000 | 2003-04 | 2005-06 | 2007-08 | 2009-10 | 2013-141 | 2015-16 | 2017-18 | 2019-202 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Controlled access during school hours | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buildings (e.g., locked or monitored doors, loading docks)3 | 74.6 | (1.35) | 83.0 | (1.04) | 84.9 | (0.89) | 89.5 | (0.80) | 91.7 | (0.80) | 93.3 | (0.95) | 94.1 | (0.64) | 95.4 | (0.52) | 97.1 | (0.43) | |||||||||
| Grounds (e.g., locked or monitored gates) | 33.7 | (1.26) | 36.2 | (1.08) | 41.1 | (1.25) | 42.6 | (1.41) | 46.0 | (1.26) | 42.7 | (1.53) | 49.9 | (1.53) | 50.8 | (1.38) | 58.9 | (1.42) | |||||||||
| Visitors required to sign or check in and wear badges4 | 96.6 | (0.54) | 98.3 | (0.40) | 97.6 | (0.42) | 98.7 | (0.37) | 99.3 | (0.27) | 98.6 | (0.49) | 93.5 | (0.69) | 94.6 | (0.65) | 98.1 | (0.33) | |||||||||
| Classrooms equipped with locks so that doors can be locked from inside |
--- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 66.7 | (1.34) | 64.8 | (1.01) | 73.1 | (1.28) | |||||||||
Student dress, IDs, and school supplies |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Required students to wear uniforms | 11.8 | (0.82) | 13.8 | (0.85) | 13.8 | (0.78) | 17.5 | (0.70) | 18.9 | (1.02) | 20.4 | (1.27) | 21.5 | (1.36) | 19.8 | (0.87) | 18.8 | (1.14) | |||||||||
| Enforced a strict dress code | 47.4 | (1.50) | 55.1 | (1.24) | 55.3 | (1.18) | 54.8 | (1.20) | 56.9 | (1.56) | 58.5 | (1.60) | 53.1 | (1.22) | 48.8 | (1.32) | 43.7 | (1.32) | |||||||||
| Required students to wear badges or picture IDs | 3.9 | (0.32) | 6.4 | (0.64) | 6.2 | (0.47) | 7.6 | (0.60) | 6.9 | (0.57) | 8.9 | (0.81) | 7.0 | (0.53) | 9.2 | (0.60) | 10.1 | (0.54) | |||||||||
| Required faculty and staff to wear badges or picture IDs | 25.4 | (1.39) | 48.0 | (1.21) | 47.9 | (1.12) | 58.3 | (1.37) | 62.9 | (1.14) | 68.0 | (1.65) | 67.9 | (1.36) | 69.9 | (1.18) | 76.8 | (1.18) | |||||||||
| Required clear book bags or banned book bags on school grounds |
5.9 | (0.50) | 6.2 | (0.63) | 6.4 | (0.43) | 6.0 | (0.48) | 5.5 | (0.53) | 6.3 | (0.81) | 3.9 | (0.44) | 3.5 | (0.42) | 4.4 | (0.43) | |||||||||
| Provided school lockers to students | 46.5 | (1.07) | 49.5 | (1.24) | 50.5 | (1.08) | 48.9 | (1.17) | 52.1 | (1.10) | 49.9 | (1.35) | 50.4 | (1.24) | 49.0 | (1.25) | 49.4 | (1.06) | |||||||||
Drug testing |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Students participating in athletics or other extracurricular activities5 |
--- | (†) | 4.3 | (0.44) | 5.0 | (0.46) | 6.6 | (0.53) | 6.2 | (0.51) | 6.7 | (0.61) | 7.7 | (0.57) | 8.9 | (0.57) | 9.5 | (0.72) | |||||||||
| Athletes | --- | (†) | 4.2 | (0.44) | 5.0 | (0.46) | 6.4 | (0.48) | 6.0 | (0.52) | 6.6 | (0.59) | 7.2 | (0.55) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | |||||||||
| Students in extracurricular activities (other than athletes) | --- | (†) | 2.6 | (0.37) | 3.4 | (0.32) | 4.5 | (0.51) | 4.6 | (0.47) | 4.3 | (0.47) | 6.0 | (0.53) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | |||||||||
| Any other students | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 3.0 | (0.34) | 3.0 | (0.42) | 3.0 | (0.26) | 3.5 | (0.44) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | |||||||||
Metal detectors, dogs, and sweeps |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Random metal detector checks on students | 7.2 | (0.54) | 5.6 | (0.55) | 4.9 | (0.40) | 5.3 | (0.37) | 5.2 | (0.42) | 4.2 | (0.48) | 4.5 | (0.48) | 4.9 | (0.49) | 6.0 | (0.47) | |||||||||
| Metal detector checks on students every day6 | 0.9 | (0.16) | 1.1 | (0.16) | 1.1 | (0.18) | 1.3 | (0.20) | 1.4 | (0.24) | 2.0 | (0.40) | 1.8 | (0.32) | 2.2 | (0.35) | 2.7 | (0.34) | |||||||||
| Random sweeps (e.g., locker checks, dog sniffs) for contraband (e.g., drugs or weapons)7 |
25.3 | (0.77) | 26.6 | (0.73) | 28.0 | (0.89) | 26.3 | (0.77) | 27.7 | (0.86) | 28.2 | (1.02) | 28.2 | (0.89) | 27.4 | (0.88) | 28.7 | (0.89) | |||||||||
| Random dog sniffs to check for drugs | 20.6 | (0.75) | 21.3 | (0.77) | 23.0 | (0.79) | 21.5 | (0.59) | 22.9 | (0.71) | 24.1 | (0.97) | 24.6 | (0.85) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | |||||||||
| Random sweeps (not including dog sniffs) for contraband | 11.8 | (0.54) | 12.8 | (0.58) | 13.1 | (0.76) | 11.4 | (0.71) | 12.1 | (0.68) | 11.4 | (0.86) | 11.9 | (0.78) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | |||||||||
Communication systems and technology |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provided telephones in most classrooms | 44.6 | (1.80) | 60.8 | (1.48) | 66.9 | (1.30) | 71.6 | (1.16) | 74.0 | (1.13) | 78.7 | (1.34) | 79.3 | (1.14) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | |||||||||
| Provided electronic notification system for schoolwide emergency |
--- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 43.2 | (1.26) | 63.1 | (1.40) | 81.6 | (1.12) | 73.0 | (1.35) | 71.6 | (1.17) | 70.4 | (1.34) | |||||||||
| Provided structured anonymous threat reporting system8 | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 31.2 | (1.22) | 35.9 | (1.19) | 46.5 | (1.63) | 43.9 | (1.58) | 49.3 | (1.32) | 65.7 | (1.30) | |||||||||
| Had silent alarms directly connected to law enforcement | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 27.1 | (1.23) | 29.1 | (1.15) | 40.0 | (1.26) | |||||||||
| Used security cameras to monitor the school | 19.4 | (0.88) | 36.0 | (1.28) | 42.8 | (1.29) | 55.0 | (1.37) | 61.1 | (1.16) | 75.1 | (1.31) | 80.6 | (0.96) | 83.5 | (1.09) | 91.1 | (0.79) | |||||||||
| Provided two-way radios to any staff | --- | (†) | 71.2 | (1.18) | 70.9 | (1.22) | 73.1 | (1.15) | 73.3 | (1.33) | 74.2 | (1.42) | 73.3 | (1.22) | 77.8 | (1.06) | 83.2 | (0.91) | |||||||||
| Limited access to social networking sites from school computers |
--- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 93.4 | (0.59) | 91.9 | (0.80) | 89.1 | (0.88) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | |||||||||
| Prohibited non-academic use of cell phones or smartphones during school hours9 |
--- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 90.9 | (0.67) | 75.9 | (1.07) | 65.8 | (1.36) | 70.3 | (1.30) | 76.9 | (1.03) | |||||||||
| ---Not available. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Data for 2013-14 were collected using the Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), while data for all other years were collected using the School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS). The 2013-14 FRSS survey was designed to allow comparisons with SSOCS data. However, the mode of the 2013-14 FRSS survey differed from that of SSOCS, which evolved over time. Specifically, all respondents to the 2013-14 survey could choose either to complete the survey on paper (and mail it back) or to complete the survey online. All respondents to SSOCS had only the option of completing a paper survey prior to 2017-18. In 2017-18, SSOCS experimented with offering an online option to some respondents. In 2019-20, SSOCS switched to using primarily an online survey instrument. The 2013-14 FRSS survey also relied on a smaller sample than SSOCS. The FRSS survey's smaller sample size and difference in survey administration may have impacted the 2013-14 results. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 The coronavirus pandemic affected the 2019-20 data collection activities, while the change to virtual schooling and the adjusted school year may have impacted the data collected by SSOCS. Readers should use caution when comparing 2019-20 estimates with those from earlier years. For more information, see Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools in 2019–20: Findings From the School Survey on Crime and Safety (NCES 2022-029). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Prior to 2017-18, the examples of controlled access to buildings included only "locked or monitored doors" and did not include loading docks. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Prior to 2015-16, the questionnaire asked only if visitors were required "to sign or check in" and did not include the requirement to wear badges. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 The 2017-18 and 2019-20 questionnaires included only a single item about drug testing "for students participating in athletics or other extracurricular activities." Prior to 2017-18, the questionnaire included two separate items: one item about testing for athletes and one about testing for students in other extracurricular activities. For years prior to 2017-18, schools are included in this row if they answered "yes" to either or both of the separate items; each school is counted only once in this row, even if it answered "yes" to both of the separate items. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 The wording of this item was revised in 2015-16. Prior to 2015-16, the item asked whether students were required "to pass through metal detectors each day." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 The 2017-18 and 2019-20 questionnaires included only a single item about random sweeps for contraband, and they provided locker checks and dog sniffs as examples of types of sweeps. Prior to 2017-18, the questionnaire included one item about dog sniffs for drugs, followed by a separate item about sweeps not including dog sniffs. For years prior to 2017-18, schools are included in this row if they answered "yes" to either or both of these items; each school is counted only once in this row, even if it answered "yes" to both items. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 For example, a system for reporting threats through online submission, telephone hotline, or written submission via drop box. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 Prior to 2017-18, the questionnaire asked about prohibiting the "use of cell phones and text messaging devices during school hours." It did not refer to "non-academic" use or "smartphones." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Responses were provided by the principal or the person most knowledgeable about crime and safety issues at the school. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2015–16, 2017–18, and 2019-20 School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS), 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2020; and Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), "School Safety and Discipline: 2013-14," FRSS 106, 2014. (This table was prepared October 2021.) |
