Table 1. Number and percentage of public middle schools reporting incidents of crime that occurred at school, the number of incidents, and the rate of incidents per 1,000 students, by incident type and selected school characteristics: School year 2009

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Table 1. Number and percentage of public middle schools reporting incidents of crime that occurred at school, the number of incidents, and the rate of incidents per 1,000 students, by incident type and selected school characteristics: School year 2009–10


		Violent incidents¹						Serious violent incidents²								Theft³							Other incidents⁴
School characteristic	Total number of schools	Number of schools	Percent of schools		Number of incidents		Rate per 1,000 students	Number of schools		Percent of schools		Number of incidents		Rate per 1,000 students		Number of schools		Percent of schools	Number of incidents		Rate per 1,000 students		Number of schools	Percent of schools	Number of incidents		Rate per 1,000 students
All public middle schools	15,300	13,800	90.5		375,200		40.0	2,900		19.0		13,600		1.5		9,900		65.2	69,000		7.4		12,500	81.9	104,000		11.1

Enrollment size
Less than 300	2,800	2,200	80.6		20,500		32.1	300	!	10.7	!	500	!	0.8	!	1,500		53.4	4,100		6.5		1,700	63.0	7,900		12.4
300–499	3,500	3,000	86.2		60,000		42.1	600		15.9		2,500	!	1.7	!	2,000		56.8	14,800	!	10.4	!	2,800	79.0	15,800		11.1
500–999	7,100	6,700	94.8		198,800		39.3	1,500		21.4		6,100		1.2		4,900		69.3	34,900		6.9		6,200	87.0	52,600		10.4
1,000 or more	1,900	1,900	97.2		95,900		42.5	500		27.2		4,600	!	2	!	1,600		81.9	15,200		6.7		1,800	95.8	27,600		12.2

Urbanicity
City	3,500	3,300	93.7		126,600		51.1	1,000		28.2		5,200		2.1		2,700		76.1	24,300		9.8		3,200	90.6	34,800		14.1
Suburb	4,800	4,500	93.0		122,900		35.0	900		19.7		4,900	!	1.4	!	2,900		60.8	20,900		6.0		4,000	82.6	35,500		10.1
Town	2,800	2,600	91.8		53,900		39.8	400		14.0		1,800	!	‡		1,800		62.7	9,500		7.0		2,200	78.5	14,100		10.4
Rural	4,100	3,500	84.1		71,800		35.1	600		13.6		1,800	!	0.9	!	2,600		62.6	14,300		7.0		3,100	76.2	19,600		9.6

Crime level where students live⁵
High	1,000	1,000	97.2		43,700		63.9	500		46.6		3,500	!	5.1	!	800		72.4	9,200	!	13.4	!	1,000	95.3	14,000		20.5
Moderate	3,200	3,000	92.1		96,200		49.6	800		24.7		4,200		2.2		2,400		74.0	19,700		10.2		2,900	89.5	26,800		13.8
Low	8,700	7,600	87.3		146,100		28.3	1,100		12.8		4,800		0.9	!	5,200		59.2	28,000		5.4		6,600	75.2	41,700		8.1
Mixed	2,300	2,200	97.5		89,200		56.0	500		21.7		1,100		0.7		1,600		72.5	12,200		7.6		2,100	91.0	21,400		13.4

Percent of combined Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native students
Less than 5 percent	1,900	1,600	80.2		21,500		24.3	100	!	6.2	!	‡		‡		1,000		52.7	4,600		5.2		1,300	64.3	6,400		7.2
5 to less than 20 percent	4,000	3,500	88.3		54,300		24.0	500		12.3		1,800	!	0.8	!	2,200		55.7	11,400		5.0		2,900	72.6	17,100		7.6
20 to less than 50 percent	4,000	3,700	91.9		107,700		41.4	800		18.9		2,200		0.9		2,900		71.0	18,300		7.0		3,400	85.2	24,500		9.4
50 percent or more	5,300	5,100	95.0		191,600		52.7	1,500		28.6		9,000		2.5		3,800		72.4	34,800		9.6		4,900	92.9	55,900		15.4

Percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch
0–20 percent	2,700	2,200	82.7		30,200		16.5	300		12.9		1,000	!	0.5	!	1,500		57.0	6,900		3.8		1,900	70.4	9,000		4.9
21–50 percent	5,400	4,800	89.5		96,900		29.4	800		15.0		4,400	!	1.3	!	3,500		65.4	22,500		6.8		4,300	79.4	30,700		9.3
More than 50 percent	7,200	6,800	94.3		248,100		58.2	1,700		24.2		8,200		1.9		4,900		68.1	39,700		9.3		6,400	88.1	64,300		15.1

Percent of students below 15th percentile on standardized tests
0–5 percent	5,500	4,700	84.6		106,500		31.2	900		17.2		5,100	!	1.5	!	3,400		62.4	17,500		5.1		4,300	78.2	26,200		7.7
6–15 percent	6,000	5,600	93.2		131,100		36.1	1,000		16.1		3,700	!	1.0	!	4,000		67.0	26,700		7.4		4,900	81.0	37,600		10.4
More than 15 percent	3,800	3,600	95.1		137,600		58.6	1,000		26.1		4,900	!	2.1	!	2,500		66.4	24,900		10.6		3,400	88.8	40,200		17.1

Percent of students likely to attend college
0–35 percent	3,200	3,000	94.8		112,500		62.5	700		22.3		4,400	!	2.5	!	2,300		72.6	21,900		12.2		2,700	84.0	32,400		18.0
36–60 percent	4,800	4,300	89.9		141,100		49.4	1,100		22.1		5,100	!	1.8	!	3,200		67.8	23,200		8.1		4,200	86.8	34,300		12.0
More than 60 percent	7,300	6,500	89.1		121,600		25.7	1,100		15.4		4,100		0.9		4,400		60.2	24,000		5.1		5,700	77.8	37,200		7.9

Percent of students who consider academic achievement important
0–25 percent	900	900	100.0	⁶	33,900		64.8	400		41.8		1,800	!	3.5		600		73.5	5,900		11.3		800	91.4	10,200		19.5
26–50 percent	2,900	2,700	91.3		88,900		52.1	600		20.3		2,000		1.2		2,000		68.6	19,900		11.6		2,500	87.1	24,900		14.6
51–75 percent	4,700	4,300	92.2		123,900		44.5	700		14.2		2,400		0.9		3,200		68.6	19,300		6.9		3,900	82.3	32,900		11.8
More than 75 percent	6,800	5,900	87.8		128,300		29.4	1,300		18.7		7,500		1.7		4,100		60.2	23,900		5.5		5,300	78.3	36,000		8.2

Percent male enrollment
0–44 percent	1,400	1,300	87.9		24,800		36.8	300		20.6		‡		‡		900		59.2	3,200		4.7		1,100	75.9	7,100		10.5
45–55 percent	12,800	11,600	90.9		329,900		40.3	2,500		19.3		11,800		1.4		8,500		66.3	62,700		7.7		10,600	82.8	89,700		11.0
More than 55 percent	1,000	900	89.4		20,500		38.5	100	!	12.8	!	500	!	1.0	!	600		59.4	3,200		6.0		800	79.2	7,200		13.5

Student-to-FTE ratio⁷
Less than 12 students	2,200	2,000	88.7		46,100		47.2	400		17.2		1,800	!	1.8	!	1,300		60.2	6,800		6.9		1,600	74.3	9,800		10.0
12–16 students	6,300	5,700	90.9		151,700		41.7	1,100		18.3		4,000		1.1		4,000		63.3	27,100		7.4		5,100	81.3	38,400		10.5
More than 16 students	6,800	6,200	90.8		177,300		37.2	1,400		20.2		7,800		1.6		4,600		68.5	35,100		7.4		5,800	85.0	55,800		11.7

Number of classroom changes⁸
0–3 changes	400	400	88.0		6,000	!	23.6	100	!	26.0	!	‡		‡		200	!	50.5	1,200	!	4.8	!	300	69.6	3,100	!	12.3	!
4–6 changes	5,500	5,000	90.4		129,200		37.5	1,100		20.3		4,600		1.3		3,800		69.5	25,900		7.5		4,800	86.2	41,400		12.0
More than 6 changes	9,300	8,400	90.7		239,900		42.2	1,700		17.9		8,500		1.5		5,900		63.3	41,900		7.4		7,400	80.0	59,400		10.5

Regular use of law enforcement ^⁹
Regular use	10,100	9,500	93.4		289,900		41.7	2,200		21.7		10,500		1.5		7,200		71.4	55,300		8.0		8,700	86.2	80,100		11.5
No regular use	5,100	4,400	84.8		85,200		35.0	700		13.6		3,200	!	1.3	!	2,700		52.8	13,700		5.7		3,800	73.6	23,800		9.8

Number of serious discipline problems¹⁰
No problems	8,500	7,300	86.0		140,400		28.3	1,100		13.1		3,400		0.7		4,900		57.5	22,700		4.6		6,500	75.9	40,800		8.2
1 problem	3,700	3,600	95.0		111,700		46.3	900		24.4		4,500	!	1.9	!	2,700		71.4	19,600		8.1		3,200	86.0	31,300		13.0
2 problems	1,400	1,400	95.6		49,700		54.4	300	!	19.6	!	‡		‡		1,100		79.0	10,200		11.2		1,300	92.0	10,600		11.7
3 or more problems	1,600	1,600	100.0	⁶	73,400		66.5	600		37.2		3,000		2.7		1,300		79.2	16,500		15.0		1,500	95.7	21,200		19.2

Transfers as a percentage of enrollment¹¹
Less than 6 percent	3,500	3,000	85.8		43,000		19.5	500		13.6		1,700	!	0.8	!	2,000		57.9	10,600		4.8		2,700	75.8	16,000		7.3
6 to less than 11 percent	3,500	3,300	94.4		75,400		34.3	700		20.5		4,100	!	1.8	!	2,400		67.1	14,700		6.7		2,900	83.3	22,300		10.1
11 to less than 21 percent	5,000	4,400	89.1		110,500		38.4	900		17.6		2,900	!	1.0	!	3,200		64.8	26,000		9.0		4,000	80.7	31,500		11.0
21 percent or more	3,200	3,000	93.6		146,200		69.4	800		25.3		5,000	!	2.4		2,300		71.7	17,800		8.4		2,900	89.1	34,100		16.2

Prevalence of schoolwide disruptions¹²
No disruptions	14,300	12,900	90.3		343,600		39.1	2,600		17.9		12,900		1.5		9,200		64.5	65,000		7.4		11,700	81.6	96,200		11.0
Any disruptions	900	900	93.7		31,600		52.2	300		35.1		700		1.1		700		75.2	4,100		6.7		800	87.2	7,800		12.9

Percent of students absent on a daily basis
0–2 percent	700	700	90.0		11,900		26.0	100	!	17.0	!	‡		‡		400		55.6	2,600		5.7		500	71.3	4,200		9.2
3–5 percent	9,300	8,300	89.7		195,600		33.5	1,400		15.5		5,400		0.9		6,000		64.4	37,500		6.4		7,500	80.4	57,400		9.8
6–10 percent	4,700	4,400	92.7		153,400		55.8	1,100		24.3		6,400		2.3		3,200		68.2	26,300		9.6		4,100	86.5	37,900		13.8
More than 10 percent	500	500	87.9		14,200		40.9	200		35.6		600	!	1.7	!	300		64.5	2,600	!	7.6		400	83.8	4,500		13.0

Prevalence of violent incidents¹³
No violent incidents	1,400	‡	‡		‡		‡	‡		‡		‡		‡		500		36.2	1,300		2.2		800	53.9	2,900		4.6
Any violent incidents	13,800	13,800	100.0	⁶	375,200		42.8	2,900		20.9		13,600		1.6		9,400		68.2	67,700		7.7		11,700	84.9	101,100		11.5
!Interpret data with caution. The standard error for this estimate is from 30 percent to 50 percent of the estimate’s value.
‡Reporting standards not met. The standard error represents more than 50 percent of the estimate.
¹Violent incidents include rape or attempted rape, sexual battery other than rape, physical attack or fight with or without a weapon, threat of physical attack with or without a weapon, and robbery with or without a weapon.
²Serious violent incidents include rape or attempted rape, sexual battery other than rape, physical attack or fight with a weapon, threat of physical attack with a weapon, and robbery with or without a weapon.
³Theft or larceny (taking things worth over $10 without personal confrontation) was defined for respondents as "the unlawful taking of another person's property without personal confrontation, threat, violence, or bodily harm. This includes pocket picking, stealing a purse or backpack (if left unattended or no force was used to take it from owner), theft from a building, theft from a motor vehicle or of motor vehicle parts or accessories, theft of a bicycle, theft from a vending machine, and all other types of thefts."
⁴Other incidents include possession of a firearm or explosive device; possession of a knife or sharp object; distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs or alcohol; and vandalism.
⁵Respondents were asked, "How would you describe the crime level in the area(s) in which your students live?" Response options included "high level of crime," "moderate level of crime," "low level of crime," and "students come from areas with very different levels of crime."
⁶Rounds to 100.
⁷Student-to-FTE ratio was calculated by dividing the total number of students enrolled in the school by the total number of full-time-equivalent teachers and aides. The total number of full-time-equivalent teachers and aides is a combination of the full-time and part-time teachers and aides, including special education teachers and aides, with an adjustment to compensate for the part-time status.
⁸Respondents were asked, "How many classroom changes do most students make in a typical day?" Responses exclude morning arrival and afternoon departure.
⁹Respondents were asked, "During the 2009–10 school year, did you have any security guards, security personnel, or sworn law enforcement officers present at your school at least once a week?"
¹⁰Serious discipline problems include student racial/ethnic tensions, student bullying, student sexual harassment of other students, student verbal abuse of teachers, widespread disorder in classrooms, student acts of disrespect for teachers other than verbal abuse, gang activities, and cult or extremist group activities. If a respondent reported that any of these problems occurred daily or weekly in their school, each was counted once in the total number of serious discipline problems.
¹¹Transfers as a percentage of enrollment combines the number of students who were transferred to a school and the number of students who were transferred from a school divided by the total number of students enrolled in the school.
¹²Schoolwide disruptions include actions that disrupted school activities such as death threats, bomb threats, and chemical, biological, or radiological threats. Respondents were instructed to exclude all fire alarms, including false alarms.
¹³Violent incidents include rape or attempted rape, sexual battery other than rape, physical attack or fight with or without a weapon, threat of physical attack with or without a weapon, and robbery with or without a weapon.
NOTE: "At school" was defined for respondents to include activities happening in school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses, and at places that hold school-sponsored events or activities. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. 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, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2009–10 School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS).

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