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National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center

A Federal resource for professionals, parents and youth working to prevent violence committed by and against young people.

School Environment Affects the Potential for Violence      
(Printable Version)

Although violence can occur in any school in any neighborhood, some schools are safer than others. In 1996-97, 43 percent of public schools reported no violent crimes, and only 10 percent of all public schools reported one or more serious violent crimes. Elementary schools are much less likely than middle schools and high schools to report violent crimes, and schools in urban areas report more violent crime than those in suburban or rural areas.[1] Additionally, larger schools are more likely than smaller schools to report criminal incidents.[2]

Several elements of the school culture and climate can also help to increase or decrease a school's tendency to be safe. [3]Violence and antisocial behavior are more likely to occur in schools that have the following risk factors:

Violence and antisocial behavior are less likely to occur in schools with the following characteristics:

  1. Reported in DeVoe, J., Peter, K., Kaufman, P., Ruddy, S., et al. (2002). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2002. U.S. Departments of Education and Justice. NCES 2003-009/NCJ 196753. Washington, DC: 2002, p. 37. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, January-June 2001.
  2. Reported in DeVoe, J., Peter, K., Kaufman, P., Ruddy, S., et al. (2002). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2002. U.S. Departments of Education and Justice. NCES 2003-009/NCJ 196753. Washington, DC: 2002, p. 18. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Response Survey System, "Principal/School Disciplinarian Survey on School Violence," FRSS 63, 1997.
  3. Educational Resources Information Center (2000). How Can We Prevent Violence In Our Schools?U.S. Department of Education.