Despite recent tragic school shootings, school violence rates are declining.
Schools remain one of the safest places for children.
The chance of a student suffering a school-associated violent death is less than one in a million. A 1997 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System found that the number of students carrying weapons to school has declined in recent years. Less than 10 percent of American high school students reported having carried a weapon on school property in the past month. Although schools are witnessing a decline in violent crime, physical fights, and weapon possession, fear of school environments has increased. Between 1989 and 1995, the percentage of students who felt unsafe while in school and traveling to and from school increased.