School Safety Report
Recommendations for Policymakers
A newly published report describes how high school students perceive the physical safety of their high schools and the steps that could be taken to improve safety. The report—the first in a series on student safety—offers recommendations for policymakers to address the concerns identified by students.
Major findings of the report include:
- Most high school students reported feeling safe at school. However, female students and minority students reported feeling less safe than their male and white counterparts.
- Nearly a quarter of students said that school safety concerns negatively affect their ability to learn.
- To improve school safety, students most frequently recommended that their school provide mental health support for students.
- Almost half of students indicated that they oppose allowing teachers and other school staff to receive special training to carry guns in school buildings. A quarter of students favored this, and the remaining quarter was neutral.
