School-Associated Violent Death Study

Background

Since 1992, CDC has collaborated with the Departments of Education and Justice to monitor school-associated violent deaths at the national level. Information is collected each year from media databases, police, and school officials. The School-Associated Violent Death Study (SAVD) presents the most recent data available in school-associated violent deaths; common features of these events; and potential risk factors for perpetration and victimization. Data obtained in this study have identified trends and helped to inform preventive measures.

Case Definition

A case is defined as a fatal injury (e.g., homicide, suicide, or legal intervention) that occurs on school property, on the way to/from school, or during or on the way to/from a school-sponsored event. Only violent deaths associated with U.S. elementary and secondary schools are included.

Major Findings

• Violent deaths at schools accounted for less than one percent of the homicides and suicides among children ages 5-18.^{1, 2}

• During the past seven years, 116 students were killed in 109 separate incidents-an average of 16.5 student homicides each year.²

• Rates of school-associated student homicides decreased between 1992 and 2006. However, they have remained relatively stable in recent years. Rates were significantly higher for males, students in secondary schools, and students in central cities.²

• From 1999 to 2006, most school-associated homicides included gunshot wounds (65 percent), stabbing or cutting (27 percent), and beatings (12 percent).²

• Among the students who committed a school-associated homicide, 20 percent were known to have been victims of bullying and 12 percent were known to have expressed suicidal thoughts or to have engaged in suicidal behavior.³

• Most school-associated violent deaths occur during transition times-immediately before and after the school day and during lunch.³

• Violent deaths are more likely to occur at the start of each semester.⁴

• Nearly 50 percent of homicide perpetrators gave some type of warning signal, such as making a threat or leaving a note, prior to the event.³

References

1. Kachur SP, Stennies GM, Powell KE, Modzeleski W, Stephens R, Murphy R, et al. School-associated violent deaths in the United States, 1992 to 1994 [PDF 1.8MB]. JAMA 1996;275(22):1729–1733.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School-associated student homicides-United States, 1992–2006. MMWR 2008;57(02):33–36.

3. Anderson M, Kaufman J, Simon TR, Barrios L, Paulozzi L, Ryan G, et al. School-associated violent deaths in the United States, 1994–1999 [PDF 123KB]. JAMA 2001;286(21):2695–2702.

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Temporal variations in school-associated student homicide and suicide events - United States, 1992–1999. MMWR 2001;50(31):657–660.