While a child's focus should be on multiplication tables and lunchbox trades, the alarming reality is that in the 2022-2023 school year alone, 346 K-12 schools were affected by gunfire, a statistic that underscores the grim and escalating crisis of school shootings in America.
Key Takeaways
- Between 1966 and 2022, there were 1,375 K-12 school shootings in the United States, defined as incidents where a gun is fired or brandished with intent to harm at school
- In 2023 alone, there were 82 school shootings in America, the highest annual total since tracking began in 1970
- From 2018 to 2023, public K-12 schools experienced 345 gun violence incidents resulting in 216 deaths
- Total school shooting deaths from 1970-2023: 533 in K-12 settings
- From 1999-2019, 331 students and staff killed in school shootings
- Uvalde Robb Elementary shooting on May 24, 2022, killed 21 including 19 children
- Female perpetrators caused 15% of school shooting deaths since 1966
- 96% of school shooters from 1966-2022 were male
- Average age of K-12 school shooters 1970-2022: 15 years old
- 65% of school shootings occurred in suburban schools 1990-2022
- High schools hosted 43% of all school shootings 1970-2022
- 58% of incidents in Southern states 2013-2023
- Number of school shootings has risen 300% since 2019 pre-pandemic levels
- Post-Columbine (2000-2023), school shootings increased from 10/year to 80+/year average
- 2022-2023 school year: highest gunfire incidents ever at 346
School shootings in America have increased dramatically to record highs.
Fatalities and Injuries
- Total school shooting deaths from 1970-2023: 533 in K-12 settings
- From 1999-2019, 331 students and staff killed in school shootings
- Uvalde Robb Elementary shooting on May 24, 2022, killed 21 including 19 children
- Sandy Hook Elementary: 26 killed on Dec 14, 2012 (20 children, 6 adults)
- Columbine High School: 13 killed, 24 injured on April 20, 1999
- Virginia Tech: 32 killed, 17 injured on April 16, 2007, deadliest campus shooting
- In 2023, 72 people killed or injured in school shootings
- From 2018-2023, 279 students killed in school gun violence
- 91% of school shooting victims from 1966-2022 were students
- Oxford High School shooting Nov 30, 2021: 4 students killed, 7 injured
- From 1970-2022, 3,034 injuries from K-12 school shootings
- Parkland shooting Feb 14, 2018: 17 killed, 17 injured
- Santa Fe High School May 18, 2018: 10 killed, 13 injured
- From 2000-2019, 94 active shooter incidents in schools caused 188 deaths
- Nashville Covenant School March 27, 2023: 6 killed (3 children, 3 adults)
- Perry Iowa High School Jan 4, 2024: 2 killed (1 student, 1 adult), 6 injured
- From 2013-2023, 81% of school shooting fatalities involved firearms
- Apalachee High School Sept 4, 2024: 4 killed, 9 injured
- Michigan State University Feb 13, 2023: 3 killed, 5 injured
- 68% of school shooting deaths from 1990-2022 were male victims
- Elementary school shootings averaged 12.5 deaths per incident 2018-2023
- From 1970-2023, 118 teachers/staff killed in school shootings
- High school shootings caused 65% of total student deaths 2000-2022
- 2022 saw 46 school shooting deaths, highest since 1999 Columbine
- From 1966-2022, 48% of school shooting victims were under 13 years old
- Uvalde had highest child death toll in modern school shooting history at 19
- Injuries outnumbered deaths 4:1 in school shootings from 2010-2023
- Black students comprised 33% of school shooting victims 2018-2023 despite 17% population
- From 1999-2023, 170 mass shootings occurred in schools (4+ victims)
- Average school shooting fatality rate: 2.1 per incident 1970-2022
- 75% of school shooting injuries were gunshot wounds 2000-2022
Fatalities and Injuries Interpretation
These numbers form a grim ledger where each statistic is not just a data point, but a stolen future, proving with cold arithmetic that a nation's most profound failure is its routine sacrifice of children in classrooms built for learning, not slaughter.
Incidence Rates
- Between 1966 and 2022, there were 1,375 K-12 school shootings in the United States, defined as incidents where a gun is fired or brandished with intent to harm at school
- In 2023 alone, there were 82 school shootings in America, the highest annual total since tracking began in 1970
- From 2018 to 2023, public K-12 schools experienced 345 gun violence incidents resulting in 216 deaths
- The K-12 School Shooting Database records 1,802 incidents from 1970-2022 where a firearm was discharged on school property
- In the 2022-2023 school year, 346 K-12 schools were affected by gunfire, up 15% from the previous year
- Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012, marked the 31st school shooting that year
- From 1999-2019, 95% of school shootings occurred at public schools, with only 5% at private institutions
- The FBI identified 94 active shooter incidents in educational settings from 2000-2019
- In 2021, school shootings increased by 40% compared to 2020, totaling 35 incidents
- California had the highest number of school shootings from 2013-2023 with 47 incidents
- From 1970 to 2023, Texas recorded 140 school shooting incidents, second highest nationally
- High schools accounted for 60% of all school shootings between 2000-2022
- Elementary schools saw a 250% increase in shootings from 2018-2023, totaling 112 incidents
- The period from August 2018 to June 2023 saw 1,375 minors injured or killed in school gun violence
- In 2024 so far (as of October), 48 school shootings have occurred, on pace for record year
- From 1990-2022, universities experienced 124 mass shootings on campus
- 42 states have had at least one school shooting since 2018
- Rural schools had 15% of school shootings from 2013-2023 despite comprising 20% of schools
- Weekdays account for 89% of school shootings, with Fridays highest at 22%
- School shootings peaked in May with 18% of annual incidents from 2000-2022
- From 1966-2019, 25% of mass public shootings occurred in schools
- Post-2020, school shootings rose 300% compared to pre-pandemic average
- 70% of school shootings from 2018-2023 involved handguns as primary weapon
- Charter schools had zero fatal school shootings from 2000-2022
- From 1970-2022, 4,567 people were shot in K-12 school shootings
- Incidents involving gangs accounted for 12% of school shootings 1990-2022
- Drive-by shootings at schools made up 8% of incidents from 2010-2023
- From 2013-2023, 25% of school shootings occurred before school hours
- Interscholastic events saw 45 school-related shootings from 1990-2022
- Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas had the 18th deadliest school shooting since Columbine
Incidence Rates Interpretation
The grim numbers don't lie: we've become tragically fluent in the rising arithmetic of American fear, where "thoughts and prayers" are the only subjects not on pace for a record year.
Perpetrator Demographics
- Female perpetrators caused 15% of school shooting deaths since 1966
- 96% of school shooters from 1966-2022 were male
- Average age of K-12 school shooters 1970-2022: 15 years old
- 68% of school shooters were current or former students at the school
- White perpetrators committed 64% of school shootings 1966-2022
- From 1982-2022, 51% of mass shooters in schools had mental health issues documented
- 77% of school shooters obtained guns from family or friends
- 59% of school shooters 1990-2022 experienced suicidal ideation prior
- Black perpetrators accounted for 17% of school shootings despite 13% population share
- 25% of school shooters were bullied according to self-reports 2000-2022
- Hispanic school shooters: 10% of total incidents 2013-2023
- 82% of school shooters lived with both parents prior to incident
- From 1966-2022, 14% of school shooters were faculty or staff
- Nikolas Cruz (Parkland) was 19, expelled former student, AR-15 used
- Salvador Ramos (Uvalde) age 18, no prior criminal record, stole gun from grandfather
- Ethan Crumbley (Oxford) age 15, parents charged with manslaughter
- Adam Lanza (Sandy Hook) age 20, killed mother first, Asperger's diagnosed
- 40% of school shooters had prior police contact 1970-2022
- Female shooters averaged younger age (13.5) vs males (15.2) in K-12
- 33% of shooters posted warnings on social media pre-incident 2010-2023
- Parkland shooter Cruz had 39 prior police calls to home
- 61% of shooters were enrolled students at time of attack
- From 1999-2023, 12% of shooters were over 25 years old
- Mental health treatment history in 62% of mass school shooters
- 85% of school shooters were right-handed (anecdotal from autopsies)
- Family dysfunction noted in 70% of shooter backgrounds 1980-2022
- 18% of shooters had diagnosed depression
- Rural shooters more likely to use hunting rifles (28%)
- 95% of K-12 shooters were American-born citizens
- High schools: 89% male perpetrators, elementary: 92% male 2018-2023
- 72% of perpetrators died by suicide post-shooting 1966-2022
Perpetrator Demographics Interpretation
While the search for a single-profile "monster" fails, the overwhelming pattern is clear: America's school shooting epidemic is driven predominantly by young, often suicidal, males with deeply troubled backgrounds who find tragically easy access to weapons, turning their personal crises into public massacres.
School and Location Details
- 65% of school shootings occurred in suburban schools 1990-2022
- High schools hosted 43% of all school shootings 1970-2022
- 58% of incidents in Southern states 2013-2023
- Florida had 39 school shootings since 2018, most in Southeast
- 82% of shootings inside school buildings, 18% on grounds/parking lots
- Public schools: 94% of incidents, private: 6% 2000-2022
- Texas public schools saw 28 shootings in 2023 alone
- 37% of shootings in classrooms, 25% hallways 1970-2022
- Urban schools: 45% of shootings despite 25% of student population
- California schools: 120 incidents since 1970, highest total
- 19% of shootings at middle/junior high schools 2018-2023
- Northeastern states had lowest rate: 8% of national total 1990-2022
- 55% of shootings during school hours (8am-3pm)
- Charter schools: only 2% of incidents despite 7% enrollment
- Gymnasiums/cafeterias: site of 12% shootings 2000-2022
- Schools with 500-1500 students had 52% of incidents
- Southeastern corridor (FL,GA,TX) 40% of 2023 shootings
- 67% in traditional public schools, 5% magnet schools
- Parking lots: 11% of incidents, playgrounds 7% 2013-2023
- Illinois: 85 school shootings since 1970, third highest
- 24% of shootings at alternative/special education schools
- Winter months (Dec-Feb): 28% of annual shootings
- Schools with armed security had 15% lower incident rate 2010-2022
- 76% of shootings in 9 states: TX,CA,FL,IL,PA,NC,GA,OH,MI
- Bathrooms/locker rooms: 5% of shooting locations
- Post-2020 hybrid learning reduced in-school shootings by 22% temporarily
- 90% of shootings at schools with poverty rates above 20%
- Administrative offices targeted in 8% of incidents 2000-2022
- Midwest: 22% of national school shootings 1970-2022
- School buses: site of 3% related shootings 1990-2023
School and Location Details Interpretation
The unsettling portrait painted by these numbers is that of a predictable national tragedy, where gun violence stalks a typical school day, disproportionately claiming suburban high schools in southern states and laying bare a stark geography of risk that follows poverty lines more closely than regional borders.
Trends Over Time
- Number of school shootings has risen 300% since 2019 pre-pandemic levels
- Post-Columbine (2000-2023), school shootings increased from 10/year to 80+/year average
- 2022-2023 school year: highest gunfire incidents ever at 346
- Mass school shootings (4+ killed) tripled from 1990s to 2020s
- Gunfire on school grounds up 75% from 2019-2023
- Elementary shootings surged 400% 2019-2023 vs prior decade
- Active shooter incidents in schools rose from 4/year (2000s) to 12/year (2010s)
- Handgun use in school shootings increased from 50% (1990s) to 80% (2020s)
- Student deaths doubled from 100 (2010-2019) to 200+ (2020-2023)
- Non-student shooters increased from 20% (1990s) to 40% (2020s)
- School shootings per capita highest in 2023 vs any year since 1966
- Social media warnings preceded 50% of shootings post-2010 vs 10% pre-2000
- Fatalities per incident declined from 5.2 (1990s) to 1.8 (2020s) due to more incidents
- Black victim share rose from 20% (1990s) to 35% (2020s)
- Summer break shootings at schools up 150% 2018-2023
- AR-15 style rifles in 25% of mass school shootings 2010-2023 vs 5% prior
- Interventions prevented 15 potential shootings annually post-2018
- School lockdowns increased 500% since Columbine due to incidents
- Ghost guns used in 10% of shootings 2020-2023, emerging trend
- Pandemic recovery: 2021-2022 saw 200% spike over 2020 lows
- Female shooters doubled from 2% (pre-2000) to 4% (post-2020)
- Rural school shootings up 200% 2015-2023 vs urban decline
- Drills correlated with 20% faster evacuations, but trauma up 300%
- State gun laws: strict states saw 30% less rise in shootings 2010-2023
- Online radicalization linked to 18% shooters post-2015
- Injuries per shooting tripled due to more bystanders 2000-2023
- K-12 vs college: K-12 incidents now 5x higher than campuses 2020s
- Repeat schools: 12 institutions had multiple shootings 2018-2023
- Federal funding for school safety up 400% post-Parkland
- Survivor mental health issues reported in 90% post-shooting schools
Trends Over Time Interpretation
We are failing to contain a nationwide contagion of violence, allowing its strain to mutate into more frequent, more brazen, and more tragic attacks on our children's sanctuaries.
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