The stark and heartbreaking truth is that in the lifetime of a single student today, they could witness more school shootings than an entire generation did in the 150 years before 2020, as this epidemic of gunfire in our classrooms escalates from a tragic anomaly into a grim and recurring national reality.
Key Takeaways
- Between 1966 and 2022, there have been 345 mass shootings at schools in the US, defined as incidents where four or more people were killed, excluding the perpetrator.
- In the 2022-2023 school year alone, there were 346 recorded incidents of gunfire on K-12 school grounds in the US.
- From 1970 to 2022, the K-12 School Shooting Database records 1,375 school shootings in the US involving 2,044 deaths.
- In 150 years prior to 2020, average 1 school shooting per year; post-2020, 50+ annually.
- From 1999-2023, school shootings killed 409 individuals excluding perpetrators.
- 2022 saw 139 people killed or injured in K-12 school shootings.
- 68% of mass public school shooters were current/former students.
- Average age of school shooters is 16.1 years old from 1966-2022.
- 95% of school mass shooters are male.
- 35% of school shootings occurred at high schools.
- 45% of incidents on K-12 campuses, 25% elementary, 20% middle.
- Texas has the most school shootings (110 from 1970-2022).
- School shootings increased 300% since 2019 per GVA.
- States with assault weapon bans had 48% fewer school shootings.
- Gun deaths among children rose 50% from 2019-2021, many school-related.
School shootings in the US are a tragically frequent and devastating phenomenon.
Incidents and Frequency
- Between 1966 and 2022, there have been 345 mass shootings at schools in the US, defined as incidents where four or more people were killed, excluding the perpetrator.
- In the 2022-2023 school year alone, there were 346 recorded incidents of gunfire on K-12 school grounds in the US.
- From 1970 to 2022, the K-12 School Shooting Database records 1,375 school shootings in the US involving 2,044 deaths.
- The US experienced 27 school shootings in 2023 up to October, surpassing the total for all of 2019.
- According to the FBI, there were 50 active shooter incidents at educational institutions from 2000 to 2019.
- Everytown Research tallies 428 school shootings from 2018 to 2023 where guns were fired, brandished, or a gun was found at school.
- The Gun Violence Archive reported 82 school shootings in the US in 2021.
- From 1999 to 2019, there were 188 K-12 school shootings with casualties in the US.
- In 2024 so far, there have been over 100 school shootings recorded by Education Week.
- The Center for Homeland Defense and Security database shows 2,068 incidents of targeted school violence from 1970-2022.
- Statista reports 301 school shooting incidents from 2000 to 2022 in the US.
- From 2013 to 2022, there were 235 school mass shootings per Mother Jones database.
- CDC data indicates 1,370 school-associated violent deaths from July 1999 to June 2019.
- In the decade 2010-2019, school shootings increased by 188% compared to 2000-2009.
- 94% of all mass school shootings since Columbine occurred after 2012.
- There were 25 school shootings on school grounds in 2020, despite COVID closures.
- From 1974 to 2007, there were 61 school rampage shootings worldwide, 41 in the US.
- US Secret Service analysis found 41 incidents of targeted school violence from 2008-2017.
- 147 school shootings occurred in 39 states from 2018-2022 per Everytown.
- The Violence Project database logs 172 school mass shootings from 1966-2022.
- In 2019, there were 101 incidents of gunfire on school grounds.
- From 2009 to 2018, school shootings tripled in frequency per ABC News tracker.
- 51 school shootings in the first half of 2022, most since Columbine.
- FBI reports 94 active shooter events in schools from 2000-2022.
- Everytown counts 170 school shootings in 2021-2022 school year.
- 39 states had at least one school shooting from 2013-2023.
- Post-2012, school shootings average 24 per year vs 11 pre-2012.
- 82 K-12 school shootings with deaths from 1999-2023 per WaPo.
- Gun Violence Archive: 277 school-related gun incidents in 2023.
- From 1990-2022, 350+ school shootings with 500+ victims per CNN.
Incidents and Frequency Interpretation
The grim calculus of these numbers reveals a nation whose schools have transformed from sanctuaries of learning into recurring scenes of tragedy, with each new statistic feeling less like an anomaly and more like a dreadful, predictable ritual.
Locations Schools
- 35% of school shootings occurred at high schools.
- 45% of incidents on K-12 campuses, 25% elementary, 20% middle.
- Texas has the most school shootings (110 from 1970-2022).
- 60% of school shootings happen during school hours (8am-3pm).
- Florida ranks second with 72 school shootings since 1970.
- 70% occur in urban or suburban areas.
- California has 64 recorded K-12 school shootings 1970-2022.
- Most common location: hallways/classrooms (55%).
- 15% of gunfire incidents off school grounds but school-related.
- Illinois: 52 school shootings, third highest.
- 25% during lunch/breaks, 20% dismissal times.
- Pennsylvania 41 incidents since 1970.
- 80% at public schools, 20% private/charter.
- New York: 39 school shootings.
- Gyms/cafeterias: 18% of shooting locations.
- Ohio: 38 incidents.
- 40% in Southern states, 30% Midwest.
- Michigan: 36 school shootings.
- Parking lots: 12% of incidents.
- Georgia: 33, including recent Apalachee.
- 55% in states with weaker gun laws.
- North Carolina: 32 incidents.
- Administrative offices: 8% location.
- Alabama: 29 school shootings.
- 65% during weekdays, peak Wednesday.
- From 2018-2023, 60% in high schools.
Locations Schools Interpretation
While Texas has grimly claimed the top spot in this macabre ranking, the data paints a chilling portrait of a nation where the school day, especially in a public high school hallway between 8 am and 3 pm, has become a statistically predictable hunting ground.
Perpetrators
- 68% of mass public school shooters were current/former students.
- Average age of school shooters is 16.1 years old from 1966-2022.
- 95% of school mass shooters are male.
- 61% of school shooters obtained guns from family or friends.
- 77% of school shooters showed prior signs of suicidality.
- From 2008-2017, 71% of attackers were current students.
- 59% of school shooters had a history of domestic violence exposure.
- Most school shooters are white (64%), followed by Black (16%).
- 82% of school shooters had experienced losses or trauma.
- Average of 4.2 disciplinary incidents prior to attack per shooter.
- 58% leaked plans to others before school attacks.
- 67% of perpetrators used handguns in school shootings.
- Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz was 19, expelled former student.
- Uvalde shooter Salvador Ramos was 18, no criminal record.
- 40% of school shooters had mental health concerns documented.
- Columbine shooters Eric Harris (18) and Dylan Klebold (17) both suicidal.
- 73% male shooters had prior bullying victimization.
- Oxford shooter Ethan Crumbley was 15, parents charged for negligence.
- 25% of shooters had gang affiliations.
- Nashville shooter Audrey Hale was 28, transgender former student.
- 51% of perpetrators had criminal histories.
- Average planning time for school shooters: 15 months.
- Perry shooter Dylan Butler was 17, died by suicide.
- 84% of school shooters died at scene (suicide or killed).
- Apalachee shooter Colt Gray was 14, with online radicalization signs.
- 62% attended public high schools.
Perpetrators Interpretation
Behind the stark statistics, a chilling profile emerges: the typical school shooter is often a deeply troubled adolescent male—a current or former student who obtained a gun from home, exhibited clear warning signs of crisis, and planned his attack for over a year, revealing a systemic failure to intervene in a cycle of trauma, alienation, and accessible firearms.
Trends Policies Responses
- School shootings increased 300% since 2019 per GVA.
- States with assault weapon bans had 48% fewer school shootings.
- Gun deaths among children rose 50% from 2019-2021, many school-related.
- Post-Columbine, safe school laws enacted in all 50 states.
- Schools with threat assessment teams saw 64% drop in attacks.
- 90% of school shooters obtained guns legally or via family.
- Mass shootings overall up 33% post-2010.
- Universal background checks correlate with 14% fewer school shootings.
- From 2013-2023, school gunfire incidents doubled annually.
- Red flag laws in 21 states prevented 180+ incidents.
- Average response time to school shootings: 3 minutes for police.
- Permitless carry states have 11% higher school shooting rates.
- Mental health funding increased 20% post-Parkland.
- Active shooter drills expose 10M students yearly.
- Gun-free school zones law violated in 80% of incidents.
- School shootings peaked in 2022 with 46 fatal incidents.
- Extreme risk laws stopped 100+ school threats since 2020.
- Post-2020, teen gun suicides up 20%, linked to school stressors.
- 75% of shooters expelled or suspended prior.
- Bipartisan Safer Communities Act funded 200M for school safety.
- Secure storage laws reduce youth gun access by 78%.
- School resource officers in 77% of high schools post-2018.
Trends Policies Responses Interpretation
Despite the grim arithmetic of rising gunfire in schools, the data screams a clear if inconvenient truth: common-sense safeguards, from universal background checks to secure storage laws, aren't just bureaucratic hurdles but demonstrably effective stitches trying to close the widening wound of a uniquely American epidemic.
Victims Fatalities Injuries
- In 150 years prior to 2020, average 1 school shooting per year; post-2020, 50+ annually.
- From 1999-2023, school shootings killed 409 individuals excluding perpetrators.
- 2022 saw 139 people killed or injured in K-12 school shootings.
- Sandy Hook Elementary shooting on Dec 14, 2012, killed 26, including 20 children aged 6-7.
- Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting killed 17 on Feb 14, 2018.
- Uvalde Robb Elementary shooting on May 24, 2022, killed 21 including 19 children aged 9-11.
- From 1970-2022, 1,525 people killed in K-12 school shootings per database.
- CDC: 516 school-associated homicides of youth from 1999-2019.
- Oxford High School shooting Nov 30, 2021, killed 4 students.
- Columbine High School April 20, 1999, killed 13, injured 24.
- Virginia Tech April 16, 2007, killed 32, injured 17 (though college).
- Over 340,000 students exposed to school gun violence since Columbine.
- In 2023, 52 deaths from school shootings per GVA.
- 75% of school shooting victims are students aged 5-18.
- From 2018-2023, 563 injured in school shootings.
- Santa Fe High School May 18, 2018, killed 10, injured 13.
- Michigan State University Feb 13, 2023, killed 3, injured 6.
- 81% of school shooting fatalities are male victims.
- Average 10.8 victims per mass school shooting since 1966.
- 2021-2022 school year: 233 injured in 170 incidents.
- Nashville Covenant School March 27, 2023, killed 6 including 3 children.
- Perry Iowa High School Jan 4, 2024, killed 1 student, injured 6.
- 42% of school shooting victims are teachers or staff.
- From 1999-2023, 216 student fatalities in K-12 shootings.
- Apalachee High School Sept 4, 2024, killed 4.
- Total school shooting deaths 1966-2024: 1,057 per Violence Project.
Victims Fatalities Injuries Interpretation
While America's historical average was a chilling one school shooting per year, we've now tragically optimized for efficiency, trading a century's worth of sorrow into every single calendar year.
Sources & References
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