School shooting statistics paint a grim picture of our educational system today. The United States has experienced 47 school shootings as of September 10 this year. These tragic events have taken 19 lives and left at least 77 people injured. The numbers show that 23 of these shootings happened at K-12 schools, while college campuses saw 24 incidents.
The bigger picture of school shootings in America reveals even more troubling numbers. Mass public shootings have taken 1,714 lives and injured 2,657 people since 1966. Each incident averages 3.4 deaths and 5.3 injuries. The yearly count of school shootings in America keeps rising steadily since records started in 1966.
Last year marked a devastating milestone with 47 deaths. The attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas stands out as one of the most heartbreaking events, where 19 students and two teachers lost their lives.
This detailed analysis will get into the current data, trends, and geographical patterns that affect our communities deeply. Parents need this information to promote safer schools for their children.
2025 School Shooting Statistics at a Glance
School shooting data comes from multiple sources that help us understand the current situation. The tracking of these tragic events in 2025 shows patterns that parents should know about.
Total number of school shootings in America
The number of school shootings in 2025 shows big differences based on the tracking method used. Organizations don't share the same definition of "school shootings," which explains this gap.
The K-12 School Shooting Database uses the widest definition and has recorded 146-148 gun violence incidents at schools this year. They count every time someone fired or showed a gun with intent, or when bullets hit school property – whatever the outcome.
Everytown for Gun Safety lists 91 incidents where guns were fired on school grounds in 2025. They track cases that led to death or injury, plus situations where someone fired a gun without hurting anyone.
Education Week sticks to the strictest definition. They only count shootings that hurt or kill people during school hours or events. Their data shows 8-11 school shootings this year.
These different numbers show how methodology shapes our view of school shooting statistics in America. In spite of that, every source confirms guns still appear too often in schools.
Breakdown by K-12 vs college campuses
CNN's analysis shows that out of 47 school shootings reported by September 10, college campuses saw 24 incidents while K-12 schools had 23.
Some of the deadliest incidents have happened on college campuses over the last several years, like the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting that took 32 lives. Two people lost their lives at Florida State University in April 2025.
Everytown has recorded at least 57 shootings at K-12 schools in 2025. The most severe K-12 incidents this year included:
- Lansdowne High School (Baltimore): A 16-year-old student died after being shot multiple times
- Antioch High School (Nashville): Two students died and another got hurt when a fellow student opened fire
- Wilmer-Hutchins High School (Dallas): Four male students survived their gunshot wounds
Fatalities and injuries reported so far
The human cost tells a devastating story. The 2025 tracking data reveals:
- Everytown for Gun Safety counts 29 deaths and 69 injuries from incidents on school grounds
- K-12 shootings claimed 15 lives out of 47 people shot
- CNN found 19 deaths and at least 77 injuries across all educational institutions
- The K-12 School Shooting Database recorded 134 victims killed or wounded
The Annunciation school incident stands as 2025's most devastating event. It ranks as the deadliest school shooting since the 2022 Robb Elementary tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, where 21 people died.
Shots ring out at U.S. schools almost twice every week. This ongoing crisis needs attention from parents, educators, and policymakers. The numbers prove that schools remain vulnerable to gun violence despite new safety measures.
What Counts as a School Shooting?
School shooting statistics are hard to analyze because people can't agree on what to call it. Looking at the data shows that the answer to "what counts as a school shooting?" changes quite a bit based on who keeps track.
Definition used by experts and media
There's no single official definition of a school shooting right now. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says it's "any time a gun is fired on school grounds, on a bus, during a school event, during school hours, or right before or after school".
The K-12 School Shooting Database takes it further: "a gun is brandished, is fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, whatever the number of victims, time of day, or reason".
Education Week takes a narrower view. They only count incidents "where a firearm was discharged, where any individual, other than the suspect or perpetrator, has a bullet wound resulting from the incident, that happen on K-12 school property or on a school bus, and that occur while school is in session or during a school-sponsored event".
Britannica Encyclopedia does things differently. They call it a school shooting when "a student at an educational institution shoots and injures or kills at least one other student or faculty member on the grounds of that institution".
Types of incidents included and excluded
School shooting statistics change dramatically based on which incidents get counted. Different organizations make their own choices about:
- Suicides and attempts – Some databases like Everytown for Gun Safety and K-12 SSDB include them, others don't
- Non-injury discharges – Some trackers count incidents where a gun goes off but nobody gets hurt
- Accidental shootings – Most databases track accidental discharges if someone gets injured
- After-hours incidents – Shootings on school property outside normal hours might not count
- Shooter identity – Some only count student shooters, others include anyone who fires a gun
These choices directly affect how incidents get reported. Stricter criteria mean fewer reported cases, which might miss bigger problems. Broader definitions show higher numbers but could cause people to overreact.
Locations considered as school property
Organizations don't agree on what "school property" means. Most include:
- School buildings and classrooms
- School grounds including sports fields and parking lots
- School busses (both parked and in transit)
They disagree about:
- School bus stops
- Areas next to school property (sidewalks, across the street)
- Off-campus school event locations
- Administrative buildings on school grounds
The Naval Postgraduate School's K-12 School Shooting Database ended up using a broad definition to "cast the widest net possible." Users can filter specific criteria. This shows that no two school shootings are alike.
Parents need to understand these different ways of defining school shootings to make sense of American statistics. The numbers we see don't just show gun violence in schools – they reflect how each organization counts these incidents.
Trends in School Shootings Over the Years
Data from the past two decades shows a frightening rise in school shootings across America. These numbers provide vital context to understand today's school shooting statistics.
How many school shootings in America per year since 2000
The yearly totals since 2000 paint a clear picture of escalation. Annual incidents stayed relatively low in the early 2000s—only 6 school shootings occurred in 2000 and 2001, with 3-11 incidents yearly through 2005.
The numbers started climbing steadily after that. America averaged around 20 incidents yearly from 2010-2015. A sharp increase followed: 43 in 2018, 61 in 2019, then a brief pandemic-related drop, followed by 53 in 2022, 60 in 2023, and 56 in 2024.
The human cost has been catastrophic. These incidents have claimed 462 lives and left 844 people wounded since 2000. The last 25 years have seen 16 mass murders in educational settings where four or more people lost their lives.
Impact of the pandemic on school shooting trends
School shootings persisted even as schools closed during COVID-19. While 2020 showed a temporary drop to 21 incidents (compared to 61 in 2019), this decrease didn't last long.
The numbers shot past pre-pandemic levels when students returned to classrooms. School shootings rose from 78 recorded incidents in the 2019-20 school year to 93 during 2020-21, then more than doubled to 188 in 2021-22.
Education Week's data backs this up, with just 10 shootings causing injuries/deaths in 2020, compared to 35 in 2021.
Record-breaking years: 2021 to 2024
School gun violence reached unprecedented levels after the pandemic. The four highest annual totals of school shootings in six decades happened between 2021-2024.
The year 2023 became the deadliest on record with 350 K-12 school shooting incidents. The next year, 2024, saw 332 incidents, making it the second-highest year.
The situation has grown dramatically worse. A 715% increase occurred in the number of people wounded and killed in school shootings between 2004 and 2024. This devastating trend continues in the current year, with 116 school shooting incidents recorded in K-12 schools by June 2025.
These numbers show that school shootings have transformed from isolated tragedies to an ongoing crisis in American education. Parents and citizens must act now to address this urgent issue.
Where Are School Shootings Happening Most?
School shooting statistics reveal troubling patterns throughout the United States. Parents and communities can learn about safety risks by looking at where these incidents happen most often.
States with the highest number of incidents
California tops the nation with 232-277 school shootings since record-keeping started in 1970. Texas sits close behind with 192-237 such incidents during this time. Florida's numbers show roughly 132 incidents.
Recent data shows Texas had the most school shootings in both 2023 and 2024, with five incidents each year. Georgia and California each saw three school shootings in 2024. The nation's deadliest school shooting in 2024 happened at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Two teachers and two students lost their lives, while nine others suffered injuries.
States with no reported school shootings
In stark comparison to this nationwide trend, some states managed to keep their schools free from shootings. Montana, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island reported no school shootings between 2008 and April 2025. Maine, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming's schools have stayed safe from shootings since 1999.
Most of these shooting-free states lie in New England and have smaller populations. Wyoming stands out because it has both the smallest population and the lowest number of school shootings.
Population-adjusted shooting rates
Population-adjusted rates tell a different story than raw numbers. The District of Columbia has the highest rate of school shootings nationwide compared to its population size. Louisiana ranks second in shootings per capita, while Delaware, Maryland, and Alabama round out the top five states with the highest rates.
Student exposure to school shootings since the pandemic (2020-2024) shows Delaware (359 per 100,000 students), DC (356), Utah (166), Arkansas (130), and Nevada (127) face the highest risks. These states' exposure rates double the yearly U.S. average of 51 per 100,000 students.
The western and southern United States have seen two-thirds of all mass shootings nationally. This trend continues with school shootings, which happen more often in states with larger populations.
How School Shootings Are Affecting Families and Schools
School shooting statistics tell a heartbreaking story that goes beyond mere numbers. These tragedies create shockwaves that reshape daily life for millions in America's educational communities.
Student and teacher mental health effect
The mental health toll from school shootings devastates communities. Young people who live near fatal school shootings show a 25% increase in mental health prescription drug use. This elevated usage continues for 5.5 years after the incident.
The situation becomes more alarming as researchers see a dramatic spike in medication use among children with no previous history of psychotropic prescriptions.
Students who experience school shootings often battle traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Many struggle with constant safety worries.
These challenges derail their academic progress and hurt their social-emotional growth. Research shows these students are 3.7% less likely to finish high school and 15.3% less likely to get a bachelor's degree by age 26.
Rise in school safety measures
Schools nationwide have ramped up security measures after these tragedies. Today, 97% of public schools limit building entry during school hours. 98% make visitors sign in, while 73% have classrooms with interior door locks.
Schools with written active shooter procedures jumped from 79% in 2003-04 to 96% by 2019-20. Security technology has also expanded rapidly. 91% of schools now use security cameras and 83% give staff two-way radios. Yet 73% of teachers feel their districts don't deal very well with gun-related violence.
Educator resignations and student activism
Safety concerns have pushed many teachers to rethink their careers. 22% of educators have thought about leaving teaching because of these fears. After pandemic restrictions eased, teacher-targeted aggression surged – verbal harassment rose to 80% and physical violence reached 56%. These experiences led 57% of teachers to consider resigning.
Student activism has emerged as a powerful force for change. Students at more than 200 schools across 34 states organized walkouts after the Parkland shooting.
This youth movement just needs concrete action, including universal background checks and emergency risk protection orders. Student activism helps young people develop leadership skills while giving schools a better understanding of how policies affect their communities.
Conclusion
American education faces a deeply troubling reality with school shooting statistics. The numbers tell a grim story – 47 school shootings occurred by September this year, leading to 19 deaths and 77 injuries. Families nationwide now live with this harsh truth as these tragic events become more frequent.
Different tracking organizations vary by a lot in how they define these incidents. Some databases report 146-148 cases while others count just 8-11 shootings. The data sources may differ, but they all point to one undeniable fact – gun violence plagues our schools at an alarming rate.
Raw numbers show California, Texas, and Florida leading in these incidents. States like Montana and Wyoming have stayed relatively safe. The District of Columbia tells a different story when looking at population-adjusted rates, showing the highest incidents per capita.
The post-pandemic era brought unprecedented school violence. Records broke during 2021-2024, with 2023 becoming the deadliest year recorded. This upward trend continues to show no signs of stopping in 2025.
These tragedies leave deep scars beyond just numbers. Students near fatal shootings see a 25% rise in mental health medication use – effects that last for years. Schools have responded with boosted security – 97% now limit building entry and 96% have active shooter protocols. Yet 22% of teachers still think over leaving their jobs due to safety concerns.
Students have stepped up powerfully through walkouts hosted at hundreds of schools nationwide. These young supporters just need concrete action while they learn valuable civic skills.
Parents must face this disturbing reality while supporting meaningful changes. School shootings affect whole communities – they're not just statistics but profound human tragedies. We share a responsibility to stay informed, help affected communities, and create truly safe learning spaces where children focus on education instead of survival.
FAQs
Q1. How many school shootings have occurred in the United States in 2025?
The exact number varies depending on the tracking methodology used. According to the broadest definition, there have been between 146-148 incidents of gun violence at schools this year. However, using stricter criteria, some sources report as few as 8-11 school shootings resulting in injuries or deaths.
Q2. What is considered a "school shooting" in statistical reports?
The definition varies among organizations. Generally, it includes incidents where a firearm is discharged on school property during school hours or events. Some definitions are broader, including any brandishing of a gun or bullet striking school property, while others are more restrictive, only counting shootings that result in injuries or deaths.
Q3. Which states have the highest rates of school shootings?
When adjusted for population, the District of Columbia has the highest rate of school shootings nationwide. It's followed by Louisiana, Delaware, Maryland, and Alabama. However, in terms of raw numbers, California, Texas, and Florida have experienced the most incidents since 1970.
Q4. How have school shootings affected student mental health?
Research shows that youth living near fatal school shootings experience a 25% increase in prescription drug use for mental health conditions, with effects lasting up to 5.5 years. Students who witness shootings often suffer from traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, and depression, which can disrupt their academic achievement and social-emotional development.
Q5. What safety measures have schools implemented in response to shootings?
Schools have significantly increased security measures. Currently, 97% of public schools restrict building entry during school hours, 98% require visitors to sign in, and 73% have classrooms with interior door locks. Additionally, 96% of schools now have written procedures for active shooter situations, and the use of security cameras and two-way radios for staff has become widespread.
