flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

As gun incidents grow, schools have beefed up security significantly in recent years

K-12 Schools

As gun incidents grow, schools have beefed up security significantly in recent years

Two-thirds control access to campuses, not just buildings.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | January 25, 2023
As gun incidents grow, schools have beefed up security significantly in recent years Photo by  Kindel Media via Pexels
Photo by Kindel Media via Pexels

Recently released federal data shows that U.S. schools have significantly raised security measures in recent years.

About two-thirds of public schools now control access to school grounds—not just the building—up from about half in the 2017-18 school year. Some 43% of schools have a “panic button” or silent alarm that connects directly with police in case of emergency, up from 29% five years ago.

A strong majority, 78%, outfit classrooms with locks, up from 65% a few years ago. Random metal detector use was reported in 9% of schools, with 6% using this equipment daily. Many schools have campus police, but just 3% arm teachers or other non-security employees.

Last year, more than 330 people were fatally shot or wounded on school grounds, up from 218 in 2018, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database, a research project that tracks incidents of a gun being fired or brandished on school property.

Related Stories

| Jul 20, 2012

K-12 Schools Report: ‘A lot of pent-up need,’ with optimism for ’13

The Giants 300 Top 25 AEC Firms in the K-12 Schools Sector.

| Jul 2, 2012

Plumosa School of the Arts earns LEED Gold

Education project dedicated to teaching sustainability in the classroom.

| Jun 1, 2012

New BD+C University Course on Insulated Metal Panels available

By completing this course, you earn 1.0 HSW/SD AIA Learning Units.

| May 29, 2012

Reconstruction Awards Entry Information

Download a PDF of the Entry Information at the bottom of this page.

| May 24, 2012

2012 Reconstruction Awards Entry Form

Download a PDF of the Entry Form at the bottom of this page.

| May 24, 2012

Stellar completes St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Day School renovation and expansion

The project united the school campus and church campus including a 1,200-sf chapel expansion, a new 10,000-sf commons building, 7,400-sf of new covered walkways, and a drop-off pavilion.

| May 21, 2012

Winchester High School receives NuRoof system

Metal Roof Consultants attended a school board meeting and presented a sloped metal retrofit roof as an alternative to tearing off the existing roof and replacing it with another flat roof.

| May 8, 2012

Gensler & J.C. Anderson team for pro bono high school project in Chicago

City Year representatives came to Gensler for their assistance in the transformation of the organization’s offices within Orr Academy High School, which also serve as an academic and social gathering space for students and corps members.

| Mar 5, 2012

Perkins Eastman pegs O’Donnell to lead K-12 practice

O’Donnell will continue the leadership and tradition of creative design established by firm Chairman and CEO Bradford Perkins FAIA, MRAIC, AICP in leading this market sector across the firm’s 13 offices domestically and internationally.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021