School Violence Reality Check Quiz

1. What percent of homicides and suicides of school-aged kids occur at school, or during school activities?

• Less than 1 percent. Yes. While tragic school shootings have gotten the public's attention, the facts show that less than 1 percent of homicides and suicides of kids ages 5-19 occur at school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)

• About 10 percent. Not that high. While tragic school shootings have gotten the public's attention, the facts show that less than 1 percent of homicides and suicides of kids ages 5-19 occur at school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)

• More than 20 percent. Less than that. While tragic school shootings have gotten the public's attention, the facts show that less than 1 percent of homicides and suicides of kids ages 5-19 occur at school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)

2. A 1993 study questioned public- and private-school kids in grades 6-12 about the availability of guns. How many said they could get a handgun if they wanted one?

• 19 percent. Unfortunately, a lot more than that. Nearly 60 percent of the kids said they could get a handgun.

  Source: National School Safety Center

• 29 percent. Sorry, it's more than that. Nearly 60 percent of the kids said they could get a handgun.

  Source: National School Safety Center

• 59 percent. Yes. Nearly 60 percent of the kids said they could get a handgun.

  Source: National School Safety Center

3. In 1991, almost 12 percent of high-school kids carried a weapon (such as a gun, knife, or club) on school grounds. How had that changed by 1997?

• More students were armed in 1997. No. The good news is, during the 90s the percentage of kids who carried a weapon on school property decreased by nearly a third to 8.5 percent. In addition, for both years studied, more teenagers carried weapons outside of school than in school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

• Fewer students were armed in 1997. Good news! During the 90s the percentage of kids who carried a weapon on school property decreased by nearly a third to 8.5 percent. In addition, for both years studied, more teenagers carried weapons outside of school than in school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

• The number of armed students stayed about the same. Wrong. The good news is, during the 90s the percentage of kids who carried a weapon on school property decreased by nearly a third to 8.5 percent. In addition, for both years studied, more teenagers carried weapons outside of school than at school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

4. Which class is more likely to engage in violent behavior at school?

• Freshmen. Yes, ninth-graders are more likely than upperclassmen to carry weapons and get in fights. They also often feel unsafe in school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

• Sophomores. No, ninth-graders are more likely than upperclassmen to carry weapons and get in fights. They also often feel unsafe in school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

• Juniors. No, ninth-graders are more likely than upperclassmen to carry weapons and get in fights. They also often feel unsafe in school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

• Seniors. No, ninth-graders are more likely than upperclassmen to carry weapons and get in fights. They also often feel unsafe in school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

5. Too scared to learn? According to a 1997 study, in an average month, how many students missed one or more days of school because they felt unsafe?

• 44 percent Not that many. Four percent of students surveyed said they stayed home at least once that month because they didn't feel safe at school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

• 24 percent Happily, it's less. Four percent of students surveyed said they stayed home at least once that month because they didn't feel safe at school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

• 4 percent Yes. Four percent of students surveyed said they stayed home at least once that month because they didn't feel safe at school.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

1. What percent of homicides and suicides of school-aged kids occur at school, or during school activities?
Less than 1 percent.

2. A 1993 study questioned public- and private-school kids in grades 6-12 about the availability of guns. How many said they could get a handgun if they wanted one?
59 percent.

3. In 1991, almost 12 percent of high-school kids carried a weapon (such as a gun, knife, or club) on school grounds. How had that changed by 1997?
Fewer students were armed in 1997.

4. Which class is more likely to engage in violent behavior at school?
Freshmen.

5. Too scared to learn? According to a 1997 study, in an average month, how many students missed one or more days of school because they felt unsafe?
4 percent

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