FBI’s 2025 Crime in Schools Report Reveals Most Vulnerable Ages, Riskiest Months

The FBI’s latest Crime in Schools report reveals nearly 1.3 million crimes occurred on school property from 2020–2024. Covering crime at elementary schools, secondary schools, and universities, the data shines a light on the most dangerous school years for kids and teens.

Below, we’ll summarize findings from the 2025 Crime in Schools report and add in some supplementary facts to help you understand the current state of U.S. schools. We’ll also share some tips on how to make sure your child’s school is as safe as possible.

Assault is the most common crime occurring on school property, followed by drug/narcotic offenses, larceny-theft, and destruction/damage/vandalism of property.

Although not specifically addressed in the latest FBI report, hate crime school data from 2018–2022 shows that 4,343 incidents were reported during that five-year span. That makes hate crime relatively rare compared to other types of school crime. 

Data also shows that hate crime is 3.5 times more likely to occur in a residence/home and 2 times more likely to occur on a public road/alley than at a school. 

Here’s who tends to be the target of hate crime on school property:

• Hate crime in schools overwhelmingly targets African Americans (36% of all hate crimes and 64% of anti-race/ethnicity/ancestry hate crimes). 
• The second most common hate crime in schools targets people who are Jewish (16% of all hate crimes and 78% of anti-religion hate crimes). 
• General anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes are the third most common in schools (7% of all hate crimes and 44% of anti-sexual orientation hate crimes), followed closely by anti-gay hate crimes in particular (6.5% of all hate crimes and 39% of anti-sexual orientation hate crimes). 

Here’s what school hate crimes tend to look like:

• Intimidation (37.4%)
• Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property (35.5%)
• Simple assault (19%)
• Aggravated assault (4.1%)

People with disabilities or who are transgender or non-binary are more likely to experience assault than intimidation at school. All other groups are more likely to experience intimidation than assault. People who are Jewish are significantly more likely to experience destruction, damage, or vandalism of property than intimidation or assault at school.  

More than three-fourths (76%) of all weapons used on school property are fists, teeth, hands, arms, feet, and other body parts. The FBI calls these “personal weapons.” 

Knives and other cutting instruments are used second most often (6.2%), followed by guns of any type* (3.9%), with handguns being most common. 

(*BB guns, pellet guns, and stun guns aren’t included in this count.)

Fortunately, the vast majority of school crimes result in no serious injuries.

School crimes tend to occur in September and October. Nearly 25% of all school crimes took place during those two months. This tracks with what we know about the college Red Zone, the first 14 weeks of the fall semester when 50% of sexual assaults take place. 

That said, when you compare the five months of the fall semester (August through December) with the five months of the spring semester (January through May), both time periods have a nearly equal crime risk:

• Fall semester: 48% of school crimes
• Spring semester: 47% of school crimes
• Summer school: 5% of school crimes

Interestingly, hate crimes at school are most likely to occur in October.

Here’s a closer look at each month:

The FBI estimates that about two-thirds of school crimes victimize individuals other than law enforcement officers. Other crimes victimize society at large, the government, or businesses.

Here are some quick stats about individuals who experience school crime:

• The majority are 19 years or older, which implies that most victims are college students or adults (such as teachers, administrators, or law enforcement officers).
• Of those 18 years of age or younger, 13- to 15-year-olds are most likely to be the victims of school crime, followed by 16- to 18-year-olds. This implies high schools are more dangerous than elementary and middle schools. 
• 10- to 12-year-olds are nearly four times more likely to experience school crime than 5- to 9-year-olds.
• 13- to 15-year olds are more than twice as  likely to experience school crime than 10- to 12-year-olds.

• Males and females are victimized by school crime at about the same rate overall (49.1% for males and 49.4% for females). 
• Victims of school crime typically know the offender and consider them an acquaintance. 
• In about 24% of school crime incidents, the offender and victim don’t know each other.
• Victims and offenders are part of the same family in less than 2% of crimes occurring on school property.

Kids aged 13 to 15 commit the most school crimes (38%), followed by 16- to-18-year-olds (24%). As you might expect, kids aged 0 to 4 commit the fewest school crimes (0.05%).

The same was true 20 years ago. Although the exact percentages have changed slightly, the FBI's 2000–2004 Crime in Schools report showed that 13- to 15-year-olds committed the most crimes back then too.

Here are a few more interesting facts about people who commit crimes at school:

• Males commit nearly two-thirds of all school crimes. 
• Juveniles are more likely to commit hate crimes in school than adults, but the opposite is true in non-school locations.

This national data is sobering, and you may be wondering if school is a safe place for your child.

On the one hand, issues are bound to happen when a bunch of kids end up in the same room together for hours each day. Children and teens aren’t exactly known for their emotional control and excellent decision-making skills. On the other hand, your child deserves to attend a school that’s well-managed and nips problems in the bud.

Follow these tips to make sure your child’s school is safe.

1. Get the facts from your child’s school. Talk to the principal about how often fights break out, weapons are confiscated, or bullying is reported. Your child’s school might be much safer than the average U.S. school. In fact, data from the 2021-2022 school year shows that one-third of U.S. public schools reported zero violent incidents.
2. Find out how the school responds to safety threats. What protocols are in place for bullying? Fights? Irate parents? Teachers under the influence? Armed intruders? It’s not fun to talk about, but this conversation can expose gaps in the school’s preparation—or give you peace of mind that your child is in capable hands.
3. Talk directly to the school resource officer. These are law enforcement officers who work in some schools. Have a candid conversation. What kinds of incidents are common at the school? Are there any risk factors that you should watch out for with your child and their friends?
4. Talk to your child’s teachers. Do they know if your child is participating in bullying or getting bullied? Does your child seem to handle stress well in the classroom? Do they seem well-liked and have friends?
5. Talk to your child. Ask what they’ve experienced at school. Do they feel safe? Do they get bullied? Do they feel confident that they’d know what to do if someone tried to start a fight with them, offered drugs, or touched them inappropriately? Do they handle their own emotions? Do they know who to talk to at school if they’re having a hard time? Do they know they can call you any time they don’t feel safe?
6. Consider alternative schooling options. Some schools simply aren’t safe. For example, some celebs with rags-to-riches stories admit they used to bring a gun to school for personal protection — and that’s an alarming reality to contend with. If you discover your child is in a similar situation, consider applying for a hardship transfer to another school, homeschooling, or enrolling in a co-op. In drastic cases, kids who are legally able to drop out of school may consider doing so and getting their GED.
7. Consider self-defense classes for your child. Assault is one of the primary dangers facing kids at school. If your child gets picked on or is worried about getting into a fight at school, teach them how to respond. A self-defense class can do wonders for their confidence.

A sense of safety is one of our most basic needs. Without a safe school environment, kids may struggle to learn and reach their full potential. The best thing you can do as a parent is to maintain a close relationship with your child so they feel comfortable telling you when they don’t feel safe at school. If you don’t know there’s a problem, you can’t do much to fix it. We hope these school crime stats help you know what to watch out for as your child grows.

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