A RAND research report released on September 24, 2025 documents 349 gun-related incidents in U.S. K-12 schools for calendar year 2023.The data were collected from January 2023 through January 2024 and cover public and private schools across all states.
The RAND Corporation published a nationwide study indicating that 349 gun-violence incidents occurred in U.S. schools during 2023, the highest count recorded to date [1]. The study’s data collection spanned from January 2023 to January 2024, and the findings were released on September 24, 2025 [1]. Incidents were reported across the United States without a single state or region identified as the predominant locus of the events [1].
The research was conducted by RAND analysts Pauline Moore, Brian A. Jackson, and Melissa Kay Diliberti and involved K-12 public and private schools nationwide [1]. The report attributes the rise in incidents to a combination of factors, though it does not isolate a single cause [1]. In response, many districts have increased security investments, including surveillance cameras and the deployment of armed school resource officers [4].
Study Findings and Data Overview
The RAND report documents a total of 349 gun-related incidents in schools for the 2023 calendar year, surpassing previous annual totals and marking a record high [1]. The incidents include shootings, attempts, and threats that involved firearms on school premises [1]. The data set encompasses 13,500 schools, representing roughly 56 million students enrolled in K-12 education [1].
The methodology involved aggregating incident reports from law-enforcement agencies, school district disclosures, and media monitoring services between January 2023 and January 2024 [1]. Researchers applied a standardized classification system to differentiate between fatal shootings, non-fatal shootings, and firearm threats [1]. The final analysis confirmed that 349 distinct incidents met the study’s criteria for gun-related violence in schools during 2023 [1].
The data set encompasses 13,500 schools, representing roughly 56 million students enrolled in K-12 education [1].
The report also notes that the frequency of incidents varied year-to-year, with a 12 percent increase from the 2022 total of 312 incidents [1]. While the study does not attribute causality to any single factor, it references broader trends such as increased firearm accessibility and shifts in societal violence patterns [1].
Security Measures Adopted by Schools
Nationwide Study Shows Record High of 349 School Gun Violence Incidents in 2023
In the wake of rising incidents, school districts have accelerated the deployment of security technologies and personnel. According to Building Security Services, the number of schools installing high-definition surveillance cameras grew by 18 percent between 2022 and 2024 [4]. The same source reports that the hiring of armed school resource officers increased from 22 percent to 29 percent of districts nationwide during the same period [4].
Districts have also expanded active-monitoring protocols, such as real-time video analytics and anonymous tip lines, to identify potential threats before they materialize [4]. Funding for these measures has been sourced from federal safety grants, state education budgets, and local bond initiatives [4]. The RAND study highlights that schools with comprehensive security plans reported fewer successful firearm entries compared with those lacking such infrastructure [1].
The report emphasizes that security investments are accompanied by training programs for staff and students. These programs cover lockdown drills, threat assessment procedures, and mental-health support services aimed at mitigating the impact of violent events [1][4]. RAND’s analysis indicates that schools implementing both physical security upgrades and behavioral intervention programs experienced a modest decline in non-fatal firearm incidents [1].
Implications for Students, Educators, and Administrators
The findings have immediate relevance for families evaluating school safety, educators shaping campus policy, and administrators managing institutional risk [2]. The documented rise in incidents underscores the importance of transparent reporting mechanisms, allowing stakeholders to assess district safety records [2]. Schools are required to disclose incident data to state education agencies, which in turn publish annual safety dashboards accessible to the public [2].
The report emphasizes that security investments are accompanied by training programs for staff and students.
Educators are advised to incorporate evidence-based violence-prevention curricula, as RAND’s prior research links such programs to reductions in bullying and weapon-carrying behaviors among students [3]. Administrators are urged to align security expenditures with comprehensive risk assessments, ensuring that investments in cameras or officers are integrated with mental-health resources and community outreach [3][4].
Policy makers at the federal and state levels are monitoring the RAND report for potential legislative action. The data may inform future allocations of federal school safety grants and the development of standardized safety protocols across districts [2]. For now, the study provides a baseline measurement of school gun violence that stakeholders can reference when evaluating the effectiveness of ongoing safety initiatives [1].
Key Facts
What: RAND study records 349 gun-violence incidents in U.S. K-12 schools for 2023, a historic high.
When: Data collected Jan 2023–Jan 2024; report published Sep 24, 2025.
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