Short Definition: % of students who saw another student with a weapon at school in the past 12 months

Long Definition:

The percent of students within a given school who said they saw another student with a weapon at school in the past 12 months.

This question was answered as part of the SurveyWorks questionnaire and was included in the surveys for middle and high school students. SurveyWorks is the Rhode Island Department of Education's new opinions-and-perceptions survey and is administered annually to all students in grades 4-12. SurveyWorks is age appropriate for each level elementary, middle and high school but it covers roughly the same areas of questioning for all three levels.

Agency Source: RIDE

Time Period(s):

School Year

2009-10,  2010-11,  2011-12,  2012-13,  2013-14

Geographies: School

Data Type: Numeric

Purpose:

This indicator allows for comparison of safety and learning environment between schools, and also allows for comparison with other education indicators.

Limitations:

Middle and high school students in 2010-11 through 2013-14 were asked if they had 'seen another student with a weapon, like a gun, knife or club at this school' in the past 12 months. In 2009-10 for middle and high school students and in 2010-11 through 2013-14 for elementary students, gun and knife were specified, but not 'club.' In 2009-10, elementary students were asked 'Have you ever seen a kid with a weapon?'

This information is self reported.

Universe: All students enrolled in grades 4-12 in a RI public school who participated in the SurveyWorks survey.

Tags: Violence, SurveyWorks!

Related Reports:

• High School Student Substance Use
• Middle School Student Substance Use
• Middle School Student Perceptions of School Violence

Related Datastories: No related datastories.