Nearly one in five middle and high school students, and one in four elementary school students, say they often worry about their safety at school, according to a new report published by YouthTruth, an initiative of the nonprofit Center for Effective Philanthropy.

The report provides a sweeping overview of how young people experience safety in schools – from exposure to physical fights and weapons, to safety in bathrooms and buses to preparation for natural disasters. “School Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness: Understanding and Acting on Students’ Experience of Safety” draws from the responses of nearly 200,000 students in grades 3-12.

“We should always engage young people around their gifts and talents, and their hopes, dreams, and goals for the future,” said David McKinney, Vice President of YouthTruth. “That work cannot happen without prioritizing their well-being, in all its forms. We know students perform their best when they are nourished, when they are cared for and when they are safe.”

Key findings include:

• Students feel safer when their safety concerns are heard

• 79 percent of elementary students and 75 percent of middle and high school students do not feel safe on school buses. Half of middle and high school students do not feel safe in school restrooms

• Safety anxiety is not experienced equally. Clear gaps emerge across race, language background and LGBTQ+ identity

• Just 51 percent of middle schoolers and 45 percent of high schoolers agree their school has taught them how to stay safe in a natural disaster, including hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires

Camilla Valerio, lead researcher and analyst at YouthTruth, said adults must involve students as active partners in school safety – not passive recipients of plans and protocols.

“These disparities matter because they reflect deeper gaps in trust, belonging and protection at a time when concerns about school safety are high,” Valerio said. “Schools must respond by pairing safety planning with intentional efforts to listen to students.”

Read the full report on YouthTruth.org.

About YouthTruth

YouthTruth is a national non-profit dedicated to amplifying student voices. Since 2008, we’ve worked with districts across the country to gather input from 3.3 million students on their school experiences.

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These disparities matter because they reflect deeper gaps in trust, belonging and protection at a time when concerns about school safety are high.