Gun violence in schools remains a pressing concern in the United States. According to Education Week’s comprehensive school shooting tracker, the number of school shootings in 2024 resulting in injuries or fatalities slightly surpassed the count from the previous year. This data underscores the persistent threat and emotional toll that gun violence inflicts on students, educators, families, and communities nationwide.
2024 School Shooting Data: Key Findings
Education Week’s school shooting tracker recorded 39 incidents in 2024 that met their defined criteria. This makes 2024 the year with the second-highest number of school shootings since Education Week began monitoring these incidents in 2018. This detailed tracking started shortly before the tragic mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which claimed the lives of 17 students and educators.
Since 2018, Education Week has documented a total of 221 school shootings up to December 31, 2024. Their tracker includes incidents where at least one person, excluding the shooter, is injured by gunfire on school property during school hours or at school-sponsored events.
A significant portion, over two-thirds, of the 39 shootings in 2024 occurred outdoors on school grounds. This location often presents challenges for administrators and security personnel in terms of timely intervention. Alarmingly, at least one school shooting incident took place every month throughout the year in the United States, highlighting the continuous nature of this issue.
Mass School Shootings in 2024 Compared to Previous Years
While the overall number of school shootings is concerning, it’s crucial to examine the subset of mass shootings within these statistics. In 2024, four school shootings met the Gun Violence Archive’s definition of a mass shooting, which involves four or more people, excluding the shooter, being either killed or injured by gunfire.
Interestingly, this number is a mixed bag when compared to recent years. It represents an increase of three mass shootings compared to 2023. However, it is lower than the nine mass shooting incidents recorded in 2022, which was the highest number since Education Week began its tracking efforts.
The grim timeline of mass school shootings in 2024 includes:
- Early January in Iowa: Just four days into 2024, a shooting at Perry High School in Iowa resulted in the death of a 6th-grade student and injuries to several others, including school staff. The school principal, who was injured, tragically succumbed to his injuries ten days later.
- September in Georgia: In September, Apalachee High School in Georgia witnessed a devastating incident where a 14-year-old student killed two students and two teachers. This shooting resulted in the highest casualty count of any school shooting in 2024, with nine additional injuries alongside the four fatalities.
- February in Georgia: Prior to the Apalachee tragedy, Georgia experienced another mass shooting at Benjamin E. Mays High School in Atlanta on Valentine’s Day, where four students were injured.
- December in Wisconsin: Just before Christmas, on December 16th, a mass shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, claimed the lives of a teacher and a 14-year-old student and injured six others.
Notably, two of the four mass school shootings in 2024 occurred in the state of Georgia.
Casualties and the Broader Impact of School Shootings
In 2024, school shootings across the nation resulted in 18 deaths and 59 injuries. While the number of fatalities is lower than in the preceding two years, it is more than double the number recorded in 2019, which had the lowest death toll since tracking began, excluding the heavily lockdown-impacted year of 2020.
The total number of casualties, combining both injuries and deaths, is higher than in 2023 but remains significantly lower than the grim figure of 140 casualties in 2022.
Beyond the immediate statistics, the impact of school shootings reverberates far beyond the directly affected individuals. 2024 marked the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. This tragic event in 1999 fundamentally reshaped school safety protocols and triggered billions of dollars in spending on safety measures, some effective, others less so.
Even years after a school shooting, the aftermath continues to unfold. In January 2024, a Department of Justice review highlighted critical failures in the police response to the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting, suggesting that a faster response could have saved lives. Furthermore, legal proceedings related to the Uvalde shooting are ongoing, with a trial tentatively scheduled for October 2025 for two officers involved in the delayed response.
The ripple effects of school shootings also manifest in increased violent threats targeting schools. Following the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia, schools nationwide experienced a surge in such threats. While most were deemed unfounded, they still contribute to a climate of fear and anxiety, taking an emotional toll on students, staff, and the wider community.
Conclusion
The data from 2024 reveals a concerning picture of school shootings in America. While the numbers fluctuate slightly year to year, the consistent occurrence of these tragedies underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and effective solutions to address gun violence in and around schools. Understanding the statistics, the trends, and the long-lasting impacts is a crucial step in fostering safer learning environments for all students.
