New data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the National Child Health Survey, and the State Board of Education compares safety metrics in all 50 states and ranks the safest and least safe states to attend school in America.
Florida ranked 16th out of 50 states for school safety, with New Jersey and New Mexico leading the way as the safest states to attend school.
Information included the number of students including teachers, career guidance counselors, and school psychologists, reporting rates of bullying, pedestrian fatalities, firearms brought to school, and safety infrastructure. Each state is scored on a maximum scale of 100, with higher scores indicating a higher level of safety.
Florida findings:
Florida State ranked 16th with 71.63 points. The state records 3.3 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 residents in fatal crashes each year. The average school size was 18.4 students per teacher, 432 students per counselor, and 2,023 students per psychologist. Although Florida requires safety plans, audits and a state-level safety agency, the state’s rate of nine firearm incidents per 100,000 students remains a concern.
Analyzes by education groups show that states with comprehensive safety plans, adequate staffing, and strong oversight tend to provide the safest educational environments.
It also includes the presence of qualified counselors and psychologists, who have access to mental health support for students, which has been shown to reduce behavioral problems and improve overall school climate.
“Safety is about more than physical measures such as safe buildings. It requires a comprehensive approach that includes adequate staffing, mental health support, clear protocols and strong community engagement. States that excel in our rankings address all of these factors,” said Mark Blakey, CEO of Autism Parenting Magazine.
Blakey also said that creating a safe learning environment is important for all students, but especially essential for students with special needs who may be more vulnerable to safety issues.
