The Virginia High School Safety Study aims to identify student safety, discipline, and support practices that best maintain a safe and orderly school environment. The study is combining a series of statewide databases: (1) each school's report on the incidence of disciplinary infractions, crime, and violence; and (2) the annual school safety audit that describes each school's safety practices and procedures; (3) School passing rates on Virginia's standardized SOL achievement tests. Statistical analyses will assess two important domains of school climate relevant to school safety: (1) the degree of structure (such as discipline and supervision) and (2) support (such as counseling services and mentoring efforts) at each school. A principal goal of the study is to identify an optimal balance of structure and support to maintain safety and facilitate high achievement. Results from this study will be used to examine how various school safety and security practices, such as bullying prevention, video surveillance, and zero tolerance, influence school climate and student behavior.

Ninth Grade Survey. In order to augment the measurement of school safety conditions, the Virginia school safety audit process in 2007 included a school climate survey of ninth grade students and teachers from nearly 300 high schools. The survey measured student and teacher perceptions of school rules and discipline, teacher-student relationships, student involvement in school activities and commitment to learning, and the extent of bullying and teasing at school. Ninth grade was selected for study primarily because it is the first year of high school and therefore permits longitudinal study of the ninth grade cohort as they proceed through grades 9-12. In addition, ninth grade students account for approximately 45% of the disciplinary infractions that take place in high schools.

First Report of Survey Results. A descriptive study of ninth grade survey results from approximately 7,400 students and 2,400 teachers is now available. Click here for a copy of the Executive Summary (10 pages). Click here for a copy of the full report (132 pages, including Executive Summary).

The Virginia Youth Violence Project is conducting this study as part of Virginia's School Safety Audit program and in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Center for School Safety of the Department of Criminal Justice Services, and the Department of Health. The study is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Click here for more information about the Virginia High School Safety Study. Press Release.