Are private schools safer than public schools?

[Anonymous]

I know there's no clear answer on this, but I started thinking about it, in light of the latest school shooting. I'm not looking for a debate on gun control here; I'm more wondering what experiences you all have had regarding security precautions your private school takes.

I recognize that no place is 100% safe and that a shooting can happen anywhere, and at any school. I wonder, though, if the fact that private schools get to screen the kids who come in means they get fewer kids who might do something like this, and the lower student/teacher ratios mean fewer troubled kids fall through the cracks.

Anyway, I might be engaging in complete wishful thinking here. The personal aspect of this is that we had been thinking about private school for our daughter anyway, and the relentless barrage of school shootings has made me just wonder if there's a safety aspect of the benefits of sending a kid to private school. Again, I know there is no 100% safe place, but any even incremental increase in safety seems worth it.

[Anonymous]

Have proved that thus far!

[Anonymous]

The shootings are terrible and it is hard for me to believe that we live in a world where this happens. But the chances of your child being involved in a school shooting are so small that it should not be a factor. You should worry about how she gets to school and the distance traveled. Because her ride there is likely the riskiest part of her day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have proved that thus far!

OP here. I don't know that the lack of school shootings so far at private schools (that I know of) is necessarily evidence that they're safer. Only 10% of students nationwide attend private schools, so I wouldn't expect an occurrence that remains fairly unusual to necessarily happen at schools that educate such a small percentage of students. My question is whether there are substantive reasons why private schools are safer.

[Anonymous]

I have no data on this, but anecdotally my kids feel much safer since they switched to private school from FCPS. Smaller school, fewer entrances, more watchful eyes and security measures. That’s not to say that it is perfect but they said their previous school felt like a sea of miserable people. There were enough incidents of fights, threats and disturbing behavior that they felt unsafe sometimes. SRO was spread very thin and teachers seemed afraid at times too. That is only a small part of why we switched but it has been an unexpected benefit to feel much safer.

[Anonymous]

Nothing's 100% but probably. Hard to hide behavioural concerns in a close knit community. Also depending on the private, likely there are less parents that even own guns which would cut down the potential in that age group. Our DC went to a liberal city school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no data on this, but anecdotally my kids feel much safer since they switched to private school from FCPS. Smaller school, fewer entrances, more watchful eyes and security measures. That’s not to say that it is perfect but they said their previous school felt like a sea of miserable people. There were enough incidents of fights, threats and disturbing behavior that they felt unsafe sometimes. SRO was spread very thin and teachers seemed afraid at times too. That is only a small part of why we switched but it has been an unexpected benefit to feel much safer.

The bold part.
I do think kids feel safer. Mass shootings may not be something you really should consider, but the general atmosphere is a lot calmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no data on this, but anecdotally my kids feel much safer since they switched to private school from FCPS. Smaller school, fewer entrances, more watchful eyes and security measures. That’s not to say that it is perfect but they said their previous school felt like a sea of miserable people. There were enough incidents of fights, threats and disturbing behavior that they felt unsafe sometimes. SRO was spread very thin and teachers seemed afraid at times too. That is only a small part of why we switched but it has been an unexpected benefit to feel much safer.

The bold part.
I do think kids feel safer. Mass shootings may not be something you really should consider, but the general atmosphere is a lot calmer.

OP here. Thanks -- this is helpful. I agree that, while mass shootings terrify me (as I'm sure they terrify everyone), they remain very rare. I went to a private HS and the first thing I noticed was that, in contrast to my public MS, there were virtually no disciplinary issues in class. Everyone came in, sat down quietly, and was ready to participate and learn. The more common violence issues (kids getting badly beaten up, fights, etc.) are undoubtedly less common at most private schools, and is probably therefore a bigger benefit than an incrementally lower likelihood of a mass shooting, which is already so rare.

I also agree that the small class sizes make it much easier for teachers to identify issues kids are having, and a larger counselor staff (or at least a better student/counselor ratio) means better access to counseling services for kids.

[Anonymous]

Most are not as chaotic between classes or during social periods as large public middle or high schools. Any odd behavior or "visitors" would be readily seen at most private schools. Plus people would speak out, everyone knows everyone.

[Anonymous]

My son's private school has 2 police officers assigned to the school daily. Once drop off is over, the front door to the school is locked and you must ring a bell and sign in at the front desk to enter. All of the doors to the rest of the school lock behind you, so the only way to enter the building is the front door. Someone could easily walk in with a gun during pick up and drop off (or just shoot through the windows) but I do think they have better security than most schools. I at least have the perception my kid is safer in private school because I do believe the smaller class sizes make it harder for someone with behavioral or mental issues to slip through the cracks. I'm not saying they don't exist, but it wouldn't be ignored because other kids and/or parents would complain and raise the red flags.

[Anonymous]

I think private schools are "safer," in the sense that a potential shooter -- i.e. a child who is in trouble -- would be identified and counseled early, hopefully mitigating their reaching a crisis point.

However, even that is not foolproof. The Santa Fe shooter apparently showed few signs of dysfunctionality until a couple of months ago. Those signs were that of mild depression, which many teens go through. I doubt that would have been caught even at a private school.

That said, I think the parents who did not secure the guns in their home have a lot to answer for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think private schools are "safer," in the sense that a potential shooter -- i.e. a child who is in trouble -- would be identified and counseled early, hopefully mitigating their reaching a crisis point.

However, even that is not foolproof. The Santa Fe shooter apparently showed few signs of dysfunctionality until a couple of months ago. Those signs were that of mild depression, which many teens go through. I doubt that would have been caught even at a private school.

That said, I think the parents who did not secure the guns in their home have a lot to answer for.

Absolutely. They should be held responsible for what happens with the weapons they did not properly secure, and charged with negligence.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes private schools have armed security guards.
But, aside from those schools, i don't think private schools are intrinsically safer. They have all the same vulnerabilities as publics (basically: sitting targets like everyone else).

Most school shootings are done by current or former students that have mental health issues - angry, bullied, on the fringes, and with access to firearms. In public school it is so much easier to get lost and not be "seen." Private schools do much better at connecting with all students.

[Anonymous]

My kids' private school felt safer, but I don't believe it actually was safer. There are more kids in public schools than in private. It really is that simple. My kids are back in public school again and I just don't let fear creep into our daily life. I am heartbroken about school shootings. Even one is too many. I'm hopeful that sanity will prevail in this country and we will elect leaders willing to work to stop this madness. But I simply refuse to allow myself or my children to go through life fearful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think private schools are "safer," in the sense that a potential shooter -- i.e. a child who is in trouble -- would be identified and counseled early, hopefully mitigating their reaching a crisis point.

However, even that is not foolproof. The Santa Fe shooter apparently showed few signs of dysfunctionality until a couple of months ago. Those signs were that of mild depression, which many teens go through. I doubt that would have been caught even at a private school.

That said, I think the parents who did not secure the guns in their home have a lot to answer for.

The things he posted on social media appeared to suggest that he glorified violence and had sympathy towards hate groups, NOTsigns of mild depression. According to CNN, "Pagourtzis has a social media footprint that included an image of a custom T-shirt emblazoned with the words, "BORN TO KILL" posted on Facebook and several images of a black duster jacket with Nazi, communist, fascist and religious symbols." How are these not red flags? He was also known to be very interested in guns and violent video games. Some kid in the school told her parents she was worried that he would hurt her.