Iowa schools notable for lowest availability of illicit drugs, smallest percentage of students carrying weapons: report

Highlights from Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2009 published by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics. Released online Thursday, Dec. 10:

p. 34

In 2007, student reports of the availability of drugs on school property varied among the 39 states and the District of Columbia for which data were available. Among these states and the District of Columbia, the percentage of students reporting that drugs were offered, sold, or given to them on school property ranged from 10 percent in Iowa to 37 percent in Arizona

(table 9.2).

p. 48

In 2007, the percentage of students who reported having been in a fight anywhere (38 states and the District of Columbia) and on school property (39 states and the District of Columbia) varied among the states and the District of Columbia for which data were available. Among these states and the District of Columbia, the percentage of students reporting being in a fight anywhere ranged from 24 percent in Iowa to 43 percent in the District of Columbia

, while the percentage of students reporting being in a fight on school property ranged from 7 percent in Hawaii to 20 percent in the District of Columbia (table 13.2).

p. 50

In 2007, the percentage of students who reported carrying a weapon anywhere (36 states and the District of Columbia) and on school property (39 states and the District of Columbia) varied among the states and the District of Columbia for which data were available. Among these states and the District of Columbia, the percentage of students reporting carrying a weapon anywhere ranged from 13 percent in Iowa to 27 percent in New Mexico, while the percentage of students reporting carrying a weapon on school property ranged from 4 percent in Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and Wisconsin to 11 percent in Wyoming

(table 14.2).

p. 52

In 2007, the percentage of students who reported drinking alcohol anywhere (39 states and the District of Columbia) and on school property (38 states and the District of Columbia) varied among the states and the District of Columbia for which data were available. Among these states and the District of Columbia, the percentage of students who reported drinking alcohol anywhere ranged from 17 percent in Utah to 49 percent in Wisconsin, while the percentage of students who reported drinking on school property ranged from 3 percent in Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio to 9 percent in New Mexico

(table 15.2).

p. 54

In 2007, the percentage of students who reported using marijuana anywhere (39 states and the District of Columbia) and on school property (38 states and the District of Columbia) varied among the states and the District of Columbia for which data were available. Among these states and the District of Columbia, the percentage of students who reported using marijuana anywhere ranged from 9 percent in Utah to 25 percent in Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Mexico, while the percentage of students who reported using marijuana on school property ranged from 2 percent in Iowa to 8 percent in New Mexico

(table 16.2).Full report at

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010012.pdf