The United States has witnessed a record surge in school shootings in 2024, with incidents reaching their highest level in the past decade. According to the CNN School Shootings Database — compiled from reports by the Gun Violence Archive, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Education Week — there have been 83 school shootings as of December 16, surpassing 2023’s total of 82.
The database reveals a stark breakdown: 27 of the 2024 shootings occurred on college campuses, while 56 incidents unfolded on K-12 school grounds. These tragedies have claimed 38 lives and injured at least 115 individuals.
US School Shootings Over the Last 10 Years
The data on school shootings in the United States reveals a concerning trend of increasing violence over the past decade. Starting at 37 incidents in 2015, the numbers rose steadily, peaking at 83 in 2024. In 2020, there was a notable drop to 22, probably due to pandemic-driven school closures. Between 2015 and 2020, annual incidents were significantly lower, averaging between 30 and 50 shootings per year. However, the numbers began to escalate dramatically in 2021, jumping to 74 incidents, followed by a steady upward trend: 80 shootings in 2022, 82 in 2023, and reaching a decade-high of 83 in 2024.
| Year |
Number of School Shootings |
| 2015 | 37 |
| 2016 | 51 |
| 2017 | 42 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2019 | 52 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 74 |
| 2022 | 80 |
| 2023 | 82 |
| 2024 | 83 |
Source: CNN School Shootings Database, compiled from reports shared by Gun Violence Archive, Everytown for Gun Safety and Education Week
The alarming frequency of these shootings exposes the deeply entrenched crisis of gun violence in the United States. Latest statistics from the CDC reveal that over 48,000 firearm-related deaths occurred in the country in 2022, with 40% of these being homicides.
5 US states with the highest rate of school shooting since 1966
As of July 22, 2024, California recorded the highest number of school shootings in the United States, with 270 incidents since 1966. Texas follows closely with 225 shootings in the same time period, while Florida ranks third with 155. Illinois and Ohio round out the top five, with 146 and 134 incidents, respectively.
| State |
Number of School Shootings (1966 – July 22, 2024) |
| California | 270 |
| Texas | 225 |
| Florida | 155 |
| Illinois | 146 |
| Ohio | 134 |
Source: Statista, a leading statistics portal
