Virginia Tech Massacre remains the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. It led to 32 deaths and 23 injuries. This was back in 2007.
Ever since the tragic day, the frequency of school shootings has increased — but fortunately, the count of fatalities and injuries has gradually declined.
This is because more and more schools are opting to have security guards.
Here at Bellator Defense, we work with schools in Denver, CO and compiled these statistics to raise awareness about how school security guards actually have a positive effect on school security.
In this post, we’ll share how many American schools have security guards, their effectiveness, and why having security guards is essential moving forward in 2025.
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
How Many Schools Have Security Guards in the U.S.?
In 2023, 58% of public schools had at least one law enforcement officer — also known as a School Resource Officer (SRO). These officers were present on campus at least once a week and were authorized to detain or arrest students.
Let’s look at the numbers for security staff and armed guards in primary, secondary, and high schools.
Primary Schools
Security staff: Approximately 54.6% of primary schools had at least one security officer on site during the 2019-2020 school year. During 2015-2016, only 45.5% of primary schools had security staff, so this shows a significant increase.
Armed guards: The percentage of primary schools with armed security guards dropped from 20% in 2007-2008 to 12.5% in 2009-2010.
Secondary Schools
Security staff: During the 2015-2016 school year, around 72.4% of middle schools reported having at least one security staff member present on school grounds. This percentage increased to 81.5% by 2019-2020.
Armed guards: About 51.8% of middle schools with security guards employed officers who routinely carried firearms during 2005-2006. This percentage hiked to 54% in 2007-2008 but dropped back to 51% in 2009-2010 as security devices and technology improved.
High Schools
Security staff: 84% of high schools have security staff. That’s because 18 active shooter incidents have been reported at the postsecondary level from 2000 to 2022. This resulted in 157 casualties. It’s also worth noting that the hiring of security staff has led to a positive change — there was no active shooter incident documented in 2022.
Armed guards: About 60.7% of high schools with armed security guards employ sworn law enforcement officers who routinely carry firearms.
How Many Rural Schools Have Security Guards in the USA?
Approximately 25.3% of rural schools reported having armed guards during the 2009-2010 school year. The percentage of law enforcement officers who routinely carry a firearm is also higher in rural areas as compared to cities.
36% of public schools had an SRO equipped with a firearm in cities during the academic year 2015-2016, while 41.3% of public schools in rural areas had an SRO equipped with a firearm.
Many rural districts are also now certifying existing staff, such as teachers and administrators, to carry firearms.
For example, the South Side School District in Beaver County appointed staff members (including the superintendent and principal) as school police officers. They were authorized to carry firearms after undergoing extensive training.
Challenges and Concerns Surrounding Schools With Armed Security Guards
Armed security guards can provide an immediate response to threats. But they aren’t as effective as intended if you don’t hire properly trained personnel.
Take the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, as an example. On May 24, 2022, a gunman entered the school.
Although law enforcement and campus security were nearby, they were slow to respond. The situation quickly spiraled out of control and tragically resulted in the loss of 21 lives — 19 children and two teachers.
Partnering With Experts — How Bellator Defense Can Help
The data speaks for itself. Over the years, more and more schools have hired security guards. That’s because they make schools safer and prevent another Virginia Tech Massacre from happening.
And no, campus security guards don’t have to break the bank. Instead of stretching your budget thin with numerous security personnel, consider making a strategic investment in a smaller team of highly trained, world-class professionals who can handle any threat with expertise.
The goal is to ensure that every dollar spent provides maximum value in terms of protecting your students, staff, and campus.
That’s where Bellator Defense comes in. When you partner with us, you gain access to:
Advanced threat assessments to identify & recognize potential risks
Customized security plans to tackle your unique circumstances
Rigorously trained armed guards prepared to respond to any threat
Ongoing staff training for continuous improvement and preparedness
This all-encompassing approach ensures that your school is secure and prepared for any situation that may arise. Sounds interesting? Contact us for a free quote today — we’ll help you make your school safer now matter how many security guards it needs.
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