Data Shows Drop in 'Serious' Incidents at CT Schools

As lawmakers deliberate what's needed to ensure safety at the nation's schools following last month's massacre in Newtown, statistics from the Connecticut Department of Education show a decline in "serious" incidents taking place on school grounds over a five-year period.

The number of what the department termed "serious" incidents—involving weapons, violence, threatening behavior and other categories—decreased from 50,347 in school year 2005-06 to 43,236 in school year 2010-11, the most recent year for which data is available, the CT Mirror reports.

The decrease represents a 14 percent drop.

Citing the state's figures, the Mirror reported that during the 2010-11 school year there were:

• 14,049 fighting/battery incidents at Connecticut district schools
• 13,886 physical/verbal confrontation/conduct unbecoming incidents
• 1,203 incidents involving a weapon

In Weston during that same school year, according to the state, there were:

• 1 incident involving a weapon
• 1 violent crime against persons incident
• 0 incidents involving sexually-related behavior
• 4 physical/verbal confrontation/conduct unbecoming incidents
• 4 incidents of personally threatening behavior
• 1 incident involving fighting/battery

In Redding during that same school year, according to the state, there were:

• 1 incident involving a weapon
• 0 violent crimes against persons incidents
• 0 incidents involving sexually-related behavior
• 11 physical/verbal confrontation/conduct unbecoming incidents
• 5 incidents of personally threatening behavior
• 3 incidents involving fighting/battery

In Easton during that same school year, according to the state, there were:

• 0 incidents involving a weapon
• 0 violent crimes against persons incidents
• 1 incident involving sexually-related behavior
• 2 physical/verbal confrontation/conduct unbecoming incidents
• 5 incidents of personally threatening behavior
• 7 incidents involving fighting/battery

At Joel Barlow High School during that same school year, according to the state, there were: 

• 1 incident involving a weapon
• 0 violent crimes against persons incidents
• 0 incidents involving sexually-related behavior
• 3 physical/verbal confrontation/conduct unbecoming incidents
• 1 incident of personally threatening behavior
• 1 incident involving fighting/battery

A PDF of the state's statistics is included in the photo gallery that accompanies this article.