School-Related Deaths Nationwide
| 1992-93: | 55 |
| 1993-94: | 51 |
| 1994-95: | 20 |
| 1995-96: | 35 |
| 1996-97: | 25 |
| 1997-98: | 40 |
| 1998-99: | 24* |
| NOTE: Figures include suicides and adult deaths as well as homicides of students. | |
| * Figure includes Jefferson County, Colo., fatalities as of late last week. | |
| SOURCE: Justice Policy Institute. | |
Timeline
A series of school slayings drew national attention during the 1997-98 school year.
| May 21, 1998: | Two students are killed and 22 are wounded in shootings at the 1,500-student Thurston High School in Springfield, Ore. The 15-year-old suspect is awaiting trial. |
| May 19, 1998: | One student is killed in a parking lot at the 1,100-student Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville, Tenn. The 18-year-old suspect is set to go to trial in July. |
| April 24, 1998: | A teacher at the 900-student Parker Middle School in Edinboro, Pa., is shot to death at an 8th grade school dance; two boys are injured. A 14-year-old boy is awaiting trial. |
| March 24, 1998: | Four students and a teacher are shot to death, and 10 others are wounded, at the 250-student Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark. Two students, ages 11 and 13, have been convicted of murder in juvenile court and could be held until age 21. |
| Dec. 1, 1997: | Three students are killed and five are wounded at the 490-student Heath High School in West Paducah, Ky. A 14-year-old boy is serving a life sentence for the killings. |
| Oct. 1, 1997: | Two students are killed and seven are injured at the 1,040-student Pearl High School in Pearl, Miss. The gunman, who was 16 at the time, had slit his mother’s throat before going to the school. He is serving a life sentence. |
