North Carolina School Crime Drops 6.1% But Remains Higher Than 2019 Figures

North Carolina public schools saw crime and violence fall 6.1% when comparing the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. The State Board of Education released numbers showing short-term suspensions also decreased 8.6% across the same timeframe.

Yet crime and suspensions in schools still sit above pre-pandemic marks from 2018-19. State education officials point to trends over the past two years as signs things are getting better, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Wake County reported 1,527 crimes within schools — a 20% jump from the previous school year. Cases involving possession of a controlled substance surged 47%, making up 55% of all crimes the district recorded.

Assault on school personnel ranked as the second-most reported crime in Wake County. Officials documented 295 cases, which represented a 45% spike from the year before. The district did see one bright spot: reports of weapon possession dropped 25%. Short-term suspensions climbed 4.2%, reaching 13,304 for the district.

Johnston County Schools experienced a staggering 132% surge in school crime but managed a 17% decline in short-term suspensions. The increase stemmed primarily from more cases of controlled substance possession and weapons found on campus.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools recorded a 41% rise in school crime alongside a 5% reduction in short-term suspensions. Durham Public Schools bucked the trend, posting a 28% decrease in school crime and a 16% decline in short-term suspensions.

Chatham County Schools saw crime plummet 45%. Their short-term suspensions fell 11%. Orange County Schools witnessed a 49% drop in school crime, though short-term suspensions ticked up 2%.

Parents can now access this information for every public school statewide. Searchable databases let families review crime and suspension statistics for individual schools, with records stretching back to the 2007-08 school year.