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School Shootings Harm Futures: Study Reveals Lasting Impact
1 Jun
Summary
- School shootings negatively impact students' education and career prospects.
- Affected students are less likely to graduate, enroll in college, and earn less.
- Schools increased security personnel but not mental health support post-shooting.
Recent research analyzing Texas public school data from 1995 to 2016 demonstrates that school shootings have significant and enduring repercussions on students' lives.
The study found that students attending schools where shootings occurred were substantially more likely to experience academic setbacks, including increased absences and grade repetition. These effects were not temporary, impacting their educational trajectories long after the incidents.
Furthermore, the analysis extended to post-high school outcomes, revealing that students exposed to gun violence were less likely to graduate, enroll in college, or obtain a bachelor's degree by age 26.
Professional and economic impacts were also evident, with affected students showing lower employment rates and reduced earnings. Researchers project an average lifetime earning loss of $100,439 per student due to these consequences.
While schools in the study increased assistant principal hires, there was no corresponding rise in mental health professionals, indicating a focus on discipline over support for affected students.
