This research brief explores school-based violence in the United States from January 1, 2023, through March 31, 2026. The data for this brief are provided from the Terrorism and Targeted Violence (T2V) in the United States database, which includes comprehensive information on 3,216 foiled, failed, and successful attacks in the U.S. and its territories that were designed to have a significant impact on public safety or the security of critical infrastructure and key resources. More information about the T2V database can be found in the “About T2V” section at the conclusion of this brief. The analysis presented here explores 700 premeditated plots in the T2V data targeting school spaces in the United States. It analyzes the rates of school-based violence in the U.S., the locations of these plots, the weapon types used by perpetrators of school-based violence, and the intentions and outcomes of these plots. This brief also provides general statistics on the ages of perpetrators of school-based violence. It also examines the intersection of terrorism and school-based violence.
Publication Information
Kane, Sheehan. 2026. "Terrorism and Targeted Violence (T2V) in the United States: Plots Targeting U.S. Schools." College Park, MD: START (September).