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There were more weapons brought into Washington鈥檚 schools during the last school year than the year before.

That鈥檚 according to a from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, which found an 11.6% increase in weapons on school grounds in the 2022-2023 school year compared to 2021-2022.

During the 2022-2023 school year, 2,275 weapon incidents were reported by Washington鈥檚 public and private schools. Of those, 316 involved possession of a firearm. All of the gun incidents were reported at public schools. Most other reports involved knives, daggers or 鈥渙ther weapons.鈥�

However, the presence of guns specifically increased, 236 incidents involving firearms during the 2021-2022 school year, according to last year鈥檚 report from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

鈥淚 wish I could say I was really shocked by this increase, but sadly I鈥檓 not that shocked,鈥� said Johnny Lupinacci, an associate professor at Washington State University who studies the intersection of schools and social justice.

While national data on the 2022-2023 school year is not yet available, show that, among states, Washington had the 11th highest rate of students bringing firearms to school.

Nationwide, the number of guns showing up in schools is soaring. found 1 in 47 school-age children, or about 1.1 million students, attended a school where at least one gun was found and reported on by the media in the 2022-2023 school year 鈥� and the actual number of guns in schools may be much higher.

Washington has enacted some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country and

Lupinacci praised the state鈥檚 strict gun laws and said his 鈥済ut reaction鈥� to seeing increasing numbers of guns in schools is to make it even harder to obtain a firearm. He said getting a gun remains just 鈥渇ar too easy,鈥� even in some of the most restrictive jurisdictions.

possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons on school grounds, except for security and law enforcement. The law also requires the expulsion of students found in possession of a firearm anywhere on school grounds, although superintendents can modify expulsions on a case-by-case basis.

Lupinacci said students primarily bring weapons into schools because they feel unsafe and believe 鈥渢he only way they could be safe is to somehow arm themselves.鈥�

for American children and teens, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data for 2022, analyzed by Everytown for Gun Safety, a group that advocates for stricter gun laws.

Despite the increase in weapons in Washington鈥檚 schools, expulsions due to weapon incidents were down 49%. Schools chose to suspend students instead: Compared to the 2021-2022 school year, there was a 12% increase in suspensions in 2022-2023.

Lupinacci said 鈥渮ero tolerance鈥� policies around weapons in schools are important, particularly with firearms, and praised Washington鈥檚 schools for reducing expulsions and increasing suspensions, calling the schools鈥� response empathetic but firm.

He also said the solution to reducing weapons in schools involves a 鈥渓arger discussion鈥� about reducing child poverty, increasing school funding and dealing with rising mental health issues among America鈥檚 youth.

鈥淥ur public school systems can and ought to be that safety net in our communities,鈥� Lupinacci said. 鈥淲hat we see is when we don鈥檛 take care of our community, kids experience school in a way where it feels dangerous or unsafe.鈥�

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: [email protected]. Follow Washington State Standard on and .

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