* Data Collection Challenges: There's no single, universally agreed-upon definition of a "school shooting." Some databases include incidents with accidental discharges, suicides, or gang-related shootings on school property, while others focus solely on targeted attacks with multiple victims. This inconsistency makes comparing data across different sources challenging.
* Reporting Inconsistencies: Not all shootings are reported in the same manner or to the same databases. Some incidents might go unreported or underreported, especially those with fewer victims or less media attention.
* Data Lag: Official data often lags behind real-time events. Final numbers for a given year might not be available for several months or even years.
Organizations that track this data include:
* Everytown Research & Policy: This group actively compiles data on gun violence, including school shootings. Their data is generally considered reliable but might have its own methodology and definitions.
* The K-12 School Shooting Database: This database tracks school shootings in K-12 schools, offering a focus on this specific educational level.
* FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program: The FBI collects data on crime, including homicides, but the categorization of school shootings might not always be consistent or detailed enough for specific analysis.
Instead of providing potentially inaccurate or incomplete statistics, I strongly recommend consulting the websites of these organizations directly. Their reports often include detailed methodologies, allowing you to understand the limitations and nuances of the data they present. Searching their websites for "school shootings" and specifying the timeframe (last ten years) will give you the most up-to-date and accurate information available. Remember to compare data from multiple sources for a more comprehensive understanding.