Crime at L.A. K-12 schools has fallen rapidly over the past decade

When thefts from students were at their highest, in 2014, they were occurring most in the Vermont-Slauson area, with about 79% occurring at high schools. This year, theft is highest in Sylmar.

 

But schools are not necessarily becoming safer. An audit on school safety done by the LAUSD office of the inspector general that took place from 2019-2022 revealed that many safety measures at schools required improvement. The audit indicated that 63% of the schools visited did not have a surveillance system that was monitored throughout the day. It also noted that 75% of the principals claimed the defunding of school police had a significant negative impact on school safety. 

 

In 2020, following the outcry of students in the wake of George Floyd’s death, the LAUSD board voted to cut the school police budget by $25 million. A study from the Washington University Law Review shows that schools with police officers are more likely to refer students to law enforcement and data from Education Week indicates that Black students are more likely to be arrested by school police. This highly contested topic has been the subject of much discussion through the years. 

LAUSD on crime

LAUSD is the largest school district in L.A. with over 1,000 elementary, middle, high, adult and special education schools. It holds the second largest title nationally. On the topic of crime, an LAUSD spokesperson provided this statement, but did not directly address crime specifics:

 

“Los Angeles Unified takes the safety and security of students and staff seriously. The District has gone to great lengths to promote a culture of situational awareness and safety, and to partner with Los Angeles School Police, local law enforcements and municipalities to ensure coverage and expediency.”

 

Officials also noted two initiatives, Every School Safe and the Los Angeles Schools Anonymous Reporting App, that help to address social and emotional wellness and promote a culture of student safety. 

 

LAUSD Board Vice President Scott Schmerelson also provided a statement in part saying, 

 

“Board Members have pledged to work together, and with our community partners, to ensure there are safe routes to school, that students are free from harassment, and threats of violence are vanquished from our communities.”

 

But others point to alternative reasons as to why this trend is occurring. 

 

Julija Zubac is the senior director of restorative communities at Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, a non-profit that manages 20 LAUSD schools in Watts, Boyle Heights, and Southwest L.A. She acknowledged that, ten years ago, the district passed the School Climate Bill of Rights, a resolution that introduced restorative justice practices and refined the role of school police. She couldn't say there is a direct relationship between the resolution and the declining crime rate but she noted that it could be a factor. 

 

“I do think that it contributes to a climate where students feel welcome, they feel safe, they feel seen and valued. And I think that as a result of that, you will see less of this harm,” Zubac said. But just as crime is declining, so is enrollment.  

School enrollment

Enrollment in LAUSD schools has been steadily declining for years. From the 2015-2016 school year to the 2022-2023 school year, enrollment fell nearly 16%, as reported by LA School Report. This year, K-12 enrollment stands at 429,349, an almost 2% decrease from the previous year according to LAUSD’s open data source.