Larsen said schools are working with law enforcement, social services, parents and religious organizations on a common framework.

Character development efforts like service learning programs, social competency and friendship programs and anti-bullying programs have become strong factors in violence and alcohol and drug prevention, Larsen said.

The NCES study says its purpose is to help parents and educators see the true scope of problems to find solutions. It adds, "Victimized children are more prone to truancy, poor academic performance, and dropping out of school."

It showed that nationally, schools can also be deadly places. In the 2002-03 school year studied, it found 15 homicides and eight suicides at schools nationally.

The study said that students ages 12-18 were victims of about 1.9 million nonfatal crimes at school, "including about 1.2 million thefts and 740,000 violent crimes (simple assault and serious violent crime) — 150,000 of which were serious violent crimes (rape, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault)."

It said that for every 1,000 students nationally, an average of 45 would suffer thefts and 28 would be victims of violent crimes — including six serious violent crimes.

"We have become more aggressive as a society — we are a little meaner than we used to be," Larsen said. "I think some of it has to do with media violence — movies, TV shows and video games — kids see stuff now that years ago you would never see."

Schools are not totally safe for teachers, either. The study said that nationally every year from 1999 through 2003, teachers were victims of 119,000 thefts and 65,000 violent crimes. That means that for every 1,000 teachers, there were 25 thefts and 14 violent crimes — including two serious violent crimes.

Among other key national findings, the study said:

• In 1999-2000, 71 percent of public schools suffered one or more violent incidents, and 36 percent of public schools reported such incidents to police.

• In 2003, 21 percent of students ages 12-18 reported that street gangs were present at their school.

• In 2003, 7 percent of students ages 12-18 reported they had been bullied. That is one of every 14.

• In 2003, 33 percent of students in grades 9-12 nationally (and 28.7 percent in Utah) reported being in fights anywhere, while 12.8 percent (and 11.9 percent in Utah) said they had been in a fight on school property.

• One of every 20 students nationally (5 percent) in 2003 reported avoiding specific places in schools because they were fearful, down from 7 percent in 1999.

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com; terickson@desnews.com