Government: school crime dropped

WASHINGTON (AP) - School crime dropped slightly between 1995 and 1999, with the proportion of students saying they were victims of crimes dropping to one in 12, the government says.

More students feel safe at school as well, according to a report released by the Education and Justice departments. The percentage of students who say they were threatened with a weapon at school stayed about the same.

Attorney General John Ashcroft called the results heartening, but said more needs to be done.

"Our schools should be a haven for our young people where they can learn without fear of violence," he said.

Education Secretary Rod Paige said the report offered evidence that efforts by communities, schools, law enforcement officials and religious and other organizations can lead to drops in school violence.

The annual report said the percentage of students 12 and older who said they were victims of thefts, assaults or threats at school dropped from 10 percent in 1995 to 8 percent in 1999. The largest drop came for students in seventh, eighth and ninth grades. Figures for 11th-graders were unchanged at 7 percent.