School safety priorities are undergoing a fundamental shift in 2025. Districts nationwide are moving beyond reactive measures to embrace proactive, data-driven strategies that put wearable panic buttons at the center of their school safety plan. The CENTEGIX 2025 School Safety Trends Report includes data from more than 265,000 incidents and reveals how the convergence of training and technology is transforming the way schools protect students and staff.
The data tells a compelling story: behavioral incidents account for 88% of all alerts, nearly 60% of safety incidents occur outside the classroom, and districts using comprehensive safety platforms are seeing dramatic improvements in reduced response times and school culture. For Normandy Schools Collaborative in Missouri, this resulted in a reduction in out-of-school (OOS) suspensions by an astounding 81%.
Trend 1: Data-Driven Decisions Transform School Safety Plans
Gone are the days when administrators relied solely on instinct. Today’s school leaders demand concrete evidence that their safety investments are working. Dr. Michael Triplett of Normandy Schools Collaborative exemplifies this approach. Three years ago, his district faced over 3,000 OOS suspensions. Last year, the number dropped to 1,400. Since implementing CENTEGIX wearable panic buttons, OOS suspensions plummeted to just 261—an 81% reduction that represents not just a statistical achievement, but a complete cultural transformation.
This dramatic improvement stems from the district’s ability to analyze alert data in real time. Weekly disciplinary meetings now incorporate insights from the CENTEGIX Safety Platform™, enabling administrators to adjust staffing in hallways, refine protocols, and target professional development where it’s needed most. The result? Staff can de-escalate situations before they spiral out of control.
The impact extends beyond individual districts. State legislators increasingly demand verifiable data on safety system usage, drill participation, and response readiness. Districts equipped with comprehensive data can demonstrate compliance, justify funding, and most importantly, prove they’re keeping students safe.
Trend 2: Building a Culture Where Safety Comes First
Creating a culture of safety requires more than installing technology—it demands integrating safety into the fabric of daily school life. Superintendents increasingly frame safety as a strategic priority that enhances learning environments and builds community trust. Every school safety plan must reflect this cultural commitment.
When Frenship ISD implemented its wearable panic button system, Assistant Superintendent Richard Dean witnessed an immediate transformation in staff confidence. “The teachers love the response time that they get,” he notes. “Instead of trying to remember to call this person or that person, they push the button, and people show up.”
This shift empowers everyone to take ownership of safety. Superintendent Jeremy Gulley of Jay School Corporation describes it as moving from “see something, say something” to “see something, say something, DO something.” When staff know help is seconds away, they focus better on instruction. When administrators can analyze response patterns, they continuously improve protocols. When districts share safety data transparently with communities, they build trust and demonstrate accountability.
Trend 3: Interoperability Helps Safety Systems Work Together
Modern schools rely on multiple safety technologies—access control, surveillance cameras, mass communication systems, and more. These tools reach their full potential only when working together seamlessly. The CENTEGIX Safety Platform doesn’t replace existing investments; it enhances them by serving as the connective tissue that enables true interoperability within any school safety plan.
The platform integrates with nearly 100 other safety solutions, from video systems to digital mapping to mass notification platforms. This approach reflects a fundamental shift in how legislators and technology leaders think about school safety. They want solutions that are scalable, compatible, and future-ready—systems that enhance rather than disrupt existing infrastructure.
For districts, this means their wearable panic button system communicates directly with 911 dispatch centers, activates existing camera systems at alert locations, and automatically triggers mass notification protocols. Every component works together to reduce response time.
Trend 4: Wearables Have Become the Emergency Response Standard
A nationwide survey revealed a troubling gap: while nearly 80% of educators regularly think about their physical safety at work, only 33% feel their district prioritizes safety. This disconnect is driving the rapid adoption of wearable safety technology.
Unlike mobile apps that require phones to be charged, connected, and accessible, wearable panic buttons offer immediate, reliable help at the push of a button. CENTEGIX pioneered this category by recognizing a simple truth: safety must meet staff wherever they are—in hallways, playgrounds, or parking lots.
The momentum continues building through legislation. Alyssa’s Law, which requires schools to have silent panic alert systems that connect directly to law enforcement, has been adopted in 10 states and proposed in many more. Many newer versions explicitly require wearable systems, recognizing their superiority over classroom-based or app-based alternatives as part of a comprehensive school safety plan.
What sets CENTEGIX CrisisAlert™ apart? The badges require no daily charging—lasting over a year on a single battery. The system operates on private LoRaWAN and Bluetooth networks independent of Wi-Fi or cellular coverage.
Trend 5: Visual Alerts Mean No One Misses Critical Notifications
Reaching everyone immediately becomes paramount during campus-wide emergencies. While intercoms fail in noisy gymnasiums and digital messages miss those in hallways, visual strobes cut through these barriers. CENTEGIX wireless, battery-powered strobes provide unmissable alerts that work even during power outages.
These aren’t afterthoughts—they’re foundational to the Safety Platform. Color-coded to match district-specific protocols, strobes communicate whether to lockdown, evacuate, or shelter in place. Their strategic placement throughout buildings means everyone, everywhere gets the critical emergency notifications.
Trend 6: Digital Mapping Accelerates Emergency Response
When seconds matter, first responders need immediate answers: Where is the emergency? Who needs help? What resources are available? Digital mapping provides these answers instantly, which explains why 23 states have passed or introduced legislation mandating this technology as an essential component of every school safety plan.
CENTEGIX Safety Blueprint™ goes beyond static floor plans. Fully integrated with the wearable panic button system, it displays real-time alert locations, marks all safety assets—from AEDs to fire extinguishers—and shares critical information directly with 911 dispatch. Districts own their mapping data, update it at any time, and customize layers to meet the needs of different teams.
Paul Cordova, Police Chief at Aldine ISD, explains the impact: “The system has a very sophisticated mapping feature that allows responders to see exactly which room or hallway the emergency is coming from. In the event of a real active shooter, we could share this information with outside police agencies who may be coming to aid us.”
The Data Speaks: Real Impact in Real Schools
The 2025 School Safety Trends Report reveals how a comprehensive system like the CENTEGIX Safety Platform delivers measurable results. Of the 265,000+ alerts this school year, 99% addressed everyday emergencies—medical incidents and behavioral issues. Only 1% involved campus-wide events, such as lockdowns.
Location data reveals why mobile solutions are insufficient: nearly 60% of incidents occur outside classrooms—in hallways (16%), exterior areas (9%), offices (3%), gymnasiums (2%), cafeterias (3%), and libraries (2%). Staff need safety tools that work everywhere.
User satisfaction tells the complete story. Among surveyed staff, 99% find the badge easy to use, 98% feel safer and more supported, 96% report the badge empowered rapid resolution, and 92% recommend the system to others.
Training and Technology Save Lives Together
The evolution of school safety in 2025 reflects a fundamental truth: neither training nor technology alone suffices. Success requires both working in harmony. When robust training is combined with purpose-built technology, such as wearable panic buttons and integrated digital mapping, schools can transform from reactive to proactive.
Districts implementing these holistic approaches report dramatic improvements—accelerated emergency response, reduced behavioral incidents, enhanced staff confidence, and stronger community trust. The data proves what educators have long believed: when people feel safe, they perform better. When help is seconds away, everyone benefits.
As schools nationwide grapple with evolving safety challenges, the path forward is clear. Sustainable safety strategies must integrate people, protocols, and technology into unified systems that work reliably every day. The CENTEGIX Safety Platform, featuring CrisisAlert wearable panic buttons, represents this integration at its finest—empowering schools to protect what matters most.
In an emergency, seconds matter. The right combination of training and technology means those seconds save lives.
Learn More About the 2025 School Safety Trends
The data from over 265,000 incidents this 2024-2025 school year reveals clear patterns: schools need comprehensive safety solutions that integrate seamlessly, provide actionable data, and work reliably in every situation. See how districts nationwide are transforming their safety approaches with the CENTEGIX Safety Platform, and discover what these trends mean for your school community.
