The survey, conducted between January and February 2025, polled more than 500 school employees across the country and highlights a complex picture
A new nationwide survey of school staff suggests that while entrance security is a top priority for US schools, significant vulnerabilities remain — especially around visitor management and staffing shortages.
Commissioned by Singlewire Software and conducted by independent research firm Researchscape, the study found that just 17 per cent of K–12 staff feel their campus entrances are “completely secure”, even as the vast majority report growing use of video surveillance and communication tools.
The survey, conducted between January and February 2025, polled more than 500 school employees across the country and highlights a complex picture: one in which confidence in protocols is relatively high, but daily implementation is fraught with challenges.
Among the most frequently cited concerns were guests bypassing check-in procedures (31 per cent), insufficient staffing (30 per cent), and the lack of systems to verify visitor identity (24 per cent).
Despite these issues, 82 per cent of respondents said their entrances were being monitored — either 24/7 or during school hours — and half rated their current security protocols as “good”, with nearly a third describing them as “excellent”.
Notably, nearly 90 per cent of schools surveyed rely on video surveillance at their entrances, with 43 per cent planning to invest further in surveillance upgrades over the next two years. Staff confidence in emergency responses was also high, with 89 per cent indicating they know how to react if an incident occurs at the entrance.
Yet the presence of technology doesn’t always guarantee seamless safety. Joanna Haugland, chief product officer for Visitor Aware at Singlewire Software, said that many schools continue to face “challenges and gaps” despite their best efforts.
“As schools look for ways to further enhance entrance safety, proactive tools that help identify potential threats and prevent them from accessing buildings will play a crucial role in keeping students and staff safe from harm,” Haugland said.
The report also found that only 1 per cent of schools surveyed lacked a dedicated communication system for handling entrance security issues — suggesting that while systems are in place, operational or behavioural shortcomings may be contributing to lingering vulnerabilities.
With heightened public concern over school safety, the findings point to a need for both strategic investment in smarter technology and stronger procedural compliance on the ground.