A Plan to Keep Students Safe

The Washington Post compiled a database that includes reported incidents of various gunfire during school hours from 1999 to 2022. I cleaned, wrangled, and analyzed this database in R Studio to delve into the pressing issue that is school shootings. Key incidents highlighted include the tragic events at Robb Elementary School, Columbine High School, Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Our review emphasizes the role of mental health and highlights the alarming statistic that 78% of school shooters under 18 acquired their weapons from home. I concluded with a call to action for the promotion of safe storage laws to prevent unauthorized access to firearms. Below are some of the visuals I used for in presentation. The presentation slide deck can be found here: A Plan to Keep Students Safe.

Working with The Washington Post’s database on school gunfire incidents honed my skills in data cleaning, analysis, and visualization using R Studio. I gained experience in handling complex datasets, uncovering critical insights, and effectively communicating findings. This project deepened my ability to analyze significant trends and advocate for data-driven solutions.