Do School Lockdown Drills Improve Safety or Increase Anxiety Among Students?

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:55:00 +0200

School lockdown drills have become a routine part of student life in the United States, even for children as young as four years old, due to the frequency of school shootings. In 2026 alone, dozens of such incidents have already been recorded. These drills typically involve students hiding quietly in locked classrooms, often in dark corners, to simulate an active shooter situation. While there are cases where lockdown procedures have helped prevent further harm—such as a recent incident in Oklahoma where a principal intervened to stop a gunman—the overall effectiveness of these drills remains uncertain.

There is no federal standard governing how or how often schools should conduct lockdown drills, leading to significant variation across states and districts. Some states mandate multiple drills per year, but the interpretation and execution differ widely. Experts distinguish between basic drills, which focus on preparedness, and more intense simulations that attempt to replicate real-l