All the victimization data contradict the notion of a progressive worsening of the school crime problem. Increases in property damage and assaults on teachers by students occurred in the late 1970's. For thefts from teachers and all offenses against students, school crime remained essentially level or declined in the 1970's and 1980's. Assaults showed little change, robberies declined in the most recent years, and thefts showed a long-term decline. An examination of offense statistics over this period for four large cities shows that assault increased in western cities and remained minimal in western ones. In three of four cities, robberies remained constant or declined, while thefts increased substantially in two cities. Junior high schools and schools in large cities were likely to have more crimes of personal violence than were senior high schools or those in other locations. 6 tables and 16 references.