CENTEGIX report: School panic button use rises 31%

ATLANTA – The use of wearable panic buttons to protect students and school staff increased by 31% compared to last year, according to a new report from CENTEGIX.

Of these alerts, 88% were for behavior such as physical altercations, students leaving campus without notice or permission, known as elopements, and other incidents where an educator might need additional support to address a situation, according to the 2026 School Safety Trends Report. An additional 10% were for medical emergencies such as seizures, cardiac arrests, or allergic reactions.

CENTEGIX, a K-12 school safety and emergency response technology provider, drew on data collected in the 2025/2026 school year through the CENTEGIX Safety Platform, including more than 346,000 alerts from wearable panic buttons. In addition to overall data trends, the report includes case studies, examining how individual school districts are enhancing safety.

"Nationally, K-12 districts are enhancing safety through comprehensive, proactive approaches," said Brent Cobb, CEO of CENTEGIX. "Keeping students and school staff safe is a daily responsibility. School safety includes layered approaches that consider both the everyday and the extreme. We're seeing districts use technology to improve daily workplace safety, with campus-wide coverage for a variety of situations."

Other key 2026 report findings:

Campus-Wide Coverage is Critical — The report found that 58% of incidents occurred outside the classroom in spaces like hallways (17%), exterior areas (10%) and cafeterias (3%) - highlighting the importance of precise location information in reducing response times.

In Extreme Emergencies, Technology and Training Are Helping to Protect Schools — While only 1% of alerts were for extreme, campus-wide threats requiring school-wide lockdowns, technology and training are making a difference in these incidents.

Data Is Strengthening Preparedness — Schools cannot improve what they cannot see. As districts strengthen emergency preparedness strategies, many are turning to safety data and real-time visibility to make more informed decisions across campuses. Data informs resource allocation, coordination with responders, and provides real-time insight.

A Nationwide Push for Safer Schools is Raising Expectations — Legislation continues to shape school safety requirements. Expectations for faster emergency notification and coordinated response capabilities are rising through the expansion of Alyssa's Law legislation. School mapping legislation also continues to grow, driving greater emphasis on precise location data and situational awareness during emergencies.

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