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School Safety

Safety is our Top Priority

Nothing is more important than providing a safe environment for students and staff members, so Chesterfield County Public Schools remains on alert year-round. Schools maintain a safe and nurturing learning environment so students and staff members feel secure, comfortable and supported and can achieve their best. There are many layers of school safety:

  • Starting in August 2025, weapons detection systems are in place at every middle and high school. 
  • Every middle and high school has an on-site school resource officer (a police officer trained to work in educational environments). Additionally, school security officers are on site at every elementary, middle and high school.
  • School doors are locked, and visitors cannot enter before communicating with front office staff members.
  • Secure vestibules restrict visitors to the front office at every school. 
  • Each school has a comprehensive safety plan that includes regular fire drills, tornado drills and lockdown drills so that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency. 
  • Each school also has a threat assessment team trained to evaluate potential problems and respond appropriately if students behave in ways that suggest the threat of violence to themselves or to others. Chesterfield County Public Schools takes every threat seriously.
  • Security film is installed on windows and doors at school entrances to keep broken glass from flying inward.
  • More than 8,000 security cameras continuously monitor Chesterfield County Public Schools. Additionally, four mobile camera systems are used as needed to monitor large parking lots and athletic events.

Weapons detection systems added to middle and high schools

Weapons detection systems are bringing an additional layer of security to every Chesterfield County middle school and high school. Starting at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, students and school visitors (including CCPS staff members who do not have badge access to a building) will enter through OpenGate scanners, which are similar to those used at amusement parks, concerts and sporting events.

Weapons detection will be active from the start of the school day until dismissal, working to improve safety while maintaining a welcoming school environment. The system is designed to detect a variety of weapons. But no system is perfect, so it will sometimes alert on acceptable metal items and may sometimes miss items that should not be in school. 

Here’s how the automatic, noninvasive screening will work:

  • Students and school visitors (including CCPS staff members who do not have badge access to a building) will pass through freestanding pillars that use advanced technology to detect weapons that may be concealed on a person, in backpacks or in other bags. 
  • Because some safe items may cause nuisance alerts, students should remove them from their bags and hand them to a school staff member before going through the scanner: Chromebooks, three-ring binders, musical instruments, umbrellas, metal lunch boxes, metal pencil cases and metal eyeglass cases. These are the most common items that can trigger nuisance alerts.
  • After going through the scanner, students should retrieve their belongings and head to class.
  • If a potential weapon is detected, the system will flash red and beep. When that happens, the student or school visitor will step to one side so a closer search can be conducted.
  • If a weapon or other contraband is found, then school administrators and/or the police will be notified, and the person may face both school and legal consequences.

This video shows how weapons detection systems work in Chesterfield County middle and high schools. Mira en Español.

Nothing is more important than ensuring a safe environment for students and staff members of Chesterfield County Public Schools. We are all partners in efforts to keep schools safe. 

Additional information

School safety is always a top priority in Chesterfield County Public Schools, and schools remain on alert year-round. Weapons detection is another part of safety measures already in place in Chesterfield County Public Schools:

  • Every middle and high school has an on-site school resource officer (a police officer trained to work in educational environments). Additionally, school security officers are on site at every elementary, middle and high school.
  • School doors are locked, and visitors cannot enter before communicating with front office staff members.
  • Secure vestibules restrict visitors to the front office at every school. 
  • More than 8,000 security cameras continuously monitor Chesterfield County Public Schools. Additionally, four mobile camera systems are used as needed to monitor large parking lots and athletic events.
  • Security film is installed on windows and doors at school entrances to keep broken glass from flying inward.

In December 2024 and January 2025, Chesterfield County Public Schools tested weapons detection systems at two schools. Data from the demonstrations helped school leaders make decisions about adding weapons detection systems at middle schools and high schools. In May, the Chesterfield County School Board voted to procure OpenGate systems and the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors appropriated $2.7 million to cover the cost of the equipment. During summer school on July 14, the school system conducted a trial run at two schools to work through the process before implementing weapons detection at all middle schools and high schools at the start of the 2025-26 school year.

Answers to questions about weapons detection systems in Chesterfield County Public Schools

 

School safety is always a top priority in Chesterfield County Public Schools. Nothing is more important than ensuring a safe environment for students and staff members. Weapons detection is another part of safety measures in place in Chesterfield County Public Schools.

At every middle school and every high school, all students and school visitors (including CCPS staff members who do not have badge access to a building) will enter through scanners that are similar to the ones used at amusement parks, concerts and sporting events. Weapons detection will be active from the start of the school day until dismissal.

These items need to be passed around the scanner so they do not set off the alarm:

  • Chromebooks and other laptops
  • three-ring binders
  • musical instruments
  • umbrellas
  • metal lunch boxes
  • metal pencil cases
  • metal eyeglasses cases

These are the most common items that will trigger a nuisance alarm.

These items can remain in bags and backpacks and go through the scanner: books, planners, spiral notebooks, water bottles, folders, keys, coins, charging cords and cellphones.

Students are expected to enter at the doors designated by the school. Visitors are expected to enter at the front door. Students must not open any door to allow others to enter the building under any circumstances. Students who open a door for someone else or who enter the building through an unauthorized door will face school discipline.

There are no plans at this time to put weapons detection systems in elementary schools. Recent safety efforts at elementary schools include hiring school security officers for every school, completing security vestibules and installing security film on windows and doors at school entrances.

No weapon of any sort is allowed. This includes toy and replica weapons. Even if a student brings items like this to school by mistake, they could face serious consequences.

The system is designed to detect a variety of weapons. But no system is perfect, so it will sometimes alert on acceptable metal items and may sometimes miss items that should not be in school.

If a potential weapon is detected, the system will flash red and beep. When that happens, the student or school visitor will be directed to one side so that a closer search can be conducted. This may include inspecting the backpack and other items, using a handheld metal detector or having the person go through the scanner again. In some cases, this may also include searching the student who triggered the alert. If a weapon or other contraband is found, then school administrators and/or the police will be notified, and the person may face both school and legal consequences.

Policy 4010-R standards for student conduct covers searches and expectations for student behavior. The policy is provided annually to every student.

Yes. Chesterfield County Public Schools is a tobacco-free school system. Students, employees, parents and visitors are prohibited at all times from smoking or using tobacco products in schools, school grounds, offices, facilities, buses and other school vehicles. This ban includes electronic cigarettes and similar devices. Additionally, it is illegal for anyone under 21 in Virginia to purchase, use or possess any tobacco or nicotine product.

Unlike traditional metal detectors that alert on nearly any metal object, including harmless items like keys, water bottles, or cellphones, the OpenGate weapons detection system uses advanced sensor technology designed to identify potential threats more accurately. This means it can better distinguish between everyday metal objects and items that may pose a safety risk, resulting in fewer nuisance alarms and a more efficient, less disruptive screening process.

No.

No.

It is recommended that students, visitors and system operators with implantable or wearable medical devices consult their doctor or device manufacturer for information about their specific device. Please contact your school’s administration if you have specific health concerns. 

The vendor says the system is:

  • Safe for use for pacemakers and other medical implants
  • Compliant ​with and certified to the applicable ​electromagnetic ​standards on ​human ​exposure and pacemaker safety
  • Compliant with and certified to ​the applicable​ ​international ​standards for electrical safety and ​e​lectromagnetic compatibility

Working together

Everyone has a role in school safety. We ask that everyone be involved, aware, speak up and join efforts to sustain safe learning environments. If you see something, say something. If you know something, make sure someone at a school knows it too. Students, parents, employees and community members are partners in efforts to keep schools safe. 

Supporting students

School safety in Chesterfield County Public Schools School also involves:

  • Employing caring teachers and staff members who develop meaningful relationships with every student
  • Collaborating with local law enforcement officials, the county’s mental health team and other community partners to support students and families in need
  • Addressing student behavior and mental health needs proactively with the implementation of anti-bullying initiatives and positive behavioral interventions and supports
  • Supporting students through school counseling and other easy-to-access school services such as conflict resolution and team building
  • Using this approach to work with families solve problems

School visitors

During school hours, visitors to middle and high schools will enter through weapons detection scanners, which are similar to those used at amusement parks, concerts and sporting events. At all schools, visitors must enter through the main entrance after communicating with office staff via the intercom. Visitors must show photo identification (driver’s license, military ID, passport or other identification issued by a government agency), which will be scanned and checked against the sex offender database and school-specific alert databases. 

Keep danger out of reach

Drugs and weapons left within reach of a young child can turn into an emergency quickly. Here is information about keeping children safe at home:

Store medicines safely

Many medicines and supplements can look like candy, and it is hard for young children (and even adults) to tell the difference. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 100 young children are brought to the emergency room each day because medicines or supplements were left within their reach. Protect your child by keeping all medicines, vitamins and other supplements (including those in gummy form) up and away, out of reach and sight. Visit UpAndAway.org or reference Virginia law (§54.1-3401) to learn more.

Store guns safely

An essential part of home safety, secure firearm storage is required by Virginia law (§18.2-56.2). Putting a firearm out of sight or out of reach is not safe storage and not enough to prevent use by children or unauthorized adults. 

According to the CDC, the United States had more than 48,000 firearm-related deaths in 2022. That’s about 132 people dying from a firearm-related injury each day. More than half were suicides and more than four out of every 10 were homicides. Firearm injuries affect people in all stages of life and are the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-19. Firearms are the leading method of death by suicide among youth in Virginia.

In addition to being required by law, storing firearms securely helps keep kids safe. The Be SMART framework helps parents and adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent deaths and injuries:

  • Secure all firearms in your home and vehicles.
  • Model responsible behavior around firearms
  • Ask about the presence of unsecured firearms in other homes.
  • Recognize the role of firearms in suicide.
  • Tell your peers to be SMART

The Virginia Department of Education offers helpful resources about securing firearms, seeking help for children who may be a danger to themselves or others and other topics.

Note: In accordance with Virginia law and School Board Policy 6138: Parental Notification of Safe Storage of Prescription Drugs and Firearms, Chesterfield County Public Schools is required to provide parents and guardians with information about the safe storage of prescription drugs and firearms within 30 calendar days of the first day of each school year.

STEPP

Success Through Education and Police Partnerships (STEPP) is a collaborative effort of Chesterfield County Police Department and Chesterfield County Public Schools to educate children about public safety topics. The program is taught by non-sworn, uniformed child safety officers in CCPS elementary schools.

  • Rules
  • Community helpers
  • School bus/pedestrian safety
  • Introduction to digital citizenship
  • Respect for authority
  • Seatbelts
  • Officer car visit
  • Personal safety
  • Emergency 911
  • Respect
  • Safety at home
  • Self discipline
  • Digital citizenship
  • Interacting with others
  • Respect
  • Bullying prevention
  • Stranger awareness
  • Stealing
  • Handling conflicts
  • Alternatives to fighting
  • Decision making and digital citizenship
  • Emergency preparedness
  • Peer pressure
  • Responsibility
  • Respect
  • Digital citizenship
  • Alternatives to fighting
  • Introduction to crime prevention
  • Vandalism and shoplifting
  • Alternatives to fighting
  • Digital citizenship
  • Peer influences and decision making
  • Drug awareness
  • Nicotine awareness
  • Alcohol awareness
  • Helpful hints for middle school