  We use high resolution data to investigate the association between crime
incidence and proximity to different types of public schools over the past
fifteen years in the city of Philadelphia. We employ two statistical methods,
regression modeling and propensity score matching, in order to better isolate
the association between crime and school proximity while controlling for the
demographic, economic, land use and disorder characteristics of the surrounding
neighborhood. With both of these approaches, we find significantly increased
crime incidence near to public schools regardless of crime outcome, educational
level and time period. The effect of school proximity on crime varies
substantially depending on whether or not school is in session, as well as
between different types of crime and educational levels of the school. We see
the largest effects of school proximity on crime for violent crimes near to
high schools during their in-session time periods. Our results support several
theories which suggest that crime should be elevated near to schools, as well
as finding significant associations between crime and other aspects of the
built environment.
