Lockdown Drill Procedure: School Safety Resource for K-12 Schools

After the 1999 Columbine High School shooting incident, lockdown drills have become an integral part of school safety planning, with over 98% of U.S. public K12 schools conducting them annually.

With the rise in school-based threats, from active shooters to violent intrusions, the question isn’t if schools should conduct drills—but how to do them in a way that truly protects students without creating unnecessary trauma.

Unlike traditional fire or weather drills, lockdown procedures involve staying in place, securing classrooms, and preparing for worst-case scenarios. 

• But how do you run these drills without causing panic?
• How do you balance preparedness with student mental health?
• And how do you make sure the protocol is effective?

While drills are essential, poor execution can lead to confusion, anxiety, or even harm. In this blog, let’s walk through the key components of an effective, trauma-informed lockdown drill procedure for K12 schools and the best practices for school lockdown drills in 2025.

What Is a School Lockdown Drill?

A school lockdown drill is an emergency protocol used when there is a threat inside or near the school building. Unlike traditional fire drills, students and staff are instructed to stay inside, lock doors, turn off lights, and remain silent and out of sight instead of evacuating, which could be dangerous. The goal is to reduce visibility and movement until law enforcement clears the threat.

These simulations train students, teachers, and staff to respond quickly and calmly during high-risk situations like active shooter events. The rise in school shootings has made these drills more necessary than ever, changing how schools prepare for emergencies.

The objective isn’t to cause fear but to build preparedness. When drills are trauma-informed and age-appropriate, they can help students and staff respond with clarity, not panic. Getting these drills right for school leaders or safety coordinators is about more than compliance: protecting lives in the moments that matter most.

Lockdown, Lockout, and Shelter-in-place: What’s the difference?

Understanding the difference between lockdown, lockout, and shelter-in-place is key to making the right call during emergencies. While all three aim to keep students and staff safe, the type of threat determines the response.

• A lockdown is used when there’s a direct threat inside or very close to the school—such as an intruder or active shooter. In this case, classrooms are locked, lights are turned off, and everyone stays quiet and out of sight.
• A lockout is a response to danger outside the school building, such as police activity in the area. The doors are locked, but inside, classes continue as usual. The goal is to keep the threat out.
• Shelter-in-place is used when there’s a risk from the environment—like a chemical spill, storm, or nearby fire. Everyone stays indoors, sometimes sealing doors and windows, until the danger passes.

Each drill prepares the school community to act quickly and calmly, depending on the type of threat. Knowing the difference helps school staff make faster, more informed decisions—and helps students understand what’s happening and why.

How Does a Lockdown Drill Work?

Lockdown drills at school are planned to prepare students and staff for dangerous situations, particularly active shooter scenarios. These drills help everyone understand what to do when faced with a threat, offering a structured, practised response to minimize chaos and improve safety. Below is how a lockdown drills at school works, from the alert to post-drill follow-ups -

Initiating the Lockdown

When a potential threat is identified, an authorized individual (school principal or security officer) initiates the lockdown procedure. This can be communicated via a loud alarm, a public address announcement, or another pre-established system. Quick, clear communication is key to signalling everyone to take immediate action.

Securing the Facility, Locking Down, and Staying Hidden

Once the lockdown is announced, the priority is to secure the building, creating an environment where no one can be seen or heard.

• Doors: All doors, including classroom doors and any other entry points, are immediately locked. Electronic and physical security measures may be used to block access. If doors can't be locked, barricades are used to prevent entry.
• Lights: Lights are turned off to reduce visibility from outside.
• Silence: To avoid detection, everyone is instructed to stay quiet without talking or moving.

Taking Shelter at Safe Spots and Staying Put

• In the Classroom: Students and staff move away from windows and doors to stay out of view. They may be instructed to sit, hide under desks, crouch in corners, or hide behind objects that can shield them from potential danger.
• In Other Areas: Staff and students in hallways or open spaces should seek shelter in nearby rooms or hide behind furniture, if possible.

Silence is paramount during this phase—phones should be silenced, and no one should move until it's safe.

Holding the Position Until it’s Safe

The lockdown doesn’t end until an authority figure gives the "all clear" signal. This may come after the situation is resolved or the threat is no longer present. Until that signal is given, everyone stays quiet and awaits further instructions.

Debriefing After the Drill to Learn and Improve

Once the situation is confirmed as safe, authorities will lift the lockdown and provide clear directions on how to exit the area or return to normal activities. This is followed by a debriefing session, where staff and students review how the drill went, what worked well and where improvements can be made. The emotional impacts are discussed as well—lockdown drills can be stressful, and offering counselling or group discussions afterwards helps students process their emotions.

Importance of Lockdown Drill at Schools

In an age where school safety is constantly scrutinised, lockdown drills have become indispensable tools to protect students, staff, and the broader community. They are the foundation for a school’s emergency response, helping everyone involved—from administrators to first responders—work in unison during critical moments.

• Building Muscle Memory for Swift Action

When an emergency strikes, there is no time for confusion or second-guessing. One of the primary goals of lockdown drills is to build muscle memory. When a school community practices lockdown procedures regularly, it becomes second nature for staff and students to know exactly what to do without hesitation.

They lock doors, turn off lights, remain silent, and seek safety. This kind of preparedness is critical when every second counts in an emergency.

• Improving Coordination and Communication

A successful response during a crisis depends on clear communication and coordinated action. Lockdown drills bring together the school community (staff, students, emergency responders, etc.) to practice these skills under pressure.

They learn how to communicate in moments of panic and act as a unified team. Whether teachers guide students to safe areas or staff coordinate with local law enforcement, each person knows their role in the process. With this, effective teamwork can make all the difference during a real emergency.

• Addressing the Psychological Impact of Violence

A significant part of lockdown drills is physical safety and addressing students' emotional well-being. Research shows that students exposed to bullying or violence may feel unsafe at school, leading to anxiety & depression, which can negatively impact their mental health and academic performance.

However, in a survey of 8,600 students, those who participated in lockdown drills reported feeling more confident in their ability to handle emergencies despite past exposure to violence. Regular drills help alleviate anxiety by empowering students with the knowledge that they are prepared for the unexpected. This reinforces the value of lockdown drills, even for students who have already been exposed to violence.

• Identifying Areas for Improvement

Post-drill evaluations are essential in refining emergency preparedness plans. They expose weaknesses in communication systems, physical security measures, and staff training. Schools can use these evaluations to identify areas that need improvement and make necessary adjustments. This continuous cycle of practice and review ensures that schools are better prepared for all types of emergencies—internal or external.

How to Conduct an Effective Lockdown Drill

• Pre-Drill Communication and Transparency

No matter how well-designed a lockdown drill may be, its success starts with how it’s introduced. Before the drill begins, communicating clearly with students, staff, and families is essential.

Always begin with a direct and repeated message over the PA system: 

“Lockdown. Locks, Lights, Out of Sight. This is a drill.”

This short, clear announcement helps avoid confusion and assures everyone understands what’s happening. Without this clarification, there's a real risk of panic, including calls to emergency responders or media attention.

Being transparent builds trust. Parents should be informed in advance. This allows them to talk to their children, address fears, and help ease nervousness. Students, especially younger ones, cope better when they understand what’s happening and why.

It also shows that the school values open communication and collaboration while reassuring families that it’s a process involving everyone. When people are prepared, they respond better; that difference matters in emergencies.

• Involvement of Law Enforcement

As lockdown drills are not just internal exercises, they do need the input and support of local law enforcement. Their presence brings valuable experience that helps shape procedures that work in real-world scenarios.

Before holding any drill, schools should check what state and district policies require. Many areas have clear rules about how often drills should be held, what steps must be followed, and how the process should be documented. Ignoring these rules can lead to confusion—or even legal consequences.

Working with law enforcement early on helps align school safety plans with local standards. Officers can walk through the drill, offer feedback, and point out weak spots that staff may overlook. This collaboration also builds familiarity between school staff and first responders, which can help when real emergencies happen.

In schools, contacting law enforcement immediately during an actual lockdown usually makes sense. School leaders know their environment and trust their staff to make that call when needed. They help schools prepare in a way that reflects how events unfold, not just how they’re planned.

• Role of Surveillance & Intercom Systems

Modern school safety relies on more than just locked doors. A well-equipped school lockdown plan needs strong surveillance and communication systems that support fast action and clear coordination.

At the centre of this setup is a control room where staff can view security footage, trigger alarms, lock doors remotely, and communicate with everyone on campus. This centralized access helps schools respond quickly, guide students and staff safely, and give emergency responders the information they need as events unfold.

Today’s systems do more than record video. Many schools are upgrading to smart surveillance tools that use built-in advanced features. These include

• AI search functions to scan footage easily,
• Facial Recognition to flag known individuals or strangers on campus,
• Gun Detection to identify visible weapons,
• License Plate Recognition at entry points to track who comes and goes,
• Safety Alerts & Productivity Monitoring to notify staff about unusual behaviour or patterns that may need attention
• Night vision cameras to keep the campus covered even after dark.

When used properly, these tools don’t just respond to threats—they help schools stay a step ahead and act faster and more clearly.

• Classroom Protocols and Barricading Tips

In a lockdown drill at school, what happens inside the classroom often determines the outcome. When evacuation isn’t possible, securing the room is the top priority. Most active shooter incidents last less than five minutes, while law enforcement response can take four to eleven minutes. That gap belongs to teachers and students—what they do matters.

Locking the classroom door is the first step. But many doors swing outward and can only be locked from the outside, putting teachers or students at risk. Additionally, substitute teachers may not have keys, and panic makes even simple actions harder. These seconds are too valuable to lose.

That’s why many schools now use lockdown devices that let teachers lock doors quickly and safely from the inside without needing the keys. Once the door is locked, turn off the lights, stay low, and out of sight. A dark, silent room is often enough to make an intruder move on.

Moreover, Barricading should be minimal, as loud, heavy furniture movements waste time and draw attention. Focus on fast, quiet steps like locking the door, hiding, staying quiet, and calling for help if possible. Keeping the plan simple helps everyone act quickly when every second counts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During School Lockdown Drills

• Failing to practice them regularly can confuse when an actual emergency occurs.
• Access points such as doors and windows should always be secured but often overlooked during drills.
• Not reinforcing the lockdown protocol can leave students and staff uncertain about what to do.
• Coordination with local law enforcement and first responders is essential to simulate realistic emergency responses, yet many schools neglect this.
• Allowing movement in hallways or between rooms during lockdowns can also be dangerous.
• Rushing through a drill without understanding the importance of calm, careful action can undermine the entire purpose of the exercise.
• Not conducting a thorough post-drill review can prevent valuable improvements from being made for future safety drills.

How Surveillance and Access Control Systems Support Lockdowns

When a lockdown is in motion, every second and every decision matters. At these moments, surveillance and access control systems work together to give schools, offices, and extensive facilities better control when faced with a potential threat. While supporting lockdowns, these systems also shape how well they’re handled in real-time.

Real-Time Monitoring

Real-time monitoring gives staff eyes across the property at once. Cameras placed at entry points, hallways, and around the perimeter show what’s happening as it unfolds—no guesswork, no waiting. Security teams can spot a threat before it reaches the building, monitor movement inside, and use the footage to guide emergency response. Coram’s surveillance systems also offer facial recognition, gun detection, safety & productivity alerts, which further help identify any details or suspicious activity near entrances. This allows for faster, smarter decisions under pressure.

Remote Door Locking

Many facilities today use access control systems with keycards, door stations, or mobile entry—all of which can restrict movement inside a building, forcing an intruder to lose time and direction. During a lockdown, the ability to lock every door from a central panel or mobile phone removes the need to send someone into harm’s way.

Integration with Emergency Tools

Integrating surveillance and access controls with other emergency tools ties everything together. Modern access control doesn’t work in isolation—it connects with alarms, PA systems, and emergency communication platforms. Schools can alert law enforcement, trigger lockdown measures, and lock every door with one action. Instead of scrambling, staff can follow a clear path forward.

Conclusion

School lockdown drills are essential for preparing K–12 schools for emergencies. While they don’t address the root causes of violence, they provide a clear action plan when safety is the priority. To make these drills effective, focus on key components:

• Clear pre-drill communication with staff and students to reduce panic & build understanding,
• Involving local law enforcement for realistic response procedures,
• Surveillance and intercom systems for early threat detection and campus-wide communication,
• Classroom protocols such as silent barricading, lockdown positions, etc.,
• Modern surveillance and access control systems, like those from Coram, allow administrators to monitor and restrict entries, lock down buildings remotely, alert security or emergency responders, and more, saving time.

By practising regularly and integrating these systems, schools can build a proactive safety culture where everyone is prepared to act quickly and safely.