More than one third of Americans think that reducing school violence is the top challenge facing public schools. The challenge posed by National Education Goal 7 is that, by the year 2000, schools will be free of violence. Despite increased concern about school violence and pursuit of this lofty national goal, this paper presents the argument that it is time to reflect on what is actually known about school violence. Empirical studies about school violence are reviewed, particularly as they relate to weapons possession, perception of personal security, victimization patterns, and perceptions of campus conditions associated with environments conducive to learning. These studies are drawn from multidisciplinary literature sources and the results of the California School Climate and Safety Survey. It is shown that schools are not infested with violence and that teachers and students generally feel safe in their home schools. It is argued that school safety plans should be informed by local information and not driven primarily by national studies or media reports. (Contains 34 references and 5 tables) (Author/JE)