Weaponized drones aimed at stopping school shooters are being evaluated in multiple school districts in Florida.

Florida Schools to Test Drones for Safety

Three school districts in Florida are set to pilot a new type of drone equipped with pepper spray pellets, aimed at preventing shootings within schools.

A Texas-based company, Campus Guardian Angel, is behind this drone technology. The specific districts will be chosen by the Florida Department of Education.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the largest in the state, showed interest in participating after a demonstration on campus in July, as reported by CBS News.

The drones will be stored in secure charging boxes located on participating school premises and will be operated by FAA-certified pilots based in Texas.

Interestingly, school officials on site can activate each drone via silent alarms or “other mechanisms,” according to Campus Guardian Angel.

These drones come equipped with two-way communications, alarms, and non-lethal pepper spray pellets. Plus, they can break windows using “distracting glass punches,” which sounds quite dramatic but understandable in urgent situations.

However, the drones won’t just take off upon activation. Before issuing flight plans, “company commanders” will collaborate with school officials and law enforcement.

Justin Marston, the CEO of Campus Guardian Angel, emphasized the urgency during school shootings, stating that most fatalities occur within the first two minutes, so rapid response is critical.

The drones will also provide video footage to aid authorities in managing the situation and tracking potential threats.

The estimated cost for this setup is approximately $1,000 monthly for every 500 students, along with a one-time purchase fee of $15,000 for each drone box. Depending on enrollment, schools may require between three and fifteen boxes.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has allocated $557,000 in the 2025-2026 state budget to support the drone demonstration, but the final costs for purchasing and installing the drones are still unclear.

Since 2018, over 60 school shootings have been reported in Florida, following the tragic Parkland High School incident. Most recently, two people were shot and killed at Florida State University, involving a local deputy’s son. Some students at that event had connections to those affected by the Parkland tragedy.

The Academir Preparation High School, which was the site of the initial drone test in July, has around 1,100 students enrolled. In contrast, John A. Ferguson High School, the largest in Miami-Dade County, has over 4,000 students.