Annual claim rate by grade band
| Claim type | K to 2 | 3 to 5 | 6 to 8 | 9 to 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cracked screen | 6.4% | 8.1% | 5.2% | 3.7% |
| Liquid intrusion | 2.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1.6% |
| Hinge damage | 1.8% | 2.6% | 1.9% | 1.0% |
| Keyboard / keys | 2.4% | 3.7% | 2.1% | 1.2% |
| Port damage | 1.1% | 1.4% | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Lost device | 0.8% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 1.4% |
| Total annual | 14.6% | 20.3% | 14.6% | 9.5% |
Benchmarks from 14 K-12 districts, 38,000 covered Chromebooks, 2024 and 2025 school years.
The board-ready insight
- A high school student is on average 53% less likely to file a damage claim than a third grader.
- But a high school iPad screen costs 60% more to replace than an elementary Chromebook screen.
- Total repair cost per student per year usually peaks at grades 3 to 5 and bottoms in grade 12.
- Always-on cases close 60% of the elementary gap.
- Take-home programs raise middle school claim rates by 30 to 40%.
- Coverage that prices by grade band keeps elementary fees fair.
Frequently asked questions
Which grade band has the highest damage rate?+
Grades 3 to 5 have the highest accidental damage rate in our covered fleet at 18 to 22 percent annually. High school sits at 8 to 12 percent. Middle school is the swing band, usually 12 to 16 percent.
Why is elementary so high?+
Smaller hands, less developed motor control, and a school day that includes recess, snack, and gym. The Chromebook moves more, in less careful hands, near more food and liquid.
Should we deploy different devices by grade band?+
Yes. Most KBS districts deploy a clamshell with a rugged case in K through 5 and a thinner convertible in 9 through 12. Mixing form factors by building is one of the easiest ways to cut total claim cost.
Do we need different coverage by grade band?+
The plan is the same, but the per-student pricing reflects the underlying claim rate. KBS prices by fleet composition so elementary buildings do not subsidize high school and vice versa.
What about middle school?+
Middle school behaves more like high school when students carry their device home daily, and more like elementary when devices stay in carts. Take-home is the dominant variable.