How do improved school buildings contribute to student achievement?
Updated: Aug 5, 2020
Research findings are clear: Quality school buildings contribute to higher student achievement.
Flexible settings will support project-based work, cooperative/collaborative learning, peer tutoring, group projects, problem solving, and movement. (21st Century Skills; The New Learning Environment, Bob Pearlman.)
Students exposed to more natural light (sunlight) in their classrooms progressed faster, academically, than students exposed to less natural light. (Center for Evaluation and Education Analysis.)
Studies have concluded that students perform higher on math and reading tests when extraneous noise levels are minimized. (Green Schools National Network: Attributes For Health and Learning.)
Upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems correlate significantly with thermal comfort and students’ measurable academic achievement. (School Facility Conditions and Student Academic Achievement, Earthman.)
When students feel safe, they are better able to focus on learning, which in turn leads to increased academic achievement. (Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools.)
In Addition:
The Jacksonville Public Education Foundation recently released a report on the connection between student achievement and school facilities. You can download it here:
In Summary:
Quality school buildings have a direct, positive, and measurable impact on student performance when:
They are built to maximize student security and safety in today’s unpredictable world. When students know they are in a safe space, they can better focus on learning and will attend school regularly.
They offer learning spaces that are inviting, flexible, comfortable and meet their 21st century learning needs.
They provide light, acoustics, ventilation, and air quality that directly impact learning.
They provide technology and technology integration that optimize instruction and prepares students for today’s workplace.
They communicate to students that their community values education.