California Schoolyard Tree Canopy Study

Green Schoolyards America’s research team quantified the extent and distribution of tree canopy on California’s K-12 public school campuses. Their goals were to understand existing conditions, establish a baseline from which to measure change over time, and identify action priorities for the California Schoolyard Forest System®. The study’s findings are also intended to provide tools for data-driven decision making to help California’s policymakers in their efforts to protect vulnerable children from extreme heat and impacts of rising temperatures.

Unlike other studies that only assess tree canopy across entire properties, this analysis specifically focused at the sub-parcel level, on the portion of each campus that children use during the school day. Green Schoolyards America refers to these areas as “student zones.” The unique student zone GIS data layer in this study allows them to compare the amount and distribution of shade on each school property as a whole, with the amount of tree canopy available to children in the student zone. They also combined this spatial research with school-level data, including enrollment and demographics, to understand how many children lack shade at each campus across the entire state of California.

Key findings show that California’s school grounds only have 6.4% median tree canopy coverage in student zones and less than half of the tree canopy on school properties is accessible to students during the school day.

An interactive GIS map linked to this page is useful for exploring tree canopy levels in communities across the state. It also highlights campuses that have the highest poverty levels and fewest trees.