Daylighting in Schools: An Investigation into the Relationship between Daylighting and Human Performance

This detailed report investigates the connection between daylighting in schools and student performance, based on an in-depth statistical analysis of test score data from over 21,000 students in three school districts. The study uses regression models to isolate the effects of natural lighting, finding that students in classrooms with more daylight progressed significantly faster in both math and reading. The report examines architectural features like skylights, window orientation, and classroom layout to determine how different forms of daylighting impact learning. The research supports a growing body of evidence linking indoor environmental quality to cognitive outcomes and offers practical recommendations for architects, facility planners, and education decision-makers. It underscores the opportunity for school design to serve not just as a backdrop to learning, but as a proactive tool to improve student achievement.