Foundations for Student Success: How School Buildings Influence Student Health, Thinking, and Performance

In recent years, numerous studies have shown that the school environment can adversely or positively affect students’ well-being in multifaceted ways, both in the short term and over the course of their academic career. This report reviews findings from more than 200 scientific studies and explains the ways that a range of environmental exposures in school buildings – including air quality, heating/cooling, moisture, dust and pests, safety and security, water quality, noise, lighting and views, and ventilation – impact student health, student thinking, and student performance. The report makes the case that that the school building itself, where students spend a significant portion of their childhood, represents a prime opportunity to intervene and protect the health of children. Authors urge investment in school infrastructure, highlighting that improving school buildings can lead to immediate and significant benefits in student health and academic performance.