How Does Indoor Air Quality Impact Student Health and Academic Performance?

This EPA fact sheet condenses scientific and field evidence showing that classroom air quality directly influences student health, attendance and academic achievement. Key data points include: dampness or mold increases asthma risk by 30–50 percent; modest shifts in room temperature can change performance on concentration tasks; and schools without major maintenance backlogs average four to five more students in daily attendance per 1,000 and 10–13 fewer annual dropouts per 1,000. Higher outdoor-air ventilation rates are linked to superior math and reading scores, while poorly ventilated rooms correlate with lower achievement. The guide explains how leaky roofs, HVAC problems, excessive cleaning chemicals and deferred upkeep trigger respiratory symptoms that raise absenteeism and depress test scores. It summarizes recent research connecting IAQ to cognitive outcomes, directs readers to a quick-reference guide and FAQ documents, and highlights districts that improved attendance and scores after coordinating IAQ and health programs. Designed for administrators, facilities staff and health coordinators, the page offers evidence-based talking points that underscore the financial and educational return on sustaining healthy air through proper ventilation, moisture control and maintenance.