School Facilities: Condition of America’s Schools

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the condition of the nation’s school buildings, focusing on the: (1) amount of funding public elementary and secondary schools need to improve inadequate facilities; and (2) overall condition and prevalence of schools that need major repairs.

This national study assesses the physical condition of school facilities in the United States and identifies the scale of infrastructure repair needs. Based on a large survey of public school officials, the report estimates that over 25,000 schools—roughly one-third of the nation’s total—require extensive repairs or renovations. Key issues include structural damage, outdated building systems, overcrowded classrooms, and insufficient access to modern instructional technologies. The report also estimates that schools would need at least $112 billion to bring facilities up to good overall condition. It points to deep inequities in building quality, with high-poverty and minority-majority schools disproportionately affected. Aimed at federal and state policymakers, this report laid the foundation for future school infrastructure discussions by quantifying the national backlog of school facility needs and advocating for greater, more equitable investment.