Investing in Healthy Schools Pays Off for Students

New report highlights the critical need to improve indoor air quality and environmental conditions in aging school facilities across the U.S.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:00am

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A new national report on the state of U.S. public school facilities has revealed a staggering $90 billion funding gap to address aging infrastructure and inadequate indoor environmental conditions. With over 8 billion square feet of school buildings averaging 40 years old, many lack proper HVAC, ventilation, and air filtration - leading to serious health issues like asthma that impact student learning and attendance. The report urges school districts to prioritize strategies like green cleaning, integrated pest management, and real-time indoor air quality monitoring to create healthier classrooms.

Why it matters

Unhealthy school facilities have a direct impact on student health and academic performance, with asthma alone causing 13.8 million missed school days per year. Improving indoor air quality, reducing exposure to toxins, and providing comfortable learning environments are critical investments in the next generation.

The details

The 2025 State of Our Schools report found that school facility budgets are underfunded by $90 billion, nearly double the gap from a decade ago. Many schools lack basic HVAC, ventilation, and air filtration, leading to issues like mold, pests, and high carbon dioxide levels that impair student health and cognition. Strategies like green cleaning, integrated pest management, and real-time air quality monitoring can help districts identify and fix problems, but require upfront investment.

  • The 2025 State of Our Schools report was recently published.
  • Asthma affects 4.5 million U.S. children, leading to 13.8 million missed school days per year.

The players

21st Century School Fund

A national non-profit organization that partnered to produce the 2025 State of Our Schools report.

Clarke County School District

A school district in Georgia that has maintained a green cleaning program in all 24 of its schools for the past 15 years.

Wellesley Public Schools

A school district in Massachusetts that has a long-standing green cleaning program, including producing its own disinfectant and sanitizer on-site.

Davis School District

A school district in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, Utah, that successfully employed integrated pest management to nearly eliminate pesticide use.

Boston Public Schools

A school district that has installed a network of 4,400 indoor and 118 rooftop sensors to monitor real-time indoor air quality data.

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What’s next

School districts across the country are encouraged to assess the condition of their facilities, identify areas for improvement, and advocate for increased funding to upgrade HVAC systems, implement green cleaning programs, and monitor indoor air quality.

The takeaway

Investing in healthy, high-performing school facilities is an essential step in supporting student health, learning, and academic achievement. By prioritizing indoor environmental quality, school districts can create learning environments that set students up for long-term success.